Ottawa Bus Crowding - Slater and Kent (2009-09-30)

A short video regarding the bus congestion on Slater Street (and the other street I didn't film in this one, Albert Street) in the downtown of Ottawa. Given these problems, it would make more sense for light rail to be built. It's true that Ottawa is small compared to other cities with rail, and the Transitway has been a success, demonstrating that bus rapid transit has some value, but not as a supposedly cheaper substitute for rail, as some people who "rail" against rail claim. I am not seeking to wage "mode wars" between rail and bus. BRT can make some sense, as I said, and can be a viable form of rapid transit that is more flexible than rail and with a low cost and short implementation time. But it is not a specific replacement on corridors that need rail, or is better than rail in any way. I really live in the suburb of Nepean at present. It is not truly "just like rail, but cheaper".

Actually, Ottawa is large enough for light rail, in my view: the area population (including neighbouring Gatineau, Quebec) is over a million, slightly more than Calgary or Edmonton, which have been operating LRT as long as Ottawa has been with the Transitway, and in around the same range as Salt Lake City. It shows that LRT can indeed work in politically conservative states/provinces like Alberta and Utah!!! I rode LRT in both Calgary and Edmonton. The fact this, this is Ottawa, which is the capital of Canada, not Colombia (which is Bogota, the kind of a new Mecca that bus boosters like to use in their pitch for BRT as a substitute). This is Ottawa, not Curitiba Brazil (which is planning a true subway to replace its much heralded BRT system, for the same reason the bus boosters use, as a substitute).

Filmed September 30, 2009.

(I apologize for the lack of sound. Someday, I'll hope to provide a bigger and better version with sound. But now, I'm mired in work to do for my classes, and I have a part time job in the library at Carleton University at this time.)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ottawa
• Ontario
• Canada
• OC
• Transpo
• Transitway
• Downtown
• Slater
• Kent
• Albert
• Bus
• Rapid
• Transit
• BRT
• Light
• Rail
• LRT

[MrStriter]

It would be nice to bring Enrique Peñalosa to Ottawa and get his opinion regarding the organization of the Ottawa Transit system. He is the one that implemented TransMilenio and the Bike Path system in Bogota that have made this city a reference for the world.

[MattJFisher]

In a way, this could make sense. I do think, however, that Peñalosa will use this as a forum to say, "See? Rail is just too expensive. Ottawa should continue to use buses. A bus can be as good as rail". Ottawa is the capital of Canada, not Colombia. I wish people would understand.

I am, however, against "mode wars" between bus and rail. I believe BRT can complement LRT, and vice versa. I am still against the marketing of BRT as a substitute for rail.

[macrocec]

@MattJFisher I think youre mistaken. I lived in mexico city, they have a very good BRT system there, the only think is that sometimes its kind of crowded. which wouldnt be a problem at all in ottawa. Now I live in edmonton and sometimes I really miss Mexico's city metrobus. And why did I say youre mistaken? becasue there are not mode wars at all. Mexico city is building another metro line and many metrobus lines, calgary and edmonton are also in the same track. Modes can and do coexist!!

[MattJFisher]

@macrocec Yes, after some time and unbiased evaluation of my views, I have decided I am now mistaken, and you are right. I think rail in Ottawa is more likely to complement BRT rather than replace it. There are no mode wars in Mexico City anyway. Besides, I think cities should give BRT a chance, even if a rail line is sacrificed for a busway.

[boond007a]

This video seems to show nothing

[MattJFisher]

Oh, uh, well, you have a point. It could be that my digital camera I shot the video with lacks the sound capabilities. It could be the fact that when I filmed it, the battery was low. I just don't know. Thank you for commenting.

[joemccormick]

I don't understand how it would be that crowded? They have designated bus lines that no other traffic is allowed to drive in. I used to live in Ottawa and I thought there bus system was great.