Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, November 9, 2007 Tales from the bus According to OC Transpo, Orléans residents are the biggest users of transit services in the city. More of us leave our cars at the park and ride – or the driveway – and hop a 95 or a 20’s / 30’s series express bus into the downtown core each workday than any other part of the city. But before we pat ourselves on the back, let’s be frank, our bus habit is a function of one-car families, tight budgets and rip-off downtown parking rates as opposed to a deliberate we’re-green-from-Orléans movement. And as most bus riders know, the daily trip to and from the core is never a boring experience. For park and ride users at Place d’Orléans or Trim Road, tell me you haven’t parked at either of these locations only to wonder if you’ve arrived at Disney World in row Goofy 42 wondering when the next open-air Mickey-tram will show up to whisk you to the actual station. As for 20’s / 30’s express bus riders, does this sound familiar? On the morning that you are running late for the 7:18 bus, it arrives at 7:16. So begins the 12- to 20-minute wait with other frustrated riders … in silence. Anyone ever hear of small talk? After forever, the next bus comes but all seats taken. So much for reading that great book or scanning notes for your 8:30 meeting with the boss. And typing on the Blackberry while hanging on for dear life is simply not an option. The bus finally leaves Orléans and zips onto the 174 in the bus-only lane zooming past the minivan/SUV convoy. Now your balance and last night’s yoga/core muscle routine is put to the test as Jacques Villeneuve’s twice removed, third cousin Luc is our driver today as we approach 100 clicks per hour. Next up is the Transitway exit with hairpin turns, the bus on two wheels and that feeling that this morning’s yogurt is coming back up for daylight, yikes! Keep it steady, breathe, find your chi. Passing St. Laurent I notice a free seat on my right. Oops, silly me, it is taken by the ‘70s-era safari-suit guy and his briefcase. Excuse me, does your briefcase have a transit pass too? Over to his left, a mid-40s woman has been yakking on her cell phone with her daughter since she boarded back at Princess Louise. Okay lady, hang up now, logic and teenagers don’t mix, hash it out later at home. We’ve passed the U of O campus stop, we’re almost there. Darn, short-lived euphoria, here comes the lurch, stop, lurch again routine on the MacKenzie King bridge. The brakes squeal, some 22-year-old’s iPod is blasting curse-laden hip-hop and I’ve had it. Ring the bell, Rideau Centre, I’m off. I’ll breathe the -4C air and walk seven blocks. Tomorrow morning will start with those 12 magical words: “Welcome to Tim Horton’s drive thru, may I take your order please?” And you can have my free seat on the bus. Am I bang on or way off base? Send your comments to the editor of the Weekly Journal at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca. = = = = = Walter Robinson is the former chief of staff to the mayor of Ottawa and a proud Orléans (Fallingbrook-Pineridge) resident. His column will appear each week. |