Modes of transportation to get to work: In Niagara, the automobile continues to be the predominant mode of travel to work with 89.9% of the population identifying they used the car as their primary mode of travel to work, either as a passenger or driver in 2006. This number was slightly down from 1996 (90.8 %) and 2001 (91.1%). In 2006, 69.4% of workers living in one of the CMAs drove their car to work, and the lowest use of the car was in larger city areas, lowest in Ottawa-Gatineau (62.7%) and Toronto (63.6%) and the highest use in Abbotsville (93.2%), Barrie (90.6%) and Windsor (90.6%).
Use of public transit as a mode of transportation to work… Only 2.8% of Niagara residents reported using public transit buses and taxicabs to get to work in 2007. This figure is up very little from 2.5% in 2006 and 2.0% in 2001. Niagara’s use of public transit is far below Ontario’s use of public transit at 15.1% in 2006, and below most other CMA’s in Ontario. Larger urban areas in Canada showed greater use and availability of public transit: Toronto (22.2%), Ottawa-Gatineau (21.2%) and Halifax (11.9%) in 2006. 11% of Canadians used public transit in 2006. Up until 2011, Niagara’s bus transit systems have been operated by each separate city transit company with no regional transit system. Source: Statistics Canada.
Emerging Activity:
– As of September 2011 a new Niagara Region Transit project began, with the Region operating 8 buses for inter-municipal lines to the 3 large city centers. Tickets initially cost $5.00 each.
– Niagara GO Transit …is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario. Niagara GO Transit buses are now in operation and primarily link toHamilton andToronto.
Figure 2.1
Other modes of transportation … 6.4% in Niagara report walking or cycling to work in 2007 (1.5% cycle to work and 1.1% take other modes of transportation). This figure is up from 5.0% in 2005. Use of alternatives to the auto and public transit went up only slightly between GSS reporting times. In Canada, 6.4% walk to work and 1.3% cycle to work. Younger workers are more likely to cycle to work and those who live less than 1 km from work. Source: General Social Survey (GSS), 2007
