blogTO Recent Comments: TTC to riders: it's your fault

christine.

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:21:32 PDT

TTC system is corrupted and needs to change. - ppl riding 20 stops and ppl riding 2 stops pay the same rate. I think that should be changed. (ttc comissioners would get more money outta that too sot hey won't complain) - BE NICE. seirously. i was 12 when i got yelled at because i got on the wrong bus. it was a bus that only goes to seneca college and turns back. heck i didnt know it was my first time riding alone on the bus. I WAS 12. and so im like on the verge of crying cuz i have no idea what i should do since i got kicked off the bus.. i asked the bus driver "which bus should i take now i need to go to this place (i can't remeber)" he says "how should i know.. " like..WTF. fucking old bastard. - ppl stop the doors cuz lke other ppl said...the subway doors open for 10 seconds..event he ppl who wants to get out CAN'T. - some ttc commissioner worker whatever u call them...are just plain old jerks who has no life. they yell at you because you're young. even when u didn't do anything wrong. ...FUCK YOU! they don't need a raise they need anger management. - i waited for a bus for an hour (thy're suppose to come every 25 min) and i had my transfer that i got frmo another bus... and when the bus pulled up..the driver was like "you can't use that ttransfer. " "i said well there was no bus that came by for an hour.." "nope you cant use it. it's been too long." and the woman who came later than me said "no i saw her 40 min ago she's been here around an hour for sure. and i've been here for 40 min and she's right. " "no. you're not getting on the bus. period." THIS is how buses get delayed. DRIVERS are jerks. i also agree on how riders can be rude selfish and stupid.

bitterman

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:54:11 PDT

it's so pathetic these days, is it too hard to be polite or even a little? Today i was taking a bus and i put in a student ticket, asked for a transfer and then the bus driver guy was just sitting there flirting with some woman, so i asked for it again "May I Have a transfer". since i was getting on to the bus at an university his reaction was, "Not until you put in an adult fair." Like honestly if you just want me to pay in adult maybe be a little polite and maybe just you, "O you have to pay an adult fair since you are a student here." rather than "Not until you put in an adult fair, if you're a student here you have to pay an adult fair." So then I argue with him since I had a TTC student card that's not expired till October and obviously it's only september. Then he says "only if your planning to get a new one, are u planning to get a new one?" I said "not at this moment." "Then put in an adult fair" "BUt it's not expired until-" "only if you get a new one" .. so i gave up arguing w/ him and gave him a dollar more, not willing to give double of what i have already given. I'm not saying that all bus drivers are like this, some are actually really nice and polite. But considering that you're gonna work with people all the time during your shift, shouldn't you be more polite? I mean you're working in the service industry, honestly. If he were polite and listened even if he says that i have to pay more i would, but considering on his attitude and politeness, I refused to pay double.

Chris

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:06:29 PDT

I agree with a lot of what has been said here, but one of the main problems I have noticed is that people don't call into the cusomer service line and complain to someone who can actually do something about it.

Recently I had a bus driver completely disregard me and my girlfriend standing at a well lit stop with our 2 dogs, not only did this piss me off, but adding to the fact that the bus before him had quite a few people on it, I took it upon myself to be courteous enough and wait for the next bus. Within 30 seconds I was on the phone with cuspmer service with a driver description, route number and stop I was at during the incident. I have since had the same situation happen with the same driver and he stops every time now.

Complain to those who can help the most. Sure this can't help the budgetting problems but it may help with the customer service issue.

The TTC needs to be audited, too many inconsistencies in where money is going.

b.p. dewli

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 06:29:49 PDT

I work fridy and sat.night at 2837 yonge st.my duty is over at 8 a.m.Bus route 320 and 97 are very irregulat some time 3 buses will come together and nothing for next one hour.specially sunday morning subway is closed until 9 it very irritating also most of the buses go upto yorkmills only. will some of you take this matter seriously and give confort to passengers. thanks

alison

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:05:43 PDT

or when trains go out of service because of power problems between two stations. happened to me at Davisville station in mid February. The train pulls up into the station and they leave the door OPEN FOR 30 MINUTES. and it's minus 15 degrees outside and everyone is freezing. they then tell us 45 minutes later that there was no power between davisville and eglington station so we all had to get off the train. so, we did, and everyone walks upstairs and tries to find the shuttlebus. none of the ttc employees can tell you anything about where to board the shuttlebus (i've never taken a bus from davisville, so i'm totally clueless). the employee at the ticket counter can't tell us anything other than there are shuttle buses going north and south. there's a crowd of people surrounding a ttc employee near the platforms, and she has no clue what is going on because her shift has just started (WTF??!!). so, we go up and we crowd around the bus platform, not knowing where to line up for the northbound bus to eglington station, absolutely no crowd control, no delination as to where to line up for north or southbound shuttlebuses. and there's no real line up really, just a glut of people on a platform. 3 weeks later, the same thing happened between warden and victoria park station, where you had to get off warden station, and take a shuttlebus to victoria park station. except this time they warned us of the problem over the telecom, so we weren't sitting on the train thinking "WTF? why aren't we moving for 30 minutes?" but once you got off the train, same story. NO INFORMATION AS TO WHERE TO LINE UP FOR THE SHUTTLE BUS. but this was slightly better than davisville since warden has individual platforms and are used to large numbers of bus riders, so the confusion wasn't as bad.

patty

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:33:46 PDT

Gawd, TTC,if you really want to make money.. then make us Torontonian proud about our Transit system. Look at London underground. People would take the logo and wear it on their shirt. and TTC? so far I have never heard anyone said out loud that they love TTC yet.

dave

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:00:11 PDT

I blame unions (yes in general). Janitors making $40K/annum going on strike because they don't like their schedule? Giving me a freaking break! I wish I had that luxury! De-unionize the TTC and hold a job fair! Hire taxi drivers to drive the buses and trains (don't worry they've all got PHD's so they'll pass their training in record time) for less money, and pay the janitors in keeping with market rates. Less bitching and moaning, less strikes causing inconvenience for everybody, LESS COST AND HEADACHE ALL AROUND!!

Gloria

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:33:54 PDT

Can I pipe in too? If anyone was trying to catch a westbound 501 Queen car today in the early afternoon, they probably noticed the line of streetcars conked out at Logan. A string of buses were arranged, but the one I got on for some inexplicable reason was not running the whole line, short-turning at Broadview. When someone unsure asked the driver whether she was going to Carlaw, she only repeated, "I'm going to Broadview" adding, "I don't know where Carlaw is. I'm from Scarborough." At Broadview, no one informed any of the passengers that the streetcar we were boarding was the King car, not a special Queen car ... most of us knew, but no driver attempted to call it out, to help direct any passengers lost in the confusion, despite the fact there were four drivers in total standing around. TTC, please improve your customer relations. You need to take the initiative in asking passengers if they need help in a situation like this, or giving clear instructions. Lots of us are seasoned riders and don't need it, but lots of people aren't. I've met people confused by the concept of eastbound and westbound, etc.

Ryan

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 08:48:55 PDT

Looks like this is the place for some TTC venting. A month ago I visited a friend of mine in the finch and islington area by way of the 37 Bus. After going out to a movie, I had to take the bus back home (at this hour it would have been the 311 blue night bus). I get to the bus shelter to see the 311 bus going northbound on the other side of the road "Great, it should be back here shortly. Good timing." It didn't come back. Perhaps it was at the end of its shift. So I wanted another half an hour+ (in the freezing cold mind you), and see a second 311 bus going northbound. This one was sure to stop on the way back. Nope. I waited for another half an hour+, in the cold (it was close to an hour and a half total at this point) when a third bus appears going northbound up islington. He stops at the bus stop adjacent despite nobody being there, so I run over to ask him when the next bus plans on coming. It wouldn't be. Apparently with no notice a week or two prior, the TTC decided to run its 311 blue night buses up islington to Steeles, and instead of coming back down Islington it goes all the way down Kipling until finch instead. There were no notices at the bus stops, no updated maps, nothing. 2 Drivers passed by without thinking "Hey, this guy will be sitting outside indefinitely, perhaps I should let him know?" The TTC decided to make this change without posting any notices up at the 3 or 4 stops affected (They're not that broke). Just ridiculous.

jessica

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:49:48 PDT

Ok, if I see the 90 Vaughn bus driver talking on HER CELLPHONE one more time, I am calling the police. This woman doesn't address you when you board, waves you away dismissively with "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" when you ask her a question, and scares the living daylights out of the nice little old Jamaican ladies I ride with every night home from work. I also appreciate the "F**king yeah, I know, I needa smoke so bad, this sh&t is f*cking gay" conversation she is having, at "inside-a-Norweigian-black-metal-concert" volume. I really need to hear that kind of awesome verbiage on my way home from ork. And I'm sure the little old ladies love it too. You can never get enough loud swearing! Also, I have no idea how it takes me TWO AND A HALF HOURS to get to work from my house. Yes, I know it's faster to take the Allen and the bus can't do that, but really...from Eglinton West station to Finch station to the 42 Cummer bus...at rush hour...2 and a half hours? Is that really necessary?

Cassandra

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:25:08 PDT

Has anyone else had a bus driver stop in the middle of traffic, honk repeatedly, open his door and holler a five minute conversation with some dude walking down the street? I have. TWICE. I like the TTC. Hell, I take it almost everyday. But for every jackass holding the doors (yes, very annoying) or not moving to the back of the streetcar I see a driver slowing down to chat out the window, or taking a coffee break en route, or just being a jerk for no good reason. Spread the blame around TTC. You have the riders (we have no choice) so make us feel a little bit more appreciated. In return, I promise to mind the gap with the utmost seriousness and consistency.

hmmm?

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:34:45 PDT

Could someone tell me what is wrong with rushing the doors? If you make it without any of your limbs getting caught between the closing doors and thus do not cause a delay - what's wrong that? Am I missing something?

Matt

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:37:48 PDT

It's funny how often the competition issue gets brought up in discussing the TTC. Obviously, there's not really any practical way to introduce a competitive transit alternative into a city, at least not one that would have the full range of functionality/access that the TTC enjoys. (What? Two parallel Bloor lines?) Still, public transit has to be one of the last enterprises in the country where you can have a guaranteed monopoly, without question.

Britgirl

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:04:05 PDT

It's pretty cheeky of the TTC to blame riders. Particularly when the stations are always dirty as well as the trains (the Harbourfront LRT stop in Union is a disgrace) and they are a public service always whining they have no money. The 510 and 509 street car schedule seems to have gone to the dogs...in RUSH HOUR morning and evening but it doesn't stop the drivers hopping off and getting their muffin and coffee at the Coffee time, and finish up with a quick fag while we paying riders shiver in the cold - at 7 am in the morning. And let's not forget the unexplainable "short turns". The TTC needs to get out more and see how other cities run their public transport. They are far too complacent and blaming customers is a sign of it. Pity there's no competition.

Bryana

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:03:42 PDT

A TTC bus driver once called me and my friends idiots because we didn't know where we were downtown. We had been in Toronto for maybe a couple of months and lived on campus at York. I wish I had had the hutzpah to get the bus number then, but we were little Toronto newbies...

Andrew

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:36:25 PDT

The "Don't Litter" ads don't seem to be working. They may be offensive but the obvious lack of regard by some people is even more offensive. Have you seen the amount of shit all over the transit system after even the first few hours of the day? I have watched people finish their messy food on the bus and then nonchalantly toss their refuse onto the floor as if that is acceptable.It's not just the kids doing this either, adults are just as culpable. I usually tell these folks to pick up their trash or throw on their lap- a little more aggressive than the TTC but when you are dealing with animals you must be more primal. Why should I or any of the other good people be forced to wade through garbage? One other thing, did everyone forget how to line up since leaving grade school? How does order break down completely once a transit vehicle approachs? If someone is in front of you, wait your ass in line don't rush the doors.

swoony

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:19:44 PDT

PS!!! 1. the ads with the man wearing a pig mask...and the tag that goes you don't do it at home, don't do it here...please...FFF$%#&#*&!!! 2. when in the world are we getting cash-loadable swipe cards like new york and eliminating our dead weight ticket collectors?

swoony

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:15:55 PDT

i would like to see a breakdown of the ttc's budget and how it is spent. i think the ttc is worthless, and i'm willing to call miller or write a petition or picket or like invent wings so i can fly everywhere instead, but i gotta get all their garbage straight first. facts? anyone got those? direct me somewhere? also: what's up with those don't litter on the subway car ads? is anyone else offended by how condescending they are?? awesome blog. made my day. especially after getting kicked off the subway at chester because the subway in broadview caught fire. hoooray! how do i get my fare back?

Skipjack

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:20:40 PDT

I guess nobody bothered to mention all the trick-ass fools who kill themselves by throwing themselves on the track. They're never reported, but the suiciders ruin it for everyone by clogging up the third rail with their corpses. Talk about insensitive, eh?

Matt

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:34:49 PDT

If only! My 35 minute transit ride is well over an hour on the bike, and I arrive at the office covered in street grime. Hey, maybe more bike lanes would be helpful. (Don't tell Rob Ford.)