LETTER

STO changes to Aylmer service

 

The changes to the service in Aylmer are a disaster. It is crazy to have the majority of your buses ignore your major bus station just to reduce the number of cars parking in the Rivermead car park. You have changed a flexible and efficient service into a joke. The 59s are late, and completely packed, while the 40s drive past with 10 passengers on board.

The worst part is returning to Aylmer from Ottawa where the 40 buses ignore two convenient stopping spots with sidewalks opposite Rivermead, and deposit passengers onto a grass verge on the corner of Morley Walters. From there we have to walk back along the bike path for 1 or 2 blocks to where we actually wanted to get off. In the winter with 4-foot snow banks, this will be dangerous. I urge you to return to the previous system before then.

The results of these changes have been an increase in traffic on the streets out of Aylmer. I'm sure we will see large numbers of passengers abandoning the STO.

I always thought a public service is about meeting the needs of the public. These changes do not meet anyone's needs.

Niall Campbell
Aylmer