07-16-2015, 09:22 AM
(07-16-2015, 08:14 AM)MidTowner Wrote: I agree with ElmiraGuy that there ought to be a line that travels the entire length of Weber: mpd618's explanation for why that doesn't (yet) exist is a good one, and I think it will probably be something that happens once the Ion is running.
The current routing of the 8 frustrates me- the jogs away from Weber between Union and Queen and Ottawa and Franklin. The latter will become less necessary when the Ottawa express is running, but I know the former is in order to serve the Breithaupt Community Centre on Margaret. I'm not sure how much ridership that generates to divert an important bus from a major corridor, but I know it's important for it to have service. My solution to that would be for the 4 to operate more like a crosstown- it now travels further to the East (to Weber) before heading downtown, but I think there's little real need for it to travel downtown at all, given the good connections that will exist at King (and maybe Weber). It could continue further across Union to Margaret, jog down Margaret to serve the community centre, and then turn around somewhere or head further east (maybe on Guelph) to serve a few more neighbourhoods and turn around somewhere logical.
I'm surprised that the 8 has high ridership. It never seemed to me like it would, given its routing and some of the neighbourhoods it passes through.
I can vouch that the stop for Breithaupt Centre generally has the highest number of boarding/discharging of any stop between Weber/Lincoln and KPL - particularly in the afternoons. Though they may all be going to Giant Tiger and not the community centre . . . .