Trial and error isn’t the way to run a city
Another big change has taken effect in Peterborough; transit routes, again without any real public consultation. Similar to the changes made to the downtown core, the changes to the transit system will produce several negative outcomes.
One may feel as though these changes are for the greater good. We are, of course, still dealing with the societal symptoms of a global pandemic. Changes to our daily lives have been expected and often warranted.
We have, for months now, had to do many things differently. There is nothing normal about what is going on right now.
Improving on and implementing measures to increase social distancing is of course important. There is no denying that. How these measures are implemented can become problematic though.
The lack of public consultation regarding the changes to our transit routes as well as the downtown core is one of the greatest things concerning me right now.
We live in a democracy. Our voices should be heard and taken into consideration when decisions that impact our lives are being made. Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, public consultation is still possible and should be utilized.
The city has implemented these changes and told us to give it a chance, as if trial and error is the way to run a city. Never mind the immediate impacts to small business revenues or people’s schedules. We are expected to just silently suffer through it.
I have heard many complaints so far. People whose 20-minute bus ride to work has turned into an hour or more commute. People being stranded at the terminal, waiting in the heat for the next bus as the first one’s reduced capacity prevented them from getting a seat.
The goal of changing the transit routes was to improve social distancing. Yet running fewer bus routes, nine instead of the usual 17, diminishes the overall intended impact. Nine routes will not offer the same capacity as 17 would. As places slowly begin to re-open and more people return to work, shop and play across the city, ridership will continue to see increases towards pre-COVID-19 levels.
What we end up with is more people becoming stuck at the downtown terminal and waiting longer for a bus to arrive.
Another odd thing regarding the route changes is that six out of the nine routes go to Trent University and five go to Fleming College. Does it make sense to have that many buses running to both these locations right now when the schools are for the most part shut down until fall?
There are other specific issues within the routes, such as how buses no longer go through the Lansdowne Place parking lot anymore.
This poses an accessibility issue for those with limited mobility wishing to shop there.
The only good thing I see within the route changes is offering a more direct, non-stop, north-tosouth route.
A much simpler solution to this whole issue could have been to stagger when buses arrived at the terminal. Half of the usual routes could arrive at one time and the other half at another. This would have offered the same benefit of improving social distancing at the terminal while at the same time not having to mess around with the routes.
Was that idea considered? Who knows?
There is no report, no public debate, no consultation. The changes were implemented with the people of Peterborough being told to just deal with it.
Meanwhile, many riders who have been accustomed to the usual system are left at the curb wondering when the next bus will arrive.