Where is my bus? Over 100,000 Ottawa YouTube viewers want to know

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Good morning! 

Those of you who have sent me emails to express your disappointment over the lack of snow will be happy to know that about 10 centimetres are expected to fall throughout the day, starting around 9 a.m. Personally, I’m hoping the climatologists have it wrong.

Anyone who regularly takes transit in Ottawa knows what it’s like to wait for a bus that sometimes never comes. I personally remember once waiting an hour for the 86 to arrive, a bus which is supposed to come every 15 or so minutes. Another time I waited close to 50 minutes for route 75 in Barrhaven, enough though it was supposed to be there in under 10. I’ve had it with the transit system and have only taken it a handful of times this year. It seems I’m not alone. OC Transpo is short $120 million next year and ridership is only about 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. 

Riverside South resident Gio Petti got so fed up with the bus wait times, he decided to make a documentary about his struggles. And judging by the huge amount of views it’s garnered in a week, many are bonding over the shared pain. I sat down with Petti to learn more about his inspiration. 

Also a quick correction to make: Hot Frost was filmed in Brockville, not Almonte. As someone who has watched literally every Christmas movie known to mankind, I regret this error. 

Let’s get to the news happening today! 

— Charlie Senack, managing editor 

[email protected] 

X: @Charlie_Senack

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Wednesday: -1 🌡️ -2 | ❄️

Thursday: 1 🌡️ -8 | ❄️

Friday: -8 🌡️ -11 | 🌤️

CITY

Where is my bus? Over 100,000 Ottawa YouTube viewers want to know

A shared frustration: Anyone who’s waited for transit knows about the long waits for an OC Transpo bus that sometimes doesn't show up. In fact, the transit organization has recently cancelled upwards of about 2,000 trips a week to deal with service and a backlog, reported CTV. 

The effects are especially negatively felt in the suburbs, which have long complained about the lack of service options and wait times which have made many convert to Uber or other alternatives. 

Riverside South resident Gio Petti experienced this himself on so many occasions, he decided to create a documentary called “Dude, Where is my Bus?” Since being launched on YouTube a week ago, it’s garnered over 108,000 views and 1,400 comments. 

• You can watch the documentary here. 

One person wrote you could watch the entire 45-minute documentary “while waiting for the 88 without it showing up once.” Another said “every Halloween party I dress up as OC Transpo (and) never show up to the party.” 

• While there is lots of satire to their comments, it’s obvious commuters have had enough. 

During the interview, many Ottawans connected to transit were interviewed including councillors Riley Brockington and Steve Desroches, Em McLellan-Campbell who unsuccessfully ran for city council in Riverside South-Findlay Creek, Kari Glynn Eliot from the Ottawa Transit Riders group, and Carleton University professor Ian Lee. 

The Lookout sat down with Petti to talk about what drove him to make this film and if he’s surprised by the amount of positive feedback. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

Lookout: Tell us about why this was a film you wanted to make. 

P: It really came up around early 2023 because during that period, it was very cold out and I noticed I was waiting longer than usual with a bunch of people for the bus. The deal should be that if you’re at the bus stop on time you pay your fare and it takes you to where you need to go. But a part of that deal isn't being met because buses aren’t coming. How is it acceptable that buses don’t come or show up incredibly late in very cold weather. I sent emails to OC Transpo and they did nothing. I don’t have the power to change the transit organization. But I do have these video production skills and thought I should make a project around it. 

At first, it was just going to be about the struggles I faced commuting from the suburbs to downtown for work, but what it led to was the modern history of OC Transpo, the history of building light rail, and how it impacted service. 

Lookout: Did you learn anything you weren’t expecting about Ottawa’s problem-plagued light rail system while working on this project?

P: The biggest thing I learned was how many people tried to fix these issues. A lot of people think city officials aren’t aware of what’s going on. The ones I’ve talked to are very aware and are actively trying to fix things. 

What I learned from River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington is how OC Transpo operates. He relayed to me that buses in this city are tracked on performance and not reliability. Performance means the bus makes a trip and reliability means it is on time. That’s huge because it doesn’t really matter as much if it left the depot or not. 

I think the other big thing was the original LRT line that was supposed to open in 2006. That was brought up by Bob Chiarelli's government and then Larry O'Brien came in and shut it down. If we actually built it, it would have been very beneficial to the area. If you have an LRT running through there, even if above ground, it’s a better form of transit. 

I think the disappointing part of it is the lawsuit that came because the deal was made under a private/public partnership and after it was cancelled, Siemens, the company that was supposed to build it, got around $30 million. We came out of it without an LRT and our money. 

The diesel system Trillium line of light rail (the original O-Train line) was first introduced in 2001 as a pilot project to provide an alternative to buses. The system was not super useful on its own, so in 2006, Ottawa City Council voted by a vote of 14 to 7 to award a north-south expansion to the Siemens/PCL/Differin design team. It would have expanded the trains east through LeBreton flats to downtown and the University of Ottawa, and south to Riverside South and Barrhaven. The system also would have switched to electric trams.

After much debate and a new mayor at the helm, council backed out of the plans and had to pay $36.7 million in lawsuits. Residents in the south end of the city have long said this would have been a game changer for the suburban communities. 

 Lookout: Tell us more about some of the negative impacts OC Transpo has had on your commute. 

P: It’s a shame people in Riverside South and other similar communities are forced to drive. I’ve decided not to get a car given the cost of parking, which could be anywhere between $14 and $25 a day, plus the costs of gas and maintenance. 

But making that decision has sometimes meant I’ve waited over 25 minutes for a bus or have been late for work. The other issue is with connections, especially when the train isn’t working because it broke down or is closed for maintenance.  There are multiple connections, which extends the commuting length. If you are late to work, it’s your responsibility, not if it’s because your bus doesn’t show up, you just can’t control it. 

In Riverside South, the buses run only every 30 minutes. So if you miss it because it came early or you’re running late, you don’t really have an option but to wait for the next one to come. Sometimes I’ve just had to throw my arms up and see if I can get a ride from someone because it’s the only other option.

Lookout: Light rail is coming to Riverside South, perhaps in the next few weeks.  Do you think that will make a positive impact on your commute?

P: I think it will help, but I’m still reluctant. I’ve got fatigue from the last LRT. I know this has been tested and has passed all its criteria without being lowered by city managers. I want to have a commute on it before I am 100 per cent sold. The frequency is not as much as I would have anticipated. It comes every 12 minutes but that is better than the buses. 

Lookout: Is there anything else you think OC Transpo should be doing to improve service for the entire city, especially in the suburbs?

P: A key thing is making sure we track buses on reliability over trips. If it doesn’t come to a stop on time, what’s the point of it coming at all? They need to make sure people who need the bus and train have the ability to take it. 

We are in a crisis regarding transit. The cost is going up, service is being cut, but if we focus on ensuring people can take the bus to places and that it’s a good, fast option, people will use it. A lot of buses are routed downtown instead of through communities. I can see that being an issue. 

• If the 2025 budget is passed, OC Transpo will increase a single adult fare to $4 a ride or $135 a month. Senior passes could climb to $78.50 per month and youth passes are being eliminated altogether. When OC Transpo’s massive route overhaul is unveiled in the spring it is putting more of an emphasis on local routes since commuters habits have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be a reduction in service hours, but OC Transpo is trying to put a positive spin on it by saying it will actually mean a more reliable service since it will be working within its means. 

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🚌 $4.6 million: The shortfall the school bus authority would face if transit fares increase. That would include a 58.6 per cent increase to the student bus pass budget. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏘️ $50 million: The property tax break some real estate developers could have if they include affordable units in their buildings. One councillor is calling it “the deal of the century.” [Ottawa Citizen]

💉 $600,000: The amount of money a Kingston doctor is being ordered to repay for pandemic vaccination payments. [CTV]

💌 45 million: The amount of letters Canada Post has delivered to Santa since the program was started 40 years ago. Because of the strike, the Dec. 6 deadline is no longer in place, but there is also no guarantee as to when they will reach the North Pole. [CTV]

HOME

If you’re looking for a quiet house in the trees, this property on Hazeldean in Kanata is perfect for you. This log cabin has two bedrooms which can be turned into three, a two-storey dining room with a brick fireplace as the focal point, and a beautiful wrap-around porch on the outside. 

For a piece of country property near the city, the price of this home will probably surprise you.  

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

THE AGENDA

🏥 If you need to visit the new Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital after it’s completed in a few years, you may find it hard to do so by car. It will house only about 3,000 parking spaces — which the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association says isn’t enough. According to 2022 statistics, 85 per cent of Civic Hospital staff drive their vehicles to work. But to encourage active-use transportation and get vehicles off the road, the city has set targets of that number dropping to 50 per cent by 2023 and 35 per cent by 2048. [Kitchissippi Times]

🪧 Antiwar protesters calling for an Israeli embargo were ousted from an Ottawa building housing MPs' offices on Tuesday. The dozens of demonstrators occupied the lobby of the Confederation Building for about an hour before going outside. Police and PPS members intercepted and then released 14 protesters without charges, however they were issued Trespass to Property notices on Parliament Hill. [CBC]

The Controversial Victims of Communism memorial is set to be unveiled on Dec. 12. The monument has faced delays as Jewish groups voiced concerns that names of alleged Nazi collaborators could be inscribed on it. A spokesperson for the heritage minister said no names will be added for now and that department officials are reviewing the backgrounds of the people who are set to one day be inscribed. [Ottawa Citizen] 

🌉 The Chief William Commanda Bridge will close to pedestrians and cyclists for the winter today as seasonal weather starts to arrive. The city said they will explore the feasibility of opening the bridge for winter-use, but if it happens, that won't happen this year. New gates are being installed to keep people out because the crossing is “unsafe for public use.” [CBC]

🤳 A driver who was watching porn behind the wheel on Hwy. 417 is facing a fine and the loss of demerit points. Ontario Provincial Police say the person will need to pay a $615 fine and who’ll have three demerit points taken away. [CTV]

📦 The Canada Post strike has been beneficial for Ottawa-based delivery service Trexity.  “It was wild. Last Friday was a record day for us for revenue and for deliveries and that carried over the entire weekend. Friday was the record, then Saturday became the record, then Sunday became the record,” said CEO and founder Alok Ahuja. [Ottawa Business Journal]

🚙 A teenager was taken to hospital in serious but non-life-threatening condition Tuesday afternoon after an accident between a school bus and a van near the intersection of Bank Street and Lester Road. Three other people were taken to hospital in stable condition and a fourth received minor injuries. [Ottawa Citizen]

👮🏼‍♀️ The Ottawa Police Service Board has approved its 2025 budget. It will see an additional $16 million for the year to hire more officers and launch new programs. The budget includes $20 million to maintain existing police services, plus an extra $8.1 to hire 22 more sworn officers and 28 new civilian positions. [CTV]

🚔 Nikolas Ibey, 35, has been found guilty of 1st-degree murder in the killing of Nunavut native Savanna Pikuyak. The defence tried to argue that he should be convicted of second-degree murder because the Crown had been unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the aggravating elements of sexual assault or forcible confinement. Police found Pikuyak's body splayed facedown and naked on her bed, her head tightly bound with a makeshift gag. [CBC]

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GIG LISTINGS

Peter Hum | Bar Robo, 170 Queen St | Dec. 4 | Soulful melodies and impeccable artistry from a mainstay of the Ottawa Jazz scene for over three decades.  Free Show. 

Texas King | 27 Club, 27 York St | Dec. 6 | Hard-touring rock band known for their high-energy live performances, soaring tunes and catchy riffs. Tickets $20.

Sophie Lukacs | Red Bird, 1165 Bank St | Dec. 6 | Kora player blending mandingue, folk, pop, and classical music, drawing inspiration from seven years of study in Mali  Tickets $28. 

Siaka Diabate | Irene’s, 885 Bank St | Dec. 6 | Multi-instrumentalist originally from Burkina Faso brings his fusion of African traditions and contemporary sounds. Tickets $20.

The Flatliners | Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave | Dec. 7 | Aggressive but melodic old-school, pre-hardcore punk rock.  Tickets $30.  

Listings for music shows are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• One of Hitler’s cars has found its way to Ottawa. [CBC]

• It's not too late in the season to enjoy local veggies, meat, eggs and dairy! Farmhouse Food Coop delivers to your door. Sign up today! [Sponsored]

• Here is a list of Ottawa businesses which can help you host your holiday party when it comes to food. [Kitchissippi Times]

• The Best Ottawa Business Awards took place at the Westin Hotel on Friday. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• Thrifting is becoming a popular trend this Holiday season. [CTV]

• A look at some Ottawa area charities that are drastically in need of support. [CTV]

• Four new inductees were celebrated at the newly revamped Stittsville Sports Hall of Fame ceremony  [Stittsville Central]

• The Sobeys in Orleans has new owners. [Orleans Star]

OTTAWA GUESSER

Do you know where today’s Ottawa Guesser is? The first five people to respond get their names mentioned in the newsletter.

Congrats to everyone who knew the last location was on Campeau Drive near Kanata Ave.