‘I have written directly to the Transit Manager asking what strategies riders should use to plan routes when buses routinely run early or late. That correspondence went unanswered. For a service that many residents rely on to get to work, school, and appointments, this lack of clarity and engagement is concerning’

To the editor:

As someone who has lived in multiple communities and relied on public transit for years—ranging from major urban centres to cities comparable in size to North Bay, and even a small town with a quarter of the population—I believe North Bay Transit must innovate and improve if ridership is to grow.

The Good

North Bay Transit has strengths worth recognizing. The majority of drivers and frontline staff are friendly and professional, and I generally feel safe using the service. Incidents of violence or theft appear to be low, which is no small achievement. Dynamic Dispatching also seems to be an effective way to manage operating costs while still serving residents across the city. That said, because departure times can vary widely, this system makes trip planning difficult unless riders have significant time to spare.

The Challenges

Unfortunately, many issues have persisted for years with little visible improvement.

Riders regularly experience buses arriving early, late, or not at all. There are also frequent inconsistencies between posted schedules, the MyRideNBT app, and Google Maps, which further undermines confidence in the system.

I have written to City supervisors seeking guidance on how schedules are intended to work and requesting a proper timetable to help plan trips. The response I received was simply to “use Google Maps.”

I have also written directly to the Transit Manager asking what strategies riders should use to plan routes when buses routinely run early or late. That correspondence went unanswered. For a service that many residents rely on to get to work, school, and appointments, this lack of clarity and engagement is concerning.

Transfers are another area where North Bay lags behind comparable cities.

Transfers are currently valid for one-way travel only, while many similar-sized municipalities offer time-based fares. Sudbury provides 90-minute transfers, Barrie offers two hours, and Timmins also provides 90 minutes. Time-based fares offer flexibility, support errands and appointments, and make transit more usable for daily life.

Other municipalities also recognize transit as a public safety tool. Many offer free or extended service on New Year’s Eve to discourage drinking and driving. Barrie Transit provides free rides starting at 5 p.m. with extended service until approximately 3 a.m. Sudbury Transit offers extended hours and free service after 10 p.m. North Bay offers neither.

Finally, governance and staffing deserve scrutiny.

North Bay Transit has four senior-level positions overseeing nine routes. By comparison, Sudbury operates 25 routes with two senior staff, and Barrie runs 13 routes with two. These additional resources could be better utilized to improve service reliability, audit schedules, consult with neighboring systems, or explore contracted and innovative service models.

The Opportunity

North Bay residents are not asking for perfection—we are asking for predictability, communication, and a willingness to improve. If transit is meant to be a viable alternative to driving, it must be reliable enough to plan a life around, not just flexible enough to excuse its failures.

Other cities of our size have shown that thoughtful scheduling, clear fare policies, and rider-focused leadership can increase trust and ridership. North Bay has the staff, the tools, and the comparisons readily available.

What is missing is not opportunity, but action. Until reliability and accountability are treated as priorities, transit will remain a last resort instead of a first choice.

Richard Martin

North Bay