It is always great when you discover the silver lining to a troublesome problem! My problem began when my long commute from Kanata to downtown became much longer with the launch of Ottawa’s LRT.
Somedays to avoid the LRT stress, I would walk from Tunney’s to my office near Bank and Somerset. It was a good 50 minute walk across and along traffic-laden streets. With the dark days of November and December setting in, I realized that being visible on the busy streets would become a challenge. Good exercise though it might be, a 50 minute walk twice a day was time-consuming and not all that practical.
One day, as I was climbing down the stairs of the double-decker 63 to switch to the LRT at Tunney’s Pasture, I noticed that not everyone was getting off. I wondered where they could possibly be going? Back to Kanata? I thought all the buses terminated at Tunney’s Pasture. After consulting my handheld device and then the front of the bus, I discovered that some buses actually continue to Gatineau across the river!
I was upset at first. No wonder “my” bus is never on time – it is bungled up in Gatineau traffic as well as Ottawa traffic! After a bit more investigation, I discovered my 63 bus continues parallel to the LRT for two stops BEYOND Tunney’s before crossing the river at Booth Street.
Then an idea struck me! I could just stay on my bus and get off two stops closer to downtown and reduce my walk to a more-manageable 25 mins!
It took me a little time and experimentation to find the nicest walking route. Now, I walk along Scott for a short while, climb a fantastical 5-storey metal staircase, and then walk on residential streets and through a beautiful city park. I choose my route to maximize trees, pretty houses, quiet streets, interesting buildings, parks, people, birds, and safest crossings .
I now thoroughly enjoy my walk to and from work. So far I have only walked in the winter months and am grateful for my alpaca leg warmers, warm coat, and ice grips. Spring – what will she deliver from under the packed snow and ice? What will appear in the tiny gardens in front of the houses? Will the raven that hangs out near the curling rink still be there or will he move on? (I may have named him!)
The walk has made a significant impact on my well-being. Not only am I getting a bit of exercise, but I am spending time outside with trees, in parks, and on human-sized streets.
Back when I rode the LRT, I walked along O’Connor Street with its sorry, potted trees, heavy traffic, tall buildings, hard surfaces, noise, and rushing people. The walk was a 10-12 minutes long, but it had no noticeable impact on my well-being. I am curious. Is it the Nature Effect? Do the scale and character of the buildings matter? How about the speed and volume of the traffic?
Whatever the case, I am now thankful for the LRT and its silver lining. I would not have walked this route if it had worked from the start. I truly hope that Ottawa’s LRT and bus system are sorted out soon. The good people at the City of Ottawa are working hard to deliver a top-notch public transit to keep our beautiful city healthy, green, and vibrant. I hope they succeed.
But, I might just continue walking to work.
