OC Transpo is not very Customer Friendly

 

 

This afternoon I spent at least an hour weaving my way through the Saint Laurent Transit Station with about 90 other folks in order to purchase a bus pass for June. There were numerous senior citizens walking with canes and looking visibly tired. And there was no place to sit down except for a few minutes as we passed the bench inside the southern side of the Station: the ones used by customers who are waiting for buses going west. Other than that there wasn't a chair in sight even though there were a few places where seating of some kind could have been made available to those in need. A helping hand would have been nice too. And to top it all off there were only two sales clerks available. I wasn't too impressed to say the least

I

Don't take the O-Train in Ottawa on a hot day

Here is a copy of a letter I wrote to Oc Transpo regarding the very uncomfortable and I might add unhealthy conditions aboard the OTrain here in Ottawa during the summer heat. All aboard???? Not me any more!!!! I sent a copy to Mayor Larry Obrien and Councillor Alex Cullen. I'll let you know if I get a reply.

Good morning,


Yesterday afternoon I took my 12 year old grandson Matthew for a bus ride to introduce him to Ottawa’s bus system. He had never ridden the O Train and I thought he might like to take a ride on it and so we headed from Beacon Hill North to the Bayview stop. Unfortunately we must have just missed a train because we waited almost half an hour for another one. As you know It was very hot yesterday. Actually it registered 32 degrees celsius at Uplands. When we boarded the train we found it very warm and uncomfortable but we managed to open 1 small window in the front. There was no air conditioning and the one window didn’t help at all, so Matthew and I headed towards the back of the train and tried to open a few more windows but we were unable to do so. The hinges seemed broken but a young man told us they were all locked. All we could do was take a seat until we arrived at the Greenborough Station. This was without a doubt one of the most unpleasant rides I have ever taken with OC Transpo. One woman looked sick. I could see that she had perspiration dripping down her face. Could you please explain to me why on such a hot day the windows on the train are locked and there is no air conditioning? Thank you.

Celebrating 72 Years of Novena Devotions To Our Lady of Perpetual Help , OC Transpo bus passes and the Ottawa Earthquake Yesterday

I was on the bus heading downtown when the 5 magnitude earthquake hit Ottawa yesterday, so I didn't feel a thing. Actually, I was on my way to Saint Patrick;s Basilica to attend the Holy Hour at Three and the Anniversay Celebration afterwards.

On my way I decided to take the time to purchase a July bus pass at the Rideau Centre, but when I arrived at the OC Transpo counter I was told I needed some kind of photo ID in order for them to take my photograph for the pass. I didn't have any on me as I wasn't expecting I needed photo ID to buy a bus pass. That certainly wasn't the case when I had my last picture taken for them about ten years ago. You don't need photo ID when you get a bus transfer or when you purchase a day pass. What a bunch of jerks. The purpose of the photo attached to the pass you buy is just proof that the picture of the person on the pass is the same person who is using it. Total bureaucratic nonsense. We bought train and subway passes in Japan and never needed photo ID when we purchased them. What a stupid bureaucy OC Transpo has become.  Anyways, after wasting my time on this nonsense, I bought a coffee at Tim Horton's and did a sudoko puzzle in the food court to blow off steam. Fifteen minutes later I headed back to the bus stop on Mackenzie King Bridge heading west.

After I boarded the bus, the driver announced over the loudspeaker "For those riders who plan to take the O Train, it isn't running because of the earthquake" Duh? What earthquake? Anyways, I guess that explains why there were so many people on all the sidewalks dowtown.  Funny thing, I never felt or heard a thing.

I got off at Kent and  headed over to the Church and saw that there were dozens of people mulling around the church and sitting on the front steps. Oh great I thought  "Now the Church will be closed for the Anniversary Celebrations and I will be told not to go in." That wasn't the case. I was allowed in ( thank God because I really had to go to the bathroom by now.) All those people were from the Government Office buildings from across the street. Whew! I was on time for the Holy Hour but I thought I should phone Mike to see what was up and I phoned from the Church basement.  I wasn't able to get through so I went outside again and eventually after about 10 minutes I managed to reach him.  He said that the quake struck about 1:45 and yes, everything was ok. The walls shook and a few pictures on the wall are now crooked but that's about all.  Just the same, I was glad we have earthquake insurance ( just in case)

So by now I was a bit late for the Holy Hour which is at three every day at the Basilica. Afterwards, I stayed in the Church until mass and the Novena to our Lady of Perpetual Help at 4:30.  My sister Barbara arrived around 4:00 and joined me near the front of the Church.  The mass was celebrated by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast who, incidentally, didn't feel the eqrthquake either because he was on a plane returning from Ireland when it struck.  All in all, it was a very beautiful celebration although the Church was very hot.  I took a few pictures which I will add later. There was a reception afterwards in the Parish Hall which is situated in the nice cool basement, but Barb and I didn't stay because she had to go to work. We did however find a restaurant on the Spark Street Mall where we stopped to eat. 

After that I went home, and Barb went to work at her office in the West Block. I hope she was allowed in by then.  When I talked to Mike earlier, he thought that some of the government buildings were to remain closed until they had been checked out. Anyways, it was an interesting afternoon and I managed to get home before it started to rain very heavily. I still haven't straightened the pictures.