Monday 12 October 2015

Entry #39

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone, I hope everyone enjoyed their turkey dinner, stuffing and much more! On April 2, Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper called an early election that would last 79 days. As of October 11 there have been 850,000 people have cast their ballot during the advanced polls. That is an increase from 2008 but 90%. When I went to cast my ballot yesterday at the advanced polls, the people there were incredibly surprised to see a youth vote. I told them it was my first vote in the Federal Election, and they were very happy. I am encouraging all people to go out and cast there ballot in this Canadian election. 

When I was walking home after I cast my ballot (it was Sunday schedule for the bus routes) I noticed at least 5 people waiting for route #23 Idlewood. Route 23 does not operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. After seeing that many people waiting for the 23 at that stop, I wondered hoe many other people were waiting for it along it's route. I can see in January that the 23 gets 30 min Sunday/Holiday service. The ridership demand is there for the 23, I would recommend the 23 get Sunday service that would provide that missing link between Stanley Park mall and Fairview Park. 

The last time I went on a run on the route 5 Erb (5 Erb to Bridgeport/5 Erb to The Boardwalk) the Bridgeport neighbourhood section of the 5 is incredibly busy. I'm surprised that the 5 does not service that neighbourhood on Sundays. Maybe in the near future the full route 5 would get Sunday service. But this route also gave me an idea to extend the 23 to the Waterloo Regional Airport via the Heritage Park neighbourhood, Victoria Street and Fountain Street. The Waterloo Regional airport does not have any service at all, maybe creating a hub at the Airport that would connect routes like the 23, and 52  which would provide connections to Fairview Park-Sportsworld-Ainslie Street terminal (route 52 via Cherry Blossom) and the Heritage Park neighbourhood-Stanley Park Mall-Fairview Park (route 23 Idlewood). Another idea that a friend of mine mentioned was build a hub at Bingemans Park. Have routes 20 Victoria-Frederick, 23 Idlewood and 34 Bingemans service Bingemans park, this would provide 3 local connections to Downtown, Fairview Park-Stanley Park, and various neighbourhoods. 

I like the idea of moving the Stanley Park mall hub to Bingemans Park, this would provide families, seniors and teens a way to get to Bingemans Park. 

Let me know your thoughts on that. Have a great day everyone! 

David