Limited OC Transpo service resumed on Saturday after 59 days without buses in Ottawa.
All routes that normally run on weekends were scheduled to run on normal schedules, though with noticeably fewer riders than normal. About 70 per cent of the fleet is now running but full service won't resume until April 6.
"All the people I've picked up today have been really nice and friendly," said driver Brian Turner. "So hopefully things will get back on track.
All bus and O-Train service is free until Feb. 15. December bus passes will be accepted until the end of March.
The City of Ottawa and the Amalgamated Transit Union agreed to binding arbitration to end the paralyzing work stoppage that began on Dec. 10.
On Monday the City of Ottawa will release figures on the cost of the strike. Mayor Larry O'Brien said the price tag will be high.
"With the ridership falling, and you take a look over the next year, certainly this strike hasn't saved us any money," O'Brien said.
At least one city councillor said to expect low ridership for the foreseeable future, pointing to the aftermath of the 1996 OC Transpo strike that lasted 24 days.
"Last time they lost 12 per cent of their riders initially, and it took two years to get them back - and it was a shorter strike," said Coun. Marianne Wilkinson.
Click for information on OC Transpo's route schedule
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
