City
Morning Brew: Long Lines for TTC Tokens, Street Food Program Expanded (Too Late?), Dupont Station to Keep Name, Police No Closer to Makhniashvili, Leafs Thinking Too Much?
Photo: "Toronto Santa Claus Parade 2009" by sai.photography, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
The TTC has taken strict measures to prevent fare token hoarding, but don't expect the lineups to buy tokens to dwindle because the TTC has no plans to increase staff selling tokens. With the TTC Commission set to approve the fare hike later today it's safe to say the lineups will be worse, if stations even have tokens at all. If the TTC doesn't like its fare system - and gosh knows riders aren't in love with the fare system - why not (finally) change to a modern fare-paying system?
The opportunity to pay 13% sales tax crept closer to reality yesterday, as Ontario Liberals introduced their HST bill legislation. The move, intended to increase provincial coffers, is unpopular with just about everybody except the Liberals. In fact, it's the NDP who may be speaking most loudly against the bill, which tells me that there must be better ways to get money into the province's hands.
The A La Cart program - bringing ethnic flavours to select streets - has been mired in problems that most of us would call predictable. But Toronto Public Health has now admitted many changes are necessary, and has made a number of them, including passing control of the food carts to the economic development department. More carts are authorized, but we'll just have to wait and see if the folks selling pad thai or biriyani can come back from the brink of bankruptcy.
"Don't do it," TTC staff says to Councillor Joe Mihevc, who thought that the Dupont subway station could (should?) be renamed to Dupont-Casa Loma. Although the station is relatively near the tourist attraction, the staff report found that very few people actually access Casa Loma from Dupont Station, and it would cost half a million bucks to make the change. Now if Apple were to come along and suggest a name change, would the TTC follow the Chicago Transit Authority's lead?
Police don't seem to be any closer to information about the missing Mariam Makhniashvili, despite extraordinary search measures. According to the article, "Police have no evidence to support theories that Mariam ran away, met with misadventure or was the victim of foul play." Do police need a new theory, or is there simply no evidence? Sounds like an episode of Law & Order in the making.
Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn blames his poor play on thinking too much - not something I think most fans would point to - while computer software programmer and stats man Ken Roberts points out on his website that the Leafs have a 1.7% chance of making the playoffs. But Roberts knows how to talk to Leafs fans: he counsels that if you think the Leafs have underperformed, a dramatic turnaround could be in store. Even so, I think it's best to keep the wood in the barn until quite a few more wins are notched.
Discussion
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I'd rewrite that as follows:
"The TTC is hoarding tokens to prevent token hoarding..."
The TTC simply doesn't care about its customers.
Every time you buy tokens, tell the operator they should be relaced by a machine. Let them feel as stupid as us, the TTC token-needing cattle do while waiting in line for the "pleasure of their service".
Oy - this is either 1897 or Toronto City.
Explain the thought-process behind that one, please. The HST was advocated by the federal Conservative Party and implemented by the provincial Liberals.
People need to read up on the HST before throwing out the 'omg new tax libs suck' stuff. We're severely in deficit and our pst/gst system was inefficient. People will be getting lump sum payments to offset the HST's impact in the short term.
And take Tanner's advice - complain to the RIGHT people. Maybe attend the TTC fare hike meeting today(?)
cash fare = 2.75
10 fares = 20.00
month pass= 68.50
Toronto blows.
That being said, the comment above about tasting Soviet Russia was well-executed.
The last week has been an utter pain in the ass for me. I had lost my metropass and have been resorting to tokens. On top of the hoarding the TTC is doing, the TTC is also -reducing- the number of tokens available to resellers.
This is a complete F.U. to those who don't live near Subway stations and rely on these stores for our transit passes and tokens.
The stores are now completely sold out, not because the public hoarding tokens, but because the TTC is hoarding them. They now have half as many tokens as they normally carry for the people who expect to find them there. Which in turn causes more hoarding by the public.
The store owner I talked to said they had no problems initially until they sold out faster than usual (due to the lower quantities they were given by the TTC). When the people who were turned away returned once new stock was brought in they would buy up more than they normally would for fear the tokens would be gone again later when they needed them. They then sold out faster and the vicious cycle repeated.
The majority of people hoarding I don't think are doing it to save a couple quarters down the road, but are more doing it for fear they won't be able to buy tokens when they need them.
The TTC isn't hoarding tokens, they're trying to prevent people from buying hundreds of them, taking them out of circulation, and then bringing them back in after the fares have been raised. If you're going to get mad at someone for this, try and find the idiots who can't see past their own noses who are trying to hoard tokens!
The guy in the booth selling them to you is just doing his job. And honestly, if you want more than 5 tokens, why don't you buy more from another station? Maybe on your way home, or something?
As for the TTC employees being paid too much, how is it that they are short on drivers? Think about it, if they can't attract enough employees at the current rate of pay, how on earth will they attract or keep employees for less?
How many of the complainers have written or spoken directly to their elected representatives? We should be flooding the inboxes of every MP, MPP, and city councilor in Toronto with demands for more funding and better oversight.
I think that this limiting is what is causing the hoarding. It's creating an artificial demand and pissing legitimate customers off in the process. Pretty dumb move on the TTC's part.
I think they do need to introduce a limit, but they shouldn't have announced it and should have left it to the discretion of the collectors to deny people who are clearly hoarding and not punish those who are just trying to go about their day.
It's kind of like when a new video game system or new Christmas toy is released. The stores that announce they only have limited quantities and are instituting a one per customer rule will end up the busiest and filled with the craziest of customers.
TTC short of drivers? Uh, no. If there's one thing the TTC has a huge supply of, it's people applying for jobs there.
Montreal Monthly pass is $68
http://www.stm.info/english/info/a-tarif.htm
how the hell did we let it get to $126 today? jeez.
Look, here's a parallel: when Coke switched sweeteners to Aspartame quite a few years back, a friend of mine went to the grocery store and literally bought every case of Diet Coke in the store. Something like 20 cases.
You know what happened?
HE DRANK IT ALL AND HAD TO EVENTUALLY SWITCH TO THE ASPARTAME DIET COKE.
*gasp*
TTC, and Adam, who I know reads this: get your heads out of your asses. The tokens will get used, and eventually people will have to pay the extra cash. Release more supply.
I don't believe they are creating an artificial demand by limiting tokens. The demand for tokens goes up all on its own when a fare increase is announced.
The TTC may have more than enough people applying for jobs there, though that isn't my understanding, but that doesn't mean that all of them are qualified for the job. But if they have more than enough people to do the job, then why on earth are they still recruiting? ( http://www3.ttc.ca/Jobs/transit_operator_drivers_recruitment.jsp ). I don't know how it is where you work, but when we don't have any empty positions here, we don't advertise for job applicants.
I just wish that more people would see what is really going on here and do something about it. We're looking at chronic underfunding by the government. Compare the TTC to the public transit operations of other, comparable cities around the world. Cities with similar population densities. Once you see the numbers you might be amazed that we even have a functioning transit system here. At the very least, you won't be surprised that our fares keep going up all the time.
(And for the record, I don't work for the TTC and never have, nor am I related to anyone who does. I'm just a transit geek who has taken an interest in the workings of the TTC and who takes the TTC everyday. I'm on the Metropass Discount Plan, and am not effected at all by any of this token nonsense.)
"About 10 million tokens are in regular circulation, and the TTC has added another 375,000 in the past week."
"Mr. Ross indicated there could be other reasons for the increased demand. “It is not just savings. Customers don’t want to run out of tokens,” he said. Since the TTC phased out adult tickets, the only options for transit riders are tokens or cash.
Minting another two or three million tokens for short term increases in demand would not make good economic sense, said Mr. Ross.
Token rationing may eventually be no more than a gold and silver coloured symbol of Toronto transit history. Nearly every other major city in North America uses some form of plastic or paper smart card that can purchased at machines by transit riders.
Mr. Ross indicated a similar system should be in place in Toronto and the rest of the GTA within four years."
Brad Ross= TTC spokesman
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So retarded. So they don't want to spend 100 or 200 grand (how much is it to mint a token? 2 cents? 3 cents?) to fix the token shortage because FOUR years from now they're gonna catch up to the rest of the world and have a smart card system.
With the growing public shitstorm, I predict they're going cave in and let everyone pay 2.25 until the fare increase goes into effect. Which is also stupid, because that would mean across the board they're only taking in 2.25 and "losing" the extra cash of a normal cash fare.
The simple fact of the matter is that in places like Toronto, the average rider just doesn't have the spare cash lying around to hoard tokens. Far too many people in this city live cheque to cheque and the idea of spending hundreds of dollars now to save tens of dollars later ISN'T A VIABLE OPTION.
Do you even consider the realities of things before you post, or do you just argue because you enjoy it?
The best thing they can do right now is print temporary tickets. Have them expire a week or two after the fare increase and print a bunch of them and your hoarding problem will be solved.
And token hoarding DOES exist people, it happens every single time that a fare increase occurs. The only thing is before this year they would simply print extra tickets to counteract the hoarding, but now they have no tickets to print. A few weeks ago token sales went up by 20% while ridership remained the same, so SOMEBODY is buying up a shitload of tokens and if they didn't restrict sales then they would literally run out, and everybody would have to pay cash fare.
How many people *really* use the transferability to full advantage? I think most people just use it for their own commute, and maybe a couple of times a month lend it out to a co-worker or something. But they buy a Metropass because it's more convenient and you don't have to fret about saving a token or ticket every time you think about taking transit, since you've already paid for it.
You want transferability? Pay $120 (or whatever) a month. You don't need it? Pay $100.
But my suggestion doesn't require a giant overhaul of their system -- just the addition of a different pricing tier.
They clearly can redesign their Metropass every month, so just print one more design every month and make everyone buy an ID or something like they used to (wow, that seems so long ago). I'd rather have to go to Sherbourne once than pay $17 more every month.
http://www.stm.info/english/info/a-tarif.htm
how the hell did we let it get to $126 today? jeez."
Answer: By sending a couple billion of our taxes to Quebec, via Federal Government transfers, every year. Not only do Toronto residents have to subsidize the TTC, but also every transit agency in La Belle Province.
The fact of the matter is that there ARE people in Toronto who hoard tokens when a fare increase is announced. It happens every single time. I never once said that everyone was hoarding tokens, or even that most people were. Only that some people were, and it's enough to throw the entire system out of whack.
Given that I haven't heard of every vendor in the system running out of tokens on an average day, I think it stands to reason that, because it's happening now, people are hoarding.
Besides, you should come to my ideal dream world: in it there aren't any jerks taking advantage of every situation and ruining everything for the rest of us. Also, yarn is cheaper.
not everyone has the option, but i've been walking 45 minutes each way and it's been an unexpected pleasure to see my neighbourhood and bump into friends.
Further, 10 at a time is a normal amount of tokens. Not simply because of the discount but because that's a week's worth of commuting. When I was a regular TTC user I'd have a dish of tokens (10 or 20)and would stock up as needed. TTC shouldn't be going to all this effort, severely damaging its brand and creating more disgruntled customers, over a minor amount of money.
As to making TTC workers' lives miserable - they make far, far too much money and do everything they can to make our lives miserable every single day of the year. For their ridiculous compensation and malicious union behaviour (wildcat midnight strikes, for example) they need to have every day be sheer, unmitigated hell. Especially the useless cashiers. Keep it legal and non-violent, but all abuse up to that limit is well deserved.
Giambrone is a snivelling little POS who is our worst politician, a significant accomplishment with the utter crap we have on Toronto Council. Worse than fascist Mammoliti, worse than food cart screw-up Filion, worse than boorish Ford, worse than anti-bistrite Pantalone, and even worse than Politburo Chairman Miller.
;)
3 things:
1. We need to set up a system that takes into account the actual length of the trip and charge accordingly.
(Why on Earth does a trip involving 2 buses and switching trains to go across the city cost the same as a trip between Bathurst and Spadina?)
2. We need a system similar to the Octopus card in Hong Kong which would eliminate the need for a ticket collector/seller at every station entirely.
(Machines at every station to dispense and recharge cards, perhaps a customer service agent at each station to help people if they are having problems adding value to their cards)
3. Raising the fare and metropass rate yet again is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is penalizing consumers for behaving rationally and taking advantage of a lower price before the increase comes into effect.
(Seriously? Lineups for buying tokens while you take the automated machines out of service? Also, why not more automated metropass machines other than the one at Union? Would save lineups at the beginning and end of each month.)
Your constant but frustrated customer,
S.
Beautiful. Now why didn't the TTC think of that!?!?!
2) Good luck getting that passed with the current union in power
3) I'm more concerned with them punishing people who aren't even trying to take advantage of the lower price. Those who stop by a few stations to stock up shouldn't be surprised when they have to deal with a lineup. Those who are just trying to get to work and have to put up with these lineups and restrictions every other day deserve better
Nice attitude.
Why fare rise you ask? Because the TTC Chairman [Giambrone] whose job is to supply vision and imagination at the highest level has failed.
His vision may have been going cap in hand to the Provincial Government, which didn't work out so well. That was the plan. Period.
Sticking his finger in the dyke by raising fares won't stop the profuse bleeding of the TTC coffers. What are they doing to address this constant loss of money. Are they sharpening their pencils? Where's that subway line to York U and the Airport? NO VISION for fucking years. Suddenly that's going to change? DAMN. Don't see them implementing a new ticketing system either. It IS a vision thing!
The building of streetcar right of way like St.Clair is an abomination. Someone was in someone's pocket with this make work fiasco. Businesses on St. Clair lose and the traffic congestion by cars caused by its installation are unreal. Using flashing green lights for left hand turning would have solved Million$, compared to what they've done.
Moving on the the Gestapo tactics of The Metro Police Force and their very odd way of investigating the missing high school student. May be ok in Putin's Russia, but in Canada?
It concerns me that this woman is missing, but overriding my Constitutional rights is not an investigation. It's a witch hunt. A most egregious and troubling one.
What kind of 'investigating' is this? Indeed it's a strange case. The Police questioning students is a start, but if she was there for only 4 days... who the hell in that school knows what?
Sounds like lazy investigating. What of Daddy and his links to their community and business associates????
If you don't stand up for your Constitutional right today, there won't be any tomorrow. Mark my words. My parents lived through occupied Nazi Eastern European country in WWII. It's a slippery slope. I object.
Hey, BlogTo, ganging up so many important topics...Nah. Too much. I'm pooched.
DAMN!
I highly, highly doubt that the old system was more profitable than the current one. The cards are now a lot cheaper to produce, require fewer staff to distribute (ie no extra staff required) and their accesibility has likely resulted in significant increases in metropass sales.
How many of you even know someone who shares their metropass with someone else? And how many of you have used your metropass less than what it would have been to buy tokens instead the ocassional month (or, like me ocasionally lose it requiring you to buy tokens on top of the pass you already bought)?
street food works anywhere in the world except toronto.. nothing works here.. nothing inexpensive works in this city.. everything we do have to be expensive, out of reach, then we kill it or add more tax on it...
they should just sell off the name of each subway station to corporation.. such as St George changed to Apple Canada stop..Bay changed to Holt Renfrew Stop