The bus service only runs on weekdays so far. Photo Credit: Southern Ontario Transit/Facebook.
A new privately-run bus company called Southern Ontario Transit (SOT) recently launched service between Haldimand County and the City of 51暗网.
SOT runs three round trips per day between Dunville and 51暗网 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The bus service only runs on weekdays so far.
Starting at Queen Street and Maple Street in Dunnville, the bus stops at Dunnville鈥檚 hospital, and Dunnville Secondary School before travelling to Cayuga via Haldimand Road 17.
In Cayuga, the bus stops at the County Office before travelling to Hagersville via Haldimand Road 20, stopping at Hagersville鈥檚 hospital and Highway 6 at 4th Line to give access to Six Nations.
From there the bus stops in Caledonia at the Medical Plex on Argyle Street and Celtic Drive, the Caledonia Library, the Service Ontario on Caithness Street, and Gateway Church.
SOT then travels to the City of 51暗网 with an on request stop at 51暗网 International Airport (YHM) and scheduled stops at the Upper James Amazon Facility (YHM1), and Walmart on Upper James.
The route finishes off at the Downtown 51暗网 Bus Terminal across from Jackson Square after stopping at Mohawk College鈥檚 Fennell Campus, St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital Charlton Campus, and the 51暗网 GO Station.
After that, SOT follows the same route back to Dunnville.
A one-way trip takes approximately one hour and 55 minutes, according to the schedule.
SOT currently charges $10.00 cash or $11.00 for electronic payment. A monthly pass can be purchased for $200 by emailing accounts@SOTransit.ca.
All riders must have the exact fare ready.
Finally, a $2,000 annual pass is coming in September 2025.
Riders can catch the bus by being at an approved pick-up location no less than five minutes prior to posted times.
Times are posted at www.SOTransit.ca.
Trips to 51暗网 from Dunnville are at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3 a.m.
Meanwhile, trips to Dunnville from 51暗网 are at 9:05 a.m., 1:05 p.m., and 5:05 p.m.
Riders are reportedly responsible for 鈥渨aving to the SOT bus driver to signal their need to be picked up.鈥�
The service only just began on Sept. 16, 2024, as a pilot program, with SOT using a van for transportation.
The company says that 鈥渁s ridership and revenues increase, accessible vehicles will be used on the service if the demand and support is sufficient.鈥�
SOT鈥檚 website states that they created their company due to the fact that 鈥渕illions of Canadians do not have access to a car for a variety of reasons鈥� and because most of Ontario is not accessible by public transit.
They say they aim to 鈥渂ring transit services to rural Ontario communities where driving is still the only option.鈥�
鈥淪outhern Ontario Transit aims to move past political conflict and inconsistent investment by seeking private funds and collaborative approaches with existing providers,鈥� their website concludes.
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
