Trip Plan Guide

In this guide you will learn how to use the Travel Planner's Travel Plans feature iconTrip Plans feature.

Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to input your starting location, destination and the dates and times for your trip. Finally, learn how to read your trip plan results, pick earlier/later trip plans, and print your results.

Step 1: Enter your origin and destination

You can enter your origin Starting point iconand destination Destination Icon using one of the following methods:

  • Lookup an address*

    1. Begin typing the address
    2. Select the location from the generated list (see examples below)
    Screenshot of input field with an address being typed in and results are generated below

  • Lookup a landmark*

    1. Begin typing the name of the landmark
    2. Select the location from the generated list (see examples below)
    Screenshot of input field with a landmark typed in and related results genereated below

  • Pick a location on the map

    Select either “Set as origin” or “Set as destination”

    Screenshot of the map interface showing how to choose your destination or origin on the map

  • Detect your GPS location (for mobile users)

    If you have enabled GPS on your mobile device, you can set your origin or destination to your current location.

    Screenshot of input field with the cursor set on the GPS icon located inside the origin/destination field input

  • Travel Planner history

    If you have previously created a travel plan using a destination or an origin, you can click the history icon (round arrow with a clock dial) to select it without looking it up again.

    Screenshot of input field with the cursor set on the history icon located inside the origin/destination field input

  • Reverse the entries

    If you have entered your destination in place of your origin, or if you would like to generate a return trip quickly, you can reverse the order of your entries.

    Screenshot of input field with the cursor set on the reverse icon located beneath the destination field input

*Note: Address lookup

The street types and landmark names are taken directly from the Google Maps database. They are entered in the language most spoken in the area where they are located, that is in English for Ontario addresses and in French for Quebec addresses.

**Note: Search history

In order to save your history, you need to allow cookies and not be in a “private” or “incognito” window.

Tip

For better transit results and validated destinations, look for the following icons in your search results

Icon
Meaning
Landmark (OC Transpo suggestion for most relevant results)
Station
OC Transpo bus stop (especially important for stops where both STO and OC Transpo serve)
Google result

Step 2: Pick the time of your trip

Times use the 24-hour clock format as opposed to “a.m.” and “p.m.” times. Enter 00:00 for midnight and 12:00 for noon.

  • Select a specific departure or arrival time

    You can plan for your trip to begin at a specific time (Depart At) or to reach your destination for a specific time (Arrive at). By default, the trip time is set to “Depart At”.

    Screenshot of input fields with the cursor on the 'Depart' and 'Arrive by' toggle element

  • To select a different day

    Use the drop-down menus next to the hour and minutes figures to choose the time of day for your trip To plan a trip on another day, click on the calendar icon next to today’s date

    Screenshot of the date input field with the cursor set on the calendar icon and picking a date from the calendar popup

  • To select a different month

    You can even select a date next month by clicking the right arrow next to the month:

    Screenshot of the date input field with the cursor on the arrow pointing right on the top right corner of the calendar popup.

Step 3: Get your trip plan results: choosing the best you

The visual display of options lets you quickly see:

  • Start time
  • Walking distance
  • Number of transfers
  • Route and line numbers
  • Transfer periods
  • Arrival time
Example of Travel Plan results from Rideau centre to 1500 St. Laurent with trip options at the top, trip details on the left and map with the trip highlighted on the right

Tip

When you generate a travel plan, you will be given many trip options. The default trip plan (highlighted in yellow) is best most customers.

How to read the trip plan

  • Black arrow pointing right on a narrow yellow background - an example of an active (selected) travel plan

    Default or selected trip plan option

    The yellow highlight and arrow mean this is the trip described below. The time next to the arrow is the trip’s start time.

  • 10:23

    10:57

    Trip start/arrival times

    The time on the left is the start time of your trip. (When you leave your origin), while the time on the right is the time you should reach your destination under normal traffic conditions.

  • Person walking icon on a narrow blue and light blue hatched background - an example of a walking segment in a travel plan

    Walking segment

    Walking segment. The width of this band indicates the relative walking distance: the narrower the band, the shorter the distance; the wider the band, the longer the walk

  • Bus icon on a narrow dark blue background - an example of a transit bus route portion of a travel plan

    Bus route segment

    The route number is clearly indicated in the preview. The width of the band represents the relative time aboard the bus.

  • active trip plan indicator icon 1
    Train icon on a narrow green background - an example of a transit train line portion of a travel plan 2

    O-Train segment

    The line number is clearly indicated in the preview. The width of the band represents the relative time aboard the Train.

  • .

    Transfer or layover time

    The width of the band represents the relative time waiting to transfer between routes.

Print your Travel Plan

Your Travel Plan is available in a printer-friendly version. Simply click in the printer icon Printer icon on a dark grey background on the top right corner of the plan description.

Get earlier or later trip plans

You can check earlier and later trip options by clicking the grey bands as above and below your trip plan results.

Advanced options (Service options)

Use the Travel Planner’s Service options to customize your trip even more:

  • Filter by vehicle type (bus or train) — If you would prefer to not use a vehicle type, click its icon to uncheck it
  • Filter out school routes (600s) or special event routes (400s and 450s) — Click to uncheck
  • Exclude STO routes — Click to uncheck
  • Combining cycling and transit to open trip options beyond walking distance