London transit riders are having a spirited debate about which bus route covers the most ground in the city, with several routes competing for the title of longest.

The discussion kicked off when local transit users began comparing route lengths, with the Route 10 emerging as a strong contender. According to riders familiar with the system, Route 10 travels from Highbury and Huron down to White Oaks and then up to Masonville, creating what one user described as “a giant U around the city.”

However, Route 17 also has its supporters, with some riders specifically pointing to the 17B variant as potentially being the longest route in the system. The Route 17 runs a more direct path compared to the curved trajectory of Route 10.

Other routes mentioned in the debate include Routes 19, 15, and 4, which riders noted are all already longer than Route 17. Route 2 was also brought up as a former contender, though some riders haven’t used it in recent years.

The Route 10 has undergone recent changes that have affected its length calculations. The physical route was altered so it no longer goes through campus or down Sarnia Road. However, the route now extends to Masonville Mall, which may actually make it longer than when it previously turned around at the University of Western Ontario.

Despite the changes, Route 10 still follows its basic pattern of starting at Masonville, hitting White Oaks, and terminating at Highbury and Huron. According to transit users tracking the modifications, the overall length of the route hasn’t decreased and may have actually increased slightly.

The debate highlights the complexity of London’s transit system, which routes most lines through downtown. This design choice reflects the historical approach where all bus routes went downtown and passengers were expected to transfer to reach other parts of the city. This system was established when most suburbanites travelled downtown for shopping and entertainment.

Some riders find certain aspects of the current routing unusual, particularly noting that Route 10 doesn’t operate as a simple loop, which would seem more logical for such an extensive route covering multiple areas of the city.

The discussion also revealed that paper London Transit Commission maps are still available for those who prefer physical route planning over digital options.