TTC: The Commission Strikes Back

Things must be getting pretty bad when I'm blogging about the TTC and it doesn't involve a transit strike. People are up in arms about the TTC fare hike. I don't mind paying more for transit... but only if I get better service.

I understand the rising costs of maintaining our transit system. The problem is that we are pouring money into a transit system that is only treading water. Our city is growing and we need MORE transit. I don't see that happening. What I see is a transit system that seems like a relic of the past, when compared to other cities around the world. I don't mind paying more to get more... but I strongly suspect I will be paying more to get the same.

My second beef is this whole token rationing business. This is a problem that the TTC encounters before every price hike... yet they still resort to the ridiculous practices of limiting token sales to 10 tokens... then to 5 tokens... and now to NO tokens. The TTC fixes this systemic problem with a band-aid solution... Their solution? Going back to the past, by resurrecting paper TTC tickets. Dinky tokens and paper tickets. Welcome to the world of public transit... from 1985. You know what the rest of the transit world is doing? They are using re-fillable cash cards. You buy them from machines instead of union booth monkeys. They are cash-based, so riders won't hoard them before a fare hike. They are re-usable, so you don't have to toss away paper TTC tickets. Sound like a good idea? Great. Make it happen, TTC.

My third beef is the TTC rider boycott, which was a grassroots movement started from a Facebook group... and was destined for failure. Let's not delude ourselves... people that have a realistic alternative to the TTC generally don't take the TTC. People that take the TTC do it out of necessity. Suckers like me who deal with the TTC with daily contempt... The boycott did not produce any meaningful change in commuter levels. The TTC got to rebuttal with it's own boycott of sorts... they shut down a large piece of the Yonge line during evening rush hour last week.* Lesson learned: Riders need the TTC more than TTC needs the riders.

So this whole series of events has re-kindled my hatred (yes... hatred) for the TTC. However, I still love this city. I dream of a transit system that is designed better, not managed by morons, and not staffed by idiots. I'm hoping that the events of this month will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Maybe TTC riders will finally rise up and do something about this mess. There is talk of creating a TTC Rider's Union. It is an idea that I can support whole-heartedly. I'm not sure about how such an organization would work, but I am told there are similar organizations that exist in other cities. For the moment, the movement as a website... a terrible looking website unfortunately. Well, it's a start...

* To be clear, I am not blaming the Yonge line shut down on the TTC. However, there is no effective emergency plan when the Yonge (or Bloor) line shuts down. If we had more subway lines, alternate routes could be taken. Instead, we got to see an ugly mob crushing each other to squeeze onto emergency buses. Sometimes the cost of riding the TTC is $2.75 + your dignity.

First World Problems

Our city is in the middle of a strike by city workers, including garbage collectors. I'm tempted to go into an anti-union rant... but I reserve that privilege only for the members of ATU 113. (Keep on moving Toronto, ATU 113! Please?) This reminds me of something my co-worker told me when one of my friends had trouble finding wireless access for his iPhone. "It's a First World problem."

The developing nations of the Third World have to deal with not being able to get clean drinking water, battles between government soldiers and local warlords, or insufficient food to feed everyone. In the First World, we have "bigger" problems though. Things like bankable sick days or (to be fair) not having someone come to your house to pick up your garbage. When everyone involved looks at the big picture here, we don't have it all that bad. So citizens AND workers of Toronto, take a look at what you already have. It's pretty damn good, so try to keep things in perspective.

UPDATE: LCBO strike averted! We can all buy our liquor as we please now. First World crisis averted. Don't worry everyone. We'll find a solution to all our First World problems one day.... I promise.

TTC: An abusive relationship metaphor

Whenever I write a post about the TTC, I am usually in an uncharacteristic blind fit of rage. As a result, my TTC-related posts are somewhat visceral and unrefined. Fortunately, my viewpoint is shared by many who are more eloquent with their words.

Shawn Micallef of Eye Weekly writes:

"It has become an abusive relationship. I was faithful to the TTC, I believed in it, I encourage it to get better, I continue to love it dearly but I keep feeling used and unappreciated. So it’s over."

I congratulate Shawn for breaking from the cold iron shackles of the TTC. The article describes the emotions of a disillusioned TTC patron so perfectly. It's the futile hope that things will get better, met with daily disappointment.

• Eye Weekly: The end of my love affair with the TTC

There's probably no Atheism ad. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

So there was some talk a few weeks ago about Atheism ads on the TTC. Well, I saw one briefly on the subway today. Very briefly! I got on to the subway and sat down. A few seconds later another passenger walked up to an overhead advertisement, and pulled it off. She quickly rolled it up and tucked it away into her purse... never to be seen again. The advertisement in question was the "There's probably no God" advertisement.

My first response was one of quiet amusement... but it got me thinking. The TTC already has religious ads on the subway, and what if people started tearing those ones down? They would be accused of being anti-Christian or anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim, and rightfully so! What about the over-zealous subway passenger that tears down Atheism ads? She an anti-Atheist... and is that any less of a hate crime?

Somehow atheism gets the short end of the stick on this, and it's not fair. Atheism is a belief system, and it deserves the same respect as any other. I don't think there should be a double-standard where atheists are tolerant of religious beliefs, but not vice versa. I especially don't believe that vandalism and censorship are positive ways of dealing with issues that you don't agree with. Remember... even Supreme Master Ching Hai gets to have her posters on the subway!!! We are all adults living in a tolerant society... leave the Atheism ads alone.

The TTC anagram map.

Do you love anagrams? Do you love or hate the TTC? Someone has created a TTC map with anagrams of all the stations. They did this as a labour of love, but for their efforts the transit commission decided to threaten legal action in return. Oh TTC, why must you be so difficult even to the few people that support you?

Well, love it or hate it, this TTC map is for you. You can read about the story behind the TTC anagram map here or jump straight to the map PDF here.