Transit Week Challenge 2019

Last year, we called on all city councillors and all of you to use transit as much as you could for the week of Monday February 4 to Sunday February 10. Buses should be used for all transportation besides walking. Yes, this means long trips across the city, going out with your friends, important meetings – all travel except emergencies.

The Challenge was a success thanks to the participation of most councillors and community members throughout the City! We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of coverage that the Challenge received in the media. We rounded up posts from the week highlighting the experiences and responses to the challenge, depicting the barriers faced by transit riders everyday.

The best councillor tweets from the Ottawa Transit Challenge

Transit challenge proves difficult for some councillors

Some of the city councillors taking this week’s challenge are defending their use of cars to get to appointments. (Martin Weaver/CBC)

Councillor stresses need for Ottawa transit changes, as fares rise while ridership drops

Ridealong: Stittsville councillor shares the highs and lows of the transit week challenge

Postmedia reporter Ananya Vaghela joined Ottawa councillor Glen Gower on the #62 bus from Stittsville for his commute to City Hall on February 8, 2019. ERROL MCGIHON / POSTMEDIA

Councillor supports Transit Week Challenge group’s call for OC Transpo fare freeze

Blewett, Ottawa Citizen, February 11, 2019

City of Ottawa councillors (L-R) Theresa Kavanagh, Catherine McKenney, and Shawn Menard initiate a wrap-up press conference to discuss the Transit Week Challenge at City Hall on February 11, 2019. ERROL MCGIHON / POSTMEDIA

Mayor, some councillors turn down transit challenge

Barrhaven Coun. Jan Harder says she plans to take transit this week, but knew she wouldn’t be able to rely on it for all her commitments, so she isn’t officially taking part in the challenge. (Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC)

Dear councillors who can’t hack transit: We’re not sorry for you

Diane Larabie doesn’t have a car and relies solely on OC Transpo to get around. She says it defines her life.(Robyn Miller/CBC)

GIBBONS: It was a tough week for Transit Week Challenge

Ottawa City Councillor Catherine McKenney gets on a bus in Ottawa Monday Feb 4, 2019.Tony Caldwell / Postmedia

Majority of Ottawa City Councillors pledge to use only public transit this week

Transit challenge organizers demand fare freeze

Kirstin Pulles is with Free Transit Ottawa, the group that challenged city councillors to spend a week relying only on public transit to get around town. (CBC

Social Sharing

In a nutshell, the goals of the campaign are to:

  •  Highlight effective and affordable transit as an issue at municipal level
  •  Encourage interaction/involvement between councillors and the general public
  •  Identify strengths and places for improvement in our transit system

This event is proudly co-sponsored by Ecology Ottawa, ATU Local 279, the Healthy Transportation Coalition. Carleton Student Energy, The Ottawa Transit Riders, Joel Harden – NDP, and more to come.
Media contact: Kirstin Pulles 
Tel  519 829 8463 
kirstin.pulles@outlook.com