The Killer Wait: TTC Bus Idling Needs to Stop

When the mercury dips as low as it has this past week, I am reminded of why I love using St. Clair West Station. It may be chilly in there, but being underground, the windchill is never a factor and therefore it beats braving the elements any day.

Unfortunately, there are other health hazards besides frostbite that'll get you instead. Hazards like the air pollution of a bus, idling at its indoor stop for 10+ minutes as you stand a couple feet away sucking back the carbon.

Tonight, I waited patiently for my beloved streetcar while the driver of this bus took his long-awaited (and lengthy) bathroom break with his bus idling a few short feet from a line of commuters (including elderly and children!)

Cars might be faced with a hefty ticket, but somehow bus drivers are getting away with it all the time... even in a relatively enclosed space like this one.

To boot, half way through the wait, the salting truck pulls up on the other side and dumps salt into a bin along the side, sending chalky-sodium-white dust clouds wafting over in our direction as well.

Moms hold mits over their kids' faces and I bury my face deep in a knit scarf. It's all you can really do.

(Aside from, of course, going home, filing a complaint and then blogging all about it.)