Surprisingly their are many riders out their that see the City, OC Transpo and the Drivers as one in the same…

This is the least City Council should do, I can’t believe the lack of suburban service (brought on by City Council), is the excuse they will use to not extend the free service. This council is ridiculous.

Clive Doucet for Mayor!

For 9 to 5ers with cars, its annoying, but it did not hurt our livelihoods. But for small businesses, it is their livelihoods that were hurt, the city needs to do what they can for them. Small businesses contribute the the cities local culture, and the city has an obligation to help it thrive.

In regards to Police, they don’t publically “whine” because they are an essential service. So binding arbitrations help determine their contract, but the Police Service workers, ALWAYS wins in any negotiations.

While I agree that the Police risk their lives, a line has to be drawn, because in the end, it is considered a job that requires very little education. For example, Toronto Police are paid higher than the average soldier serving in Afghanistan. Policing Toronto maybe dangerous, but its no worst than policing Kandahar.

Police Association’s all over Ontario yield as much influence in City council, as bus drivers.

For the inconvenience and hardship they have caused, I think we should ride the bus for “free” and it should come out of their pockets. How does it make any sense for it to come out of our tax dollars? As “RealGrouchy” said, we’re not stupid….I could tell you who IS though.

How many city jobs can you name pay more than $40k a year with nothing but a high school education? Police officers that dedicate their lives to protecting and policing don’t whine as much as these drivers do. Firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis.

Here is your job description: You drive from point a to point b. Wow. I can see how thats a real challenge.

Now the busses should be running again soon. Great. In urban areas? No. At major bus depots, where people whom have cars can easily park n ride and commute downtown. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy my hike to work in -20 weather. But it’s cool oc transpo. Whenever you’re ready.

p.s. the environment thanks you too. think of every rider you have driving a car instead of taking a bus. awesome.

I support the idea to extend a discount to the other riders in Ottawa, but not the same discount as potential U-Pass holders. In Vancouver, students pay $100 a semester for U-Passes. I’m sure such a reduced rate, would put OC-Transpo into debt it is extended to the rest of the population.

Im curious to know, what discounts OC Transpo has in-store for March. It will contribute to whether I buy a pass next month or not.

Nick from “Transit in Ottawa” and I both endorsed the idea of the Universal Pass for Ottawa area University and College students on the Ottawa Morning Show, on CBC Radio One earlier today.

I went further and suggested on CBC Radio, that a U-Pass style, long-term discount ought to be offered to other segments of society.

If Councilor Clive Doucet had been mayor would the strike have been over sooner?

I agree with the no fare increase as well, but I think that no municipal politician would support a fare increase, after a long and memorable strike, for AT LEAST 18 months, so perhaps an official policy is not needed.

In the end, its Tax Payers that will bare the brunt of the ‘free’ service, so my main argument is that, by providing free service, we can help revive the local economy, so cheap skates (such as myself) would visit other regions in the city, like the Glebe, Westborough or even Orleans and spend all the money that I haven’t spent in the last 51 days!

Its the mom’s and pop’s stores that have been hurt severely. Retail workers have been laid-off. If the free service suddenly increases demand, all the laid-off single mothers or students who have lost their jobs because of the strike (but desperately need it) will be put back into the labour force. Kill 2 birds with one stone