The TTC

The Toronto Transit Authority or The TTC has an on-line survey which they have encouraged riders to participate in. Do they really want to know how we feel? Do they care what the users of their system feel about the services or lack thereof? Examples of what was asked are: How often do you use it - Your start - end location - How many travelled - How long did you wait for a train - Did you see the Television screen - Did it keep your attention - How old you are - Gender- Education - Income. Are they kidding? Perhaps they should have asked: Was it clean - Was it on-time - Was it worth the money - Was the attendant to take your money actually there - Was the attendant courteous.......

TTC Chair Adam Giambrone recently said,"If we can hook people on transit at an early age, we're going to have them on transit for the rest of their lives." This is the kind of arrogance that has plagued the TTC for a long time. "We will have them hooked"? People use the Transit system Mr Giambrone because it is their only way to get to their job or particular destination. Know this, for most people, if they had an alternative, they would take it. The TTC is NOT the better way, for most, it's the ONLY way. The TTC is over priced with more redundancies than the Federal Government.

Perhaps Mr Giambrone should address some of these areas which Riders of the system have spoken out about.

Drivers:- rude- un-helpful- sitting in limbo areas of terminals while patrons stand cold by the pick-up area- leave while people are waving furiously at them- talk on cell phones while driving (ridiculous - but true)

Ticket, payment takers in station:- don't care or pay attention to see if you've paid- give incorrect change- rude- un-helpful- sometimes absent (why even pay at all)- sitting reading the paper totally unaware of your presence- sometimes 3-4 in booth (how many are needed?)
Constables: - extremely aggressive- glorified security guards- act as if they are actual police officers

Routes:- adding more buses on extremely busy routes- increasing train service - picking up the pace

The TTC is making some strides to improve service in these and other areas. Hopefully they will continue to do so without treating their users like a captive audience but more like the people for whom, in the most part, pay their salaries