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  January 20

Thanks for being such a great coordinator for these Smart Commute programs.  We enjoy being part of them.

A.H., B.A. Hons
HDR | iTRANS

November 26

Hi Smart Commute Team,
Here are some of the points I mentioned at today's lunch and learn. Thanks for your time by the way. :-)

1. Why is there one price for a monthly pass, and another price for weekly passes?  This does not encourage me to buy a monthly bus pass, it encourages me to buy three one week passes and drive my car for the other week.  Even though I might only need to take my car twice that month to work.

2. Transit services need to connect better within the GTA, without double dipping.  I know that Richmond Hill is already working on this - but is this something that will effect other transit systems - say for instance - Durham transit?

3. I come in from Oshawa. The bus starts from Oshawa's bus terminal (which offers no parking), but it isn't allowed to stop in Oshawa at all (from what I was told by a Go Bus driver).  I have to drive to Brooklin, a 15 minute drive away, take a GO bus 45 minutes to Langstaff Station south.  There are no buses that go north on Yonge in the morning, and none that go south in the afternoon.  I have to walk from Langstaff Station south, north on Yonge Street to just past Bantry and Scott which is a 30 minute walk both ways.  Taking the bus December thru to March is not an option.  For one, it's too cold, even bundled up.  The sidewalks are uneven with snow most of the time, and not cleared early enough on a snow day. Driving - 2 hours commute.  Taking the bus… 3 hours.  Even so, I love taking the bus.  If it met my needs, I would take it year round.

Regards,
JH
MD Management Ltd.
A Division of the Canadian Medical Association

Want to add a comment or suggestion? Email it to info@smartcommute404-7.ca

Ed.: It looks like we had a total of 56 drivers that switched to public transit (or bicycle) and participated in our CarFree Day promotion on September 22nd.
Thanks to everyone for your work on this event!  Read some riders' comments below (our winner's comments, too):

September 29
It was great to see you when you visited the office and, as we discussed, I was going to let you know how my experience was.

I must say it was quite pleasant to sit and have someone else do the driving for me. The entire trip both ways was quite enjoyable (as expected the bus was about 10 minutes late as usual) but the entire experience has led me to rethink my travelling to and from work.

I have decided that starting October I will take the bus for the winter months, because it seems to be a lot easier on my nerves - I find driving around in Richmond Hill and Markham in traffic is terrible.   The buses are quite busy but, even though they tend to be late at times, I find after a busy day at work I can just jump on the bus and get to my son's school pretty much on time.

Once again thanks for the free tickets and hope to talk to you soon.

Thanks,

D.H.
SENES Consultants Limited

September 24
September 22 (Care Free Day 2009) looked gloomy at first, but it turned out to be nice, hot 1st day of Autumn.  I enjoyed my bike ride to work a lot. I wish I could do this every day!!!

E.G.
CADD Operator
Electrical Engineering  

September 22
Hi.
First of all, I want to thank you (Smart Commute 404-7) for holding such an event (Car Free Day) and for providing people with an opportunity to experience the regular commute by YRT/VIVA.

I live in Markham between McCowan and Brimley and work in Richmond Hill at Highway 7 and East Beaver Creek. I usually drive to work and I spend about twenty minutes on the road per trip. This morning, it took me around ten minutes to walk to the closest bus stop at McCowan and Denison. I waited a bit before the 7:12 129 bus arrived. It took me about twenty minutes to get to Highway 7 (Markville Shopping Mall). I waited until 7:40 when the Purple bus arrived. I didn't get to East Beaver Creek Road until 8:05. The total trip was about one hour.

The drivers were very friendly and courteous and the buses were clean. However, the YRT/VIVA buses don't seem as frequent as the TTC buses at the rush hours, for example 129 bus every ten minutes. Also to my surprise, the Purple bus does not go straight along Highway 7. Instead it goes down south on Kennedy Road to Enterprise Road and then to Warden and back to Highway 7. I don't understand why it does not go straight and feel it makes no sense to go to Enterprise Road (that section of Kennedy Road being busy at the rush hour and only three stops until Town Civic Center). It would be more time-efficient if there was a bus that goes straight along Highway 7 (maybe there is one I am not aware of.).

Excuse my frankness. I can only consider taking the public transit for the regular office hours and in a good weather condition. I would prefer to drive when time and weather are issues.

Again, I appreciate this opportunity. I hope to see an even better and more efficient transit system to enhance its ridership.

Regards
J.W.
Town of Richmond Hill
 

September 22
HI,
my names nelly and today i was carfree!

usually i would let my mom or my class mate drive me to school everyday, but on this special occasion i took THREE buses to get to school and another THREE buses to get back home!
but while i was on the viva it got me thinking that if everyone were to do this everyday instead of once every year, this world would last much longer!
Which is why i have decided to bus to school from now one :)
my picture is not uploading but i took like five.



... and our bicycle winner's comments:

"Thanks again, SC 404-7!  ... My son really likes the bike and it couldn't have come at a better time.
He was working on his last 2 gears and my wife or I would soon be driving him everywhere.
He just started at a new school and really enjoys riding his bike to school. It sure beats having to drop him off every morning. Even on these cooler mornings he is still taking the bike."

Bruce Block

 It all started this past summer, my son had a part time job in the Town of Richmond Hill and I normally would drive him to work with me but I was on vacation. He had to find a way to work. Being computer savvy, he quickly discovered that the Go bus had an express route from Mississauga Square 1 to Richmond Hill, and off he went. Now back in school, I was no longer car pooling but travelling alone again in my gas guzzling machine. I decided to try the trip by bus on the 22nd. Getting up ten minutes earlier to catch the express Go bus from Square 1 in Mississauga , I arrived at Richmond Hill Centre in less time than I would have if I had driven myself and quickly connected with the Viva to reach my destination on time, heck I even beat the boss into the office. My return home was just as easy, and I was even able to have a nap. When I crunch the numbers, it will cost me the same to add fuel to my vehicle as it will to buy 2 bus passes, but I will save the cost of using the 407 ETR and the extra maintenance to operate the van. When I take the bus I can use my phone/blackberry, read the newspaper, eat, drink my coffee and even take a nap if I please, all legally I might add, and I'm not waiting in traffic either because the bus has the right of way. To sum it up, I would have to say my experience was very pleasant and relaxing, I will be using the bus again.

Bruce Block
Town of Richmond Hill

 
 
September 10
 I am happy to see our cities Going GREEN and working hard to reduce carbon footprints.
Indeed, most local people and visitors from abroad are enchanted by Canada's natural beauty, spectacular scenic landscapes and are very much impressed & amazed by the healthy, clean and green environment of major Canadian towns & cities.  Richmond Hill for one is a very unique town and a beautiful place.
(Applause to the good GREEN work of Smart Commute)!
 
  
 
September 9 -
As always, I enjoy reading the News from Smart Commute 404-7.
 
Just wanted to let you know that your Smart Commute program has become pretty popular with both local residents and tourists from overseas.
Some of my friends from abroad who came visiting Ontario for the first time were very impressed with the YRT/Viva Bus transit system. Even for those globe trotters who have roamed & travelled to many capital cities in the world felt very impressed with the generally very CLEAN Viva  buses & courteous service. 
 
May I wish you continuing success in your Smart Commute programs, and best wishes to All ...


June 15 - I am pleased to know that the Smart Commute 404-7 Bike to Work Day was a great success.  Keep up the good work of keeping our city clean, healthy and green! 

M.T.P. F.
 
 


March 13 - I would like to say how grateful I am to have had my name drawn in the Smart Commute prize draw for an IPod.  I have wanted an IPod for over two years and I am thrilled with my gift!

 

I think the Smart Commute is a wonderful program.  I was very lucky to have participated in a great carpool that was made up of people from several different companies.  It was unfortunate that, due to cut backs in their companies, a couple members had to be laid off; therefore our carpool had to discontinue.  I feel very fortunate to still be employed here at Scholastic with a career that I greatly enjoy.

 

I believe Smart Commute is a fantastic way to not only help the environment – but especially in these tight economic times to help families save on expenses.  I, myself, calculated almost a $2,500 savings last year alone due to commuting! 

 

Meantime, I am still looking for another carpool and appreciate your efforts to expand the awareness of your program.  Your prize draw helped the staff here at Scholastic Canada to learn more about the benefits of using Smart Commute, and therefore hopefully more staff will start to use the program. 

 

My one recommendation is to make sure company staff understands that there can be a “safe ride home” provided for participants if they need a ride in an emergency.  I feel that is the main reason that more people who are using cars to get to work do not participate – their concerns of being stranded without a car for transportation.

 

Once again, thank you so much for my prize, it is greatly appreciated.  Your program is terrific and I wish you continued success!

 

Yours, L. A.

Scholastic Canada - Magazine Department

Feb. 25 - I just received your newsletter.  Wow, you are busy!!  This looks like a great program and something that really must be a necessity in the Toronto area. One would think it can only get bigger!!

 


Nov.  24 - GREAT WEBSITE FOR CARPOOL

I benefit a great deal from the carpool. As a new immigrant, I am very excited to be a full time student at Seneca College in the Markham campus, but after I realized the location of my new school, I felt very sad, because it is really far!
 
I am living at Young and St. Clair which is 25 Km to my school in Markham, I have no car, and the only way to deal with this, is taking the public transportation. I have to take TTC and Viva bus because my trip is across two regions and that means that I would have to spend 3 hours and 9 dollars commuting every day! What do I do now?
 
I got some carpooling information from student service centre in Markham Campus, and they also gave me a carpooler website http://www.smartcommute404-7.ca.  

 

Carpooling is more and more popular in Toronto.  My friends said that “It is an effective way to save time and money.  Why don’t you try it?”  I did, and it is easy and free to be a member. I just filled in some information and submitted it, but I didn’t put a lot of expectation into it actually. Next day I’ve received an email from “Smartcommute404-7”.  It said there were 3 people 50-80% match to my commute, and strongly encourage me to communicate with them.  It also attached appropriate information of where and when they are living and working, so it is very easy to evaluate the possibility of carpooling with them.

 

I wrote an email to the person who matched my trip better, and then received his prompt reply.  He lives at Bloor and Young, and works at Allstate Parkway, which it is less than 1 Km from my school. Every day he leaves home at 7:30 and gets out of the office at 4:00 in the afternoon. His main focus of the carpooling service is to save time and care for the environment.

 

Wow, it was great and we have a 100% match! We had a meeting in my building, and he gave me a great deal for the fare of carpool and made sure of some details.
 
Now, we meet at 7:30 downstairs of my apartment, and arrive at school at 8:00, afterwards he would bring me back home around 4:00 pm from school. I save at least 50 hours and 100 dollars every month, and more than that, we are good friends now! During our commute we discuss news, common interest, local culture, and policies. He used to go to university and shared some of his university experience with me, it was very helpful. We have family dinner and BBQ during summer, and we also enjoy our carpooling experience and friendship.
 
Carpooling is really benefiting me a lot.  It saves money, time, environment, and helped me make a new friend! Thanks a lot to my carpool and website http://www.smartcommute404-7.ca/

  
 

Oct. 30
I do sometimes car pool already, and use higher efficiency vehicles most of the time, avoiding the "lone occupancy car" when I can.  As to other suggestions, I ride my motorcycle instead of car, and car pool with a buddy (he quit my company last week, so I am in the process of looking for another), and try to work at home at least 1 day per 2 weeks (sometimes more). And for today, I drove the speed limit only (apparently to some disgust by other motorist, but whatever), and kept the throttle / brake action "smooth".  Actually, it's a bit of a challenge to do so, thus quite fun for a while ... And to "car free day" (ed.: Sept. 22), I discussed this with friends and family that did not "hear the news" of it. 

- W. L. -
Wayne's a winner in our CarFree Day Draw.  - Ed. -
  
 
Nov. 6 - It is a great idea, but not a new one.  Human driven quad cycles have been around for a while … I am still waiting for one with a steering wheel, roof, windshield, headlights and smaller wheelbase. 
Let’s see if anyone comes up with one.  - Ed. -   More ...

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