A look back at Ottawa's commuting history

From horse and buggy to buses and streetcar tracks to bike lanes, travelling to work has changed a lot in the past 150 yearsand so have we.

CBC has been exploring commuting this week through our series Nowhere Fast.

As part of that, we've heard from people who love or hate their commute, people who hack the system and people who do what they can to make sure traffic moves smoothly.

But to understandwhere we are and where we're going, it might help to knowhow far we've come.

Here's a look back.

Riding the rails

As further delays to the opening of theConfederation Line light rail project fray the nerves of capital commuters, it may be soothing to reflect on atime when people in Ottawa rode the rails downtown.

• LRT running late for 3rd time

It's been nearly 60 years since the last Ottawan used a streetcar to cross the city.

Back in 1891, the first cars ranthe city's four routes, including along Elgin and Bank streets. By the time the last streetcar finished its route, OC Transpo says service had expanded across the city.

More bus riders, more problems?

More buses, more riders, more money

6 years ago

Duration 1:14

In 1980, Ottawa considered introducing park-and-rides, rolling out articulated buses and increasing fares.

It was a time when ridership and ticket prices were expected to keep on rising.

In 1980, transit users were being prepped for some big changes, including a brand new idea: a two-part bus that bends around corners.

But articulated buses weren't the only innovation up for discussion.

Business owners were starting to complain that riders were ditchingtheir cars in plaza parking lots before hopping on a bus for their daily commute.

The suggested solution? A new park-and-ride system.

Their way or the highway

In the 1960s, more drivers were hitting the road, causing some major congestion.

Clogged downtown roadways sparked the idea for some new traffic arteries, including a series of freeways.

At the time, CBC spoke with a consultant who advised the city it needed a three-part system: a downtown distributor for automobiles and buses, a system of radial freeways leading into the region from the outside and a ring road surrounding downtown Ottawa and Hull.

Of course, not everyone thought driving issues could be solved with better infrastructure.

Thisundated video report debates a question so seemingly out-of-date it offends modern ears: are women drivers safer or less safe than men?

CBC Flashback: Who's the better driver?

6 years ago

Duration 0:41

In this report from the 1960s, driving becomes a battle of the sexes.

Cycling as the way of the future

In May 1979, Ottawa introduced bike lanes, as a pilot project. The next year, cyclists were relieved to hear city officials wanted to retain the experiment.

'People are turning to the bicycle'

6 years ago

Duration 1:51

Back in 1979, municipal officials and cyclists made the case for a bike lane system expanded to the suburbs.

"Bicycling, in fact, has arrived in terms of a legitimate mode of transportation," said one cyclist who showed up to a meeting of the regional transportation committee.

City officials fell short of recommending an expansion to the suburbs.

But they made it clear that cycling wasn't going anywhere:"People are turning to the bicycle; they're forced to, due to economics.

"And apart from all that it's darn good exercise."