Better Transit Ottawa
@bettertransitottawa.ca
Let's make public transit in Ottawa better.
bettertransitottawa.ca
discord.gg/DxbgT6UNug
bettertransitottawa.ca
discord.gg/DxbgT6UNug
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Frequent buses, a comprehensive and dense network, and reliable service would go a long way to mitigating the need for heated shelters.
Des bus fréquents, un réseau étendu et dense, et un service fiable contribueraient grandement à atténuer le besoin d'abris chauffés.
Des bus fréquents, un réseau étendu et dense, et un service fiable contribueraient grandement à atténuer le besoin d'abris chauffés.
As OC Transpo misses targets, Ottawa riders left waiting in the cold
Could heaters be the solution to freezing riders left waiting for buses, or is there another way?
ottawacitizen.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Frequent buses, a comprehensive and dense network, and reliable service would go a long way to mitigating the need for heated shelters.
Des bus fréquents, un réseau étendu et dense, et un service fiable contribueraient grandement à atténuer le besoin d'abris chauffés.
Des bus fréquents, un réseau étendu et dense, et un service fiable contribueraient grandement à atténuer le besoin d'abris chauffés.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
it was months and months of pushing, but line 1 is almost back to 5-minute all day frequencies.
huge shoutout to our members at BTO as well as @strongtownsottawa.ca for getting 6-minute frequency back during midday.
huge shoutout to our members at BTO as well as @strongtownsottawa.ca for getting 6-minute frequency back during midday.
Yesterday, Ottawa City Council approved the 2026 budget.
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
December 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
it was months and months of pushing, but line 1 is almost back to 5-minute all day frequencies.
huge shoutout to our members at BTO as well as @strongtownsottawa.ca for getting 6-minute frequency back during midday.
huge shoutout to our members at BTO as well as @strongtownsottawa.ca for getting 6-minute frequency back during midday.
Yesterday, Ottawa City Council approved the 2026 budget.
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
December 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Yesterday, Ottawa City Council approved the 2026 budget.
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
Councillors were good about pointing out the fundamental problems with our bus reliability, but they still voted in support of a budget that will not solve the bus shortage.
Our full response: bettertransitottawa.ca/blog/budget-...
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
The 53 consistently sees back-to-back cancellations around this time. Each of the screenshots below is a day further in the past
The times in the middle are service gaps between buses, and yes, there was a 2 and a half hour gap yesterday at 15:09
The trips with blank columns did not run
The times in the middle are service gaps between buses, and yes, there was a 2 and a half hour gap yesterday at 15:09
The trips with blank columns did not run
December 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The 53 consistently sees back-to-back cancellations around this time. Each of the screenshots below is a day further in the past
The times in the middle are service gaps between buses, and yes, there was a 2 and a half hour gap yesterday at 15:09
The trips with blank columns did not run
The times in the middle are service gaps between buses, and yes, there was a 2 and a half hour gap yesterday at 15:09
The trips with blank columns did not run
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
@octranspo.com can you give me an idea of why 4 scheduled buses in a row for Route 53 were canceled?
December 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
@octranspo.com can you give me an idea of why 4 scheduled buses in a row for Route 53 were canceled?
Delaying the project to get real-time train locations in transit apps and delaying bus lane construction are not savings or efficiencies. These costs will be still paid, just later at a higher cost
Aside from those "efficiencies", how much of the $252M saved over 4 years is from deferred capital projects? In 2025 alone, there were $21.3M in deferred capital transit projects. Deferred capital projects are not savings; they are cost avoidance. We didn't save money; we postponed spending it. 6/
December 3, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Delaying the project to get real-time train locations in transit apps and delaying bus lane construction are not savings or efficiencies. These costs will be still paid, just later at a higher cost
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Ummm... Hey @octranspo.com, doesn't cancelling three trips in a row on the 7 towards Carleton (the 5:38 PM, 5:53 PM, and 6:08 PM) seem like a huge problem? That leaves an hour gap between trips on a frequent route.
Not pictured is another cancellation on the 3:56 PM trip.
Not pictured is another cancellation on the 3:56 PM trip.
December 1, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Ummm... Hey @octranspo.com, doesn't cancelling three trips in a row on the 7 towards Carleton (the 5:38 PM, 5:53 PM, and 6:08 PM) seem like a huge problem? That leaves an hour gap between trips on a frequent route.
Not pictured is another cancellation on the 3:56 PM trip.
Not pictured is another cancellation on the 3:56 PM trip.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Great coverage from Elina Ellis and Nyla McEwan at Capital Current about the issues with Bank Street and why bus lanes are needed if we want any serious chance of success for Lansdowne 2.0.
It's great to see so many different groups realize we need bus lanes!
capitalcurrent.ca/calls-grow-f...
It's great to see so many different groups realize we need bus lanes!
capitalcurrent.ca/calls-grow-f...
Bus lanes on Bank Street demanded after Lansdowne 2.0 vote
Transit committees across Ottawa are advocating for bus-only lanes in order to increase the flow of traffic along Bank Street.
capitalcurrent.ca
November 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Great coverage from Elina Ellis and Nyla McEwan at Capital Current about the issues with Bank Street and why bus lanes are needed if we want any serious chance of success for Lansdowne 2.0.
It's great to see so many different groups realize we need bus lanes!
capitalcurrent.ca/calls-grow-f...
It's great to see so many different groups realize we need bus lanes!
capitalcurrent.ca/calls-grow-f...
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
its hard to get a grasp on how utterly screwed OC's current fleet is
we run D40is and D60LF(R)s that we bought in the early 2000s, as well as a more modern procurement of a bunch of novas and a handful of XE40s gotten since 2020, and the majority of our buses are beyond their useful life.
we run D40is and D60LF(R)s that we bought in the early 2000s, as well as a more modern procurement of a bunch of novas and a handful of XE40s gotten since 2020, and the majority of our buses are beyond their useful life.
massive props to Ajay and our members for getting this motion passed
the electric bus mandate restricted our fleet procurement options to only 40 foot buses, and in our current transitway environment, 60 foot buses are critical to rapid route operations into areas not set to be served by rail.
the electric bus mandate restricted our fleet procurement options to only 40 foot buses, and in our current transitway environment, 60 foot buses are critical to rapid route operations into areas not set to be served by rail.
Despite some opposition, transit committee voted YES to re-open the door to more high capacity buses at transit commission yesterday following our support
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
November 27, 2025 at 10:54 PM
its hard to get a grasp on how utterly screwed OC's current fleet is
we run D40is and D60LF(R)s that we bought in the early 2000s, as well as a more modern procurement of a bunch of novas and a handful of XE40s gotten since 2020, and the majority of our buses are beyond their useful life.
we run D40is and D60LF(R)s that we bought in the early 2000s, as well as a more modern procurement of a bunch of novas and a handful of XE40s gotten since 2020, and the majority of our buses are beyond their useful life.
Despite some opposition, transit committee voted YES to re-open the door to more high capacity buses at transit commission yesterday following our support
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Despite some opposition, transit committee voted YES to re-open the door to more high capacity buses at transit commission yesterday following our support
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
We welcome this first step, while still pushing council to buy more buses sooner, instead of delaying our next order until 2027
Transit commission day
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Transit commission day
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Someone should look into this @bettertransitottawa.ca
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Someone should look into this @bettertransitottawa.ca
Another normal day for Ottawa's bus shortage where council still is insistent that increasing the size of our bus orders is not necessary
This is what we call 97% trip delivery
This is what we call 97% trip delivery
November 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Another normal day for Ottawa's bus shortage where council still is insistent that increasing the size of our bus orders is not necessary
This is what we call 97% trip delivery
This is what we call 97% trip delivery
The 2026 draft Ottawa budget announces further delays to the Carling bus lane project, estimating the completion time for a bus lane project at 2035. This project was started in 2016 with designs released in 2017, which would make this be a 19 year long project just to install interim bus lanes.
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The 2026 draft Ottawa budget announces further delays to the Carling bus lane project, estimating the completion time for a bus lane project at 2035. This project was started in 2016 with designs released in 2017, which would make this be a 19 year long project just to install interim bus lanes.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
With all of the talk about Lansdowne 2.0, and improving transit access to the location, this is the perfect opportunity to get fully dedicated 24/7 bus lanes, not just during "peak" hours.
Delays for buses are almost constant throughout the day.
strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/11/08/a...
#Ottawa #Bank
Delays for buses are almost constant throughout the day.
strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/11/08/a...
#Ottawa #Bank
November 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
With all of the talk about Lansdowne 2.0, and improving transit access to the location, this is the perfect opportunity to get fully dedicated 24/7 bus lanes, not just during "peak" hours.
Delays for buses are almost constant throughout the day.
strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/11/08/a...
#Ottawa #Bank
Delays for buses are almost constant throughout the day.
strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/11/08/a...
#Ottawa #Bank
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
To anyone who came out to the open house yesterday about bus lanes on bank... Wow, what an amazing amount of support. Unanimously every speaker, besides the BIA, said they want the city to be BOLDER!
We've written a summary of the event here : strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/09/25/t...
We've written a summary of the event here : strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/09/25/t...
The City Needs to be Bold with Bank
What is "balance"?
strongtownsottawa.ca
September 25, 2025 at 10:41 PM
To anyone who came out to the open house yesterday about bus lanes on bank... Wow, what an amazing amount of support. Unanimously every speaker, besides the BIA, said they want the city to be BOLDER!
We've written a summary of the event here : strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/09/25/t...
We've written a summary of the event here : strongtownsottawa.ca/2025/09/25/t...
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Thanks to everyone who came by to chat and help with the Park(ing) day event!
Unfortunately we only got to be in the street for a couple hours until we moved over to Kunstadt's parking lot (huge shoutout to them for letting us use it).
Our streets can be so much more with just a bit of change!
Unfortunately we only got to be in the street for a couple hours until we moved over to Kunstadt's parking lot (huge shoutout to them for letting us use it).
Our streets can be so much more with just a bit of change!
September 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Thanks to everyone who came by to chat and help with the Park(ing) day event!
Unfortunately we only got to be in the street for a couple hours until we moved over to Kunstadt's parking lot (huge shoutout to them for letting us use it).
Our streets can be so much more with just a bit of change!
Unfortunately we only got to be in the street for a couple hours until we moved over to Kunstadt's parking lot (huge shoutout to them for letting us use it).
Our streets can be so much more with just a bit of change!
The next three 7s are cancelled at the start of evening rush. This is an every day occurrence due to the lack of working buses to run the schedule we need.
OC Transpo needs to order more buses to replace the over 15 year old fleet and hire enough mechanics to get the existing buses in service.
OC Transpo needs to order more buses to replace the over 15 year old fleet and hire enough mechanics to get the existing buses in service.
September 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The next three 7s are cancelled at the start of evening rush. This is an every day occurrence due to the lack of working buses to run the schedule we need.
OC Transpo needs to order more buses to replace the over 15 year old fleet and hire enough mechanics to get the existing buses in service.
OC Transpo needs to order more buses to replace the over 15 year old fleet and hire enough mechanics to get the existing buses in service.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
This is why you should join the Transit Fans Ottawa server discord.gg/T7HzadcpSX
![[A discord conversation]
@Griffin: I leave y'all unchecked for 40 goddamn minutes and I come back to @Leitrim @Leitrim and @yukeira
@Leitrim: Leitrim
@Leitrim: Leitrim
@Leitrim: Leitrim
[The third @Leitrim is Griffin]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:l7u4whaqxafk3nrp6tycuzg2/bafkreidtmh4qkm7azn3xmjwel3kgdu454imkzkfsrljbrfjr7zh2abgbsu@jpeg)
September 16, 2025 at 5:52 AM
This is why you should join the Transit Fans Ottawa server discord.gg/T7HzadcpSX
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
Literally one parked car, likely with no one in it, holding up a 60' articulated bus, with maybe as many as 60 times the amount of people on it.
Which should our city prioritize?
strongtownsottawa.ca/bank/ Tell the city to at least try some proper dedicated bus lanes in the Glebe.
Which should our city prioritize?
strongtownsottawa.ca/bank/ Tell the city to at least try some proper dedicated bus lanes in the Glebe.
September 5, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Literally one parked car, likely with no one in it, holding up a 60' articulated bus, with maybe as many as 60 times the amount of people on it.
Which should our city prioritize?
strongtownsottawa.ca/bank/ Tell the city to at least try some proper dedicated bus lanes in the Glebe.
Which should our city prioritize?
strongtownsottawa.ca/bank/ Tell the city to at least try some proper dedicated bus lanes in the Glebe.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
On September 16th, we will host Oh the Urbanity! for a talk about transit! Come listen, ask questions, and discuss strategies!
This hybrid event will be accessible by ramp and elevator; the online portion will have closed captioning.
Register here: tinyurl.com/6f9m9um4
#ottawa #transit #urbanism
This hybrid event will be accessible by ramp and elevator; the online portion will have closed captioning.
Register here: tinyurl.com/6f9m9um4
#ottawa #transit #urbanism
September 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
On September 16th, we will host Oh the Urbanity! for a talk about transit! Come listen, ask questions, and discuss strategies!
This hybrid event will be accessible by ramp and elevator; the online portion will have closed captioning.
Register here: tinyurl.com/6f9m9um4
#ottawa #transit #urbanism
This hybrid event will be accessible by ramp and elevator; the online portion will have closed captioning.
Register here: tinyurl.com/6f9m9um4
#ottawa #transit #urbanism
OC Transpo is discussing potentially cutting off-peak Line 2 and 4 service to as low as every 30 minutes in response to council asking Line 2 and 4 to start at 5 AM.
Let your councilor know so we can avoid a repeat of last year’s Line 1 cuts and not fall down the public transit death spiral.
Let your councilor know so we can avoid a repeat of last year’s Line 1 cuts and not fall down the public transit death spiral.
September 3, 2025 at 12:42 AM
OC Transpo is discussing potentially cutting off-peak Line 2 and 4 service to as low as every 30 minutes in response to council asking Line 2 and 4 to start at 5 AM.
Let your councilor know so we can avoid a repeat of last year’s Line 1 cuts and not fall down the public transit death spiral.
Let your councilor know so we can avoid a repeat of last year’s Line 1 cuts and not fall down the public transit death spiral.
Reposted by Better Transit Ottawa
OC Transpo forecasting $47M deficit this fiscal year
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
OC Transpo forecasting $47M deficit this fiscal year | CBC News
Revenue falls short at OC Transpo as ridership remains stuck in lower gear and help from higher levels of government proves elusive.
www.cbc.ca
August 26, 2025 at 11:46 PM
OC Transpo forecasting $47M deficit this fiscal year
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Consistency, Sustainability, Solidarity.
These are the guiding principles that we plan to use to make public transportation in Ottawa reliable and create a strong foundation upon which a long-term, sustainable network can be built.
Let's take a closer look... (1/5)
These are the guiding principles that we plan to use to make public transportation in Ottawa reliable and create a strong foundation upon which a long-term, sustainable network can be built.
Let's take a closer look... (1/5)
July 9, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Consistency, Sustainability, Solidarity.
These are the guiding principles that we plan to use to make public transportation in Ottawa reliable and create a strong foundation upon which a long-term, sustainable network can be built.
Let's take a closer look... (1/5)
These are the guiding principles that we plan to use to make public transportation in Ottawa reliable and create a strong foundation upon which a long-term, sustainable network can be built.
Let's take a closer look... (1/5)