Kokul’s World

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) is the Greater Toronto Area’s public transit system. It is a disappointing transit system in my eyes and here is a list of reasons why:

• Unreliable service
  What I mean about this is that the bus doesn’t come on time. In fact, quite a number of times, I’ve seen several buses in a row come after a 15 minute delay. Not to mention the countless breakdowns of buses and subway cars that I have encountered. No matter how early I seem to leave, the TTC finds a way to make me late. Seriously guys, throw in some more buses please!
• Increasing fare hikes
  I wouldn’t mind the occasional fair hike, but this is happening on an almost yearly basis. What is the result of this fair hike? Not much that I can see. Deteriorating service and improvements that are far and few.
• Bus and Streetcar drivers
  Honestly they are paying these bus and streetcar drivers far too much, cause they are taking their salaries and being jerks. Even if you are running towards the bus, they just drive off.
  Sometimes, even if there is no room in the bus, they still try to cram more passengers on. Then they refuse to move until all passengers have moved behind the white line when it is obvious that there is no room at the back so passengers can’t move to the back of the bus.
• Stupid passengers
  This really isn’t the TTC’s fault, but I still hate the public transit system because of it. I wish passengers would read signs like “Stand on the step to open doors” and following them, rather than trying to force the doors open.
  I also hate the ones who try to fit into an already crowded bus, and just stand there on the back step. Then they have the nerve to look around to see why the bus isn’t moving and why the doors aren’t closing. Seriously folks, I’m pretty sure 99.5% of you who do this have been on the TTC before, and know that standing on the step keeps the door open. So read the sign and stop holding everyone up!
  Another thing is passengers who don’t give up their seats for old people or pregnant women. STOP BEING SELFISH. How would you feel if you were the one who was standing in your old age, or when you had a child kicking in your stomach. Not very happy eh?
• Aging streetcars
  It is no joke when I say those streetcars are old pieces of junk. They are slow, loud, and often not very fun to ride in. Get some new ones please!
• Faster RT and Subway Cars
  Is it really asking too much to get some better rails and some better cars that go faster. The subway cars have their own dedicated traffic-free line, so I think they can do better than a measly 60 km/h. It defeats the purpose of the ad that says “Master the art of speed without getting a ticket – the subway.”
• Get some smart cards and magnetic strip tickets
  Come on folks. It’s obvious that paper tickets, paper transfers, and tokens are a waste of paper and trees. Get with the rest of the world! Get some magnetic strip tickets or smart cards! It saves you money in paper, and it saves us passengers time, money, and gives us less hassle. European and many Asian transit systems have it. In fact, the Singapore Transit System has been using magnetic strip tickets since the 1980s.
• Real-time updates of when the next subway, streetcar, or bus will arrive
  This can’t be that hard for you guys. I mean I know that the control center of the TTC has been able to track the location of streetcars, buses, and subways since the early 90s. Implement them please! Other transit systems around the world have it. Even York Region Transit has it on it’s VIVA line.
• Pay your employees less
  There is no need for you to pay a start salary of $20/hour for bus and streetcar drivers, as well as those ticket booth operators. Subway drivers need to be paid that much for the skill required to drive the trains. But honestly, for those fat lazy guys who operate booths, $20/hour as a start is way too much. That should be the maximum paid to them. Bus and streetcar drivers should start at $15/hour! In the end, it saves you guys several million dollars, which you can spend on improving service. Better service = happy riders and more riders.
• Catch up with the rest of the world
  Compared to other developed countries, and even some developing or newly-industrialized countries, the TTC is light years behind. Hurry up and catch up TTC! If you do, then the riders will be happy. And if we’re happy, then we’ll be inclined to pay more for such services.