Ottawa's failing transit system forces students to ditch buses for Uber rides

Ottawa's unreliable public transit has pushed students and commuters to rely on ride-hailing apps like Uber instead. Two recent city council motions now aim to address the issue by exploring compensation for riders and improving service accountability. The decisions follow years of frustration with delays and disruptions on OC Transpo's network.

On February 11, city council approved two motions targeting transit reliability. Councillor Sean Menard's proposal called for refunds to riders affected by disruptions, using funds set aside from unpaid reserves to the Rideau Transit Group. Meanwhile, Councillor Glen Gower's motion directed staff to develop a permanent accountability system and update OC Transpo's service reliability policy.

For many, the problems are personal. Brooke Anderson, president of the Carleton Transit Club, spends over an hour commuting from Kanata to Carleton University, often missing key connections. She now depends on Uber for critical trips, like exams, rather than risking delays. Anderson has pushed for dedicated bus lanes on Bank Street and Carling Avenue to speed up services.

Second-year student Kian Khalaj faces similar issues. Frustrated by frequent transit failures, he regularly deletes and re-downloads the Uber app to secure rides. Like Anderson, he supports compensation but would prefer a transit system that simply works. Both agree that reliable service matters more than refunds after the fact.

The approved motions mark a step toward addressing long-standing transit concerns. Staff will now examine how to refund riders and enforce stricter reliability standards. For students and daily commuters, the changes could mean fewer disruptions—and less reliance on costly alternatives like Uber.