Comments on: Shuttle to Nowhere

By: Daniel Robitaille

Daniel Robitaille — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:22:03 +0000

I was a daily user of the Go Shuttle bus in Newmarket (#223) for nearly a full year until I gave up on it. Between the odd bus shuttle not showing up in the morning, too many delays waiting for the bus in the evening at the Newmarket Go train station, and one very rude drive at the end, I decided to stop. I’m lucky enough to live relatively close to the station that for the investment of 5 more minutes for my commute I can walk for 20 minutes to get to the station instead of: walking 5 minutes to the bus stop, wait for the bus for 5 minutes (so that I was sure to be early enough for it), and a bus ride of 5 minutes. So 20 mins instead of 15 mins, but peace of mind of having total control on that part of my commute.

By: Gail A V

Gail A V — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:58:23 +0000

Hey, that’s what I’ve been trying to say for years!!!. When I lived in Newmarket and had to be at work near Bloor and Islington by 7AM, to take public transit, I would have had to catch the first morning bus, after finding a way to get to where the buses run to Toronto, then have a 3 or more hour ride and subway changes, to the Royal York subway station – one way – 6 hours on top of an 8 hour day. When I mentioned this at one of the open houses which the local (Newmarket) government had on transit, they (one of whom may have been the current mayor who was not mayor at the time) suggested I car pool. There are many people driving to Toronto between 5AM and 6AM (as anyone who drives the 404 or 400 at that time knows. However no one that I knew and possibly no one going to the Bloor & Islington area.
American cities like Boston and New York have more extensive subway and bus systems and are more convenient to get around without a car, even in the suburbs (as far as I know, anyway)so it certainly can be done in North America.
I understand public transit is much better and more frequent from Richmond Hill. I’ve often driven people to Richmond Hill to catch a bus and subway to Toronto or other areas.

By: Glenn Hubbers

Glenn Hubbers — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:29:14 +0000

@Leo Petr

“Is the Viva Blue to Finch, subway to Eglinton less convenient for you?”

I have taken the Viva Blue on the rare occasion that I need to go to the north end of Toronto, or Markham or such, but it adds an awful lot to my travel time and will continue to do so until we have dedicated lanes and get the buses out of general traffic.

Generally, it’s ok to have local transit in mixed traffic, although better if not, but longer distance or regional transit needs to have dedicated lanes. Essentially the planners need to plan the transit in dedicated lanes and cars can have the remaining pavement.

By: Leo Petr

Leo Petr — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:56:46 +0000

The schedule is unfortunate.

They are supposed to move the York U Go station to integrate with the Spadina Subway extension, which should hopefully make this commute more realistic. Maybe there’ll be some fare integration in place by then, maybe not.

Is the Viva Blue to Finch, subway to Eglinton less convenient for you? Viva’s pretty snappy as buses go.

By: scruss

scruss — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:50:11 +0000

hey, leave my windmills alone!