If a PWD is Stranded in the City – Will Anyone Hear Us?

 Last Monday, Ottawa Transit Riders and ParaParity members held a Para Transpo awareness meeting at City Hall. I admit I only saw about 38 minutes of the meeting. Based on what I saw, the discussion mainly consisted of a two-person presentation and some questions from the audience. Several Para Transpo

An open letter regarding public transportation for PWD to those running for office.

 With this year’s edition of the Ottawa Transit Challenge still relatively fresh in our minds, I wanted to take the time to highlight some of the ongoing concerns that Para Transpo users face. I’m also hoping that some of the local councillors, new candidates, and other participants who are still

How to use the new My Para Transpo website

 I rarely get a chance to share good news regarding Para Transpo and for my fellow users. Last week, OC Transpo officially launched the My Para Transpo website. Through My Para Transpo, users of Para Transpo can do the following: Book trips for the next day, or seven days in

Attention city hall: Please stop ignoring Para Transpo riders

 Last week, I took my first trip of 2022 on Para Transpo. While my experience on that day went smoothly, it’s not always the case. Having a positive experience with Para Transpo can almost be a reason to celebrate. For those who aren’t aware of what Para Transpo is, I’ll

Para Transpo: The neverending battle for a smoother ride

 If you’ve lived in Ottawa for any length of time, you’ve probably seen a Para Transpo vehicle. In the first of a two-part series on Para Transpo, I’ll give an overview of how the service works. What is Para Transpo? Para Transpo provides door-to-door service for people with disabilities and

Introducing OLM’s new contributor, Ryan Lythall

 My name is Ryan Lythall. This is my first column for Ottawa Life Magazine, so I wanted to introduce myself. My story is a bit different than most. In 1975, I was born with a rare Neuromuscular condition called Nemaline Myopathy. NM causes muscle weakness, speech impairments, and respiratory problems.