I was a young man when I got here

For a supposedly world-class city (as we are constantly told by politicians with an eye on re-election), Ottawa ranks as the worst-in-class for its public transit. 

Not only are the buses crowded and approaching obsolescence, they are slow, erratic, and either madly late or improbably early. 

The 112 - Ottawacker Jr's favourite bus - is a case in point. It runs from some place further south - either Kaladar or Elmvale - and connects you to the main transit way at Billings Bridge.  At least, that is theory. 

When I was on my environmentally conscious way of getting to work, I'd usually wait for the 112 for between 10 and 40 minutes before saying "sod this" and going back to get the car. That isn't too bad in the summer, but in the winter, when the icy winds wreak havoc with exposed skin and the snowdrifts make your teeth chatter and your eyeballs freeze, it's a bit much to take. Plus, it costs $10.50 for a day pass, or $3.50 for a single journey "NO CHANGE GIVEN"...

So I abandoned transit. But the 112 is still Ottawacker Jr's favourite bus, and features in his bedtime songs and stories with frightening regularity.

"The 112, the 112, 
the 112 is the bus for you."