http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/08/13/ot-transit-080813.html

Convenience is the key factor that determines whether Ottawa residents use transit or not, says a new Ottawa survey.

The survey of 2,000 Ottawa transit users and non-users conducted by Core Strategies Inc. for OC Transpo was released Wednesday at a news conference.
Top reasons cited for choosing transit over other modes of transportation (with % of responses)
Source: OC Transpo 2008 usage and attitude survey
Transit is more convenient 38%
Transit is less expensive 32%
Transit is faster 14%
Parking is not available 14%
No access to a car 14%

It showed that convenience is the top reason transit users choose transit over other modes, but transit's lack of convenience is cited as the top reason or near top reason why infrequent users and non-users stopped taking transit.

Alain Mercier, head of OC Transpo, said that will make it tricky to target non-users of transit.

"We can't achieve the convenience factors with the model we've got today," he said.

Both Mercier and Coun. Alex Cullen, chair of the city's transit committee, acknowledged that the city's bus system is at capacity downtown, where most people work.
Top reasons cited by infrequent and non-users for stopping transit use (with % of responses)

Source: OC Transpo 2008 usage and attitude survey
-----------------------------(Infrequent user Non-user)
Transit is inconvenient 23% 22%
Bought or began using a car 15% 23%
Retired 13% 10%
Moved 11% 11%
Changed jobs 10% 11%

"Crossing downtown is very congested," Cullen said, adding that the system also has to deal with the crowded buses caused by ridership growth.

Nevertheless, the survey reported that 70 per cent of respondents rated the service at OC Transpo as either good or very good, up from previous surveys.

Mercier said OC Transpo would like to see that number higher — at 80 or 90 per cent, as it is for certain other transit systems in the country.

The survey also found that transportation is the most important issue to Ottawans, ahead of taxes, city spending, maintaining city services or transit alone.

Mercier indicated that people's desire to use transit, if it is convenient, is increasing.

"The needs of the population are changing. People want to leave their cars at home. People want to avoid buying a second car. We just have to give them the right solution."