Viva! ...York Region

In the past five years, I've taken public transit to work perhaps 10 or 15 times. Certainly not in the last couple of years, since I've twice now had to drive (ironically) to York Region Transit head office, to exchange my unused book of 2004 tickets for 2005, and then 2006 fares.

With another new year approaching, and probably an accompanying fare hike, I figure I should use up the tickets I have. Plus the fact that I can't drive properly this week, with one wrist in a splint...

It's been just over a year now that the Viva service started running. I have to say that I'm impressed. Fancy new buses, GPS tracking, automated ticketing - why it's practically European.

A tale of two buses
Morning (Viva!) - 44 minutes
11:38 am - Purchase ticket at Finch station platform. Wait time for Viva Blue bus: zero!
11:42 - Depart Finch station - 25% full (double-length articulated bus)
11:56 - Arrive at Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
12:00 - Viva Purple bus scheduled to arrive at platform
12:02 - Actual arrival
12:04 - Depart Richmond Hill Centre Terminal - 40-50% full (single length bus)
12:22 - Arrive at Town Centre Boulevard Vivastation

Evening (Business Express - not Viva) - 56 minutes
17:52 - Scheduled to arrive
18:11 - Actual arrival, late as usual. Departs with 6 passengers and grim-faced driver (probably wishes he was driving one of the new Viva buses).
18:30 - Arrive at Commerce Valley Drive to pick up 5 more passengers. Good-natured grumbling about the previous bus being early, resulting in a 40 minute wait. Pick up 5 more at Leslie Street.
1832-1835 - Smooth sailing down the 407
1848 - Arrive at Finch station

Election Night

It's hard to believe that we've just passed the midterms. A full two years ago, I was aboard a very late and very empty (a full row for every passenger) 777, flying from Chicago into the reddest of red states. The weather was pouring heavy rain as I picked up my favourite rental car of all time - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara SE. It was simply effortless to drive, on a midnight run down the President George (H.W.) Bush Turnpike...

Deep in the Heart of Texas