Perfectly agreed.
I really appreciate the work you did trying to make transit better in this city drum. It's a shame that change seems to happen so slowly (or even going backwards sometimes).
Personally, I very much want to get involved but I'm not quite sure how. Do you have any advice how one might get started? What are your methods/strategies? If you don't mind I'd love to learn from your experience. Thanks.
It started for me over a simple complaint starting with the Feb 2000 change to route 19 that use to see buses every 6 minute south of Sq One and 18 minutes north to 11-13 from end to end. It was common to wait up to 45 minutes in Brampton, Sq One or Port credit for an artic to show up only to see 3 to 5 arriving in a convoy for that change. I found out quickly that this was the tip of the iceberg for the city.
Try to find help in Mississauga and none to be found that I looked to Toronto for it. Found some, but only for Toronto that it has it share of issues like Mississauga and became more involve GTA wise for transit.
Over the years there was talk about a transit committee under the city and it went no where considering there is a cycle committee.
One thing I will say, ""DO YOUR HOMEWORK WITH DATA"" to backup what you are trying to do. Council was taken back when I presented issues as I had done the homework along with photos and raw data that they listen more and respect what I was saying to making changes. Everyone before me and after I started to deal with transit would just complain to the point where council asked these people what they wanted and how to do it as well fund it that they have no answer for it.
You need to offer solutions and recommendations as well cost to deal with your issue as well think about others who maybe impacted by these changes. You need to think of a network within a network and not just one route
I have seen various solutions and recommendations I have call for to happen within a short time to over 10 years with a number still to come.
Today the powers to be march to their beat with the public having very little to say on it when it comes to transit as it all about getting reelected and staying in office.
I have worked on too many project behind the scene to see this first hand that my time is coming to the end for fighting for better transit as well not doing this for most of one life like a few have.
There are a number of transit groups around, but they also march to someone beat that not good for everyone or going after what they want. Been part of a few groups that I am better off doing my thing for everyone, not just me even though a few may benefit me over time.
