Hatred is
a strong word. It's a word and feeling I feel we need to be very
selective about, something we can't just throw around like a tennis ball
against the wall, throwing it again and again. I don't like spicy
foods, I dislike the Boston Bruins. But something that I truly with all
my heart absolutely hate, that spot goes to only one abomination in my
life, the TTC.
I hate the TTC.
I
wish it was one thing about this God awful transit service that I could
just swallow and stay silent about, but the amount of flaws and
failures in the TTC is way too much for me not to say something. I don't
really know where to start with my laundry list of complaints. And as a
paying customer and as a citizen of the city of Toronto, I feel it's my
right and duty to share this with the world.
10 Things I Hate About You...TTC:
10.
Transit Stranglehold: A shitty service that is no rush to get better.
Why? What other option do you have? Not many if you are a low income
working class kind of person or a student who is trying to get by on a
budget. And with this in mind why would the TTC try to do better? You
can complain all you want, they know you aren't going to be taking a cab
to work everyday.
So
unless we all start using bikes or cars, the TTC is in no rush to get
you to where you need to be on time or being a better service.
9.
More Money, More Problems: A few things you can count on in the city
now in days; Reimer will make over 40 saves a night (what a beauty), our
mayor will put his foot in his month and every 6 months or so the TTC
will feel the need to raise their prices.
I
wouldn't care if I saw the progress, if I saw faster trains and more
buses on the routes. But we don't and that's why it's hard to constantly
be forced to cough up more money for a lesser service.
8.
People Don't Go Out on Weekends: Or at least the TTC would like to
think so, and they aren't even considering those who have to be up early
and go to work. You are shit out of luck if you need to get somewhere
and on time, it's just not going to happen. This a crime to the part
time worker and a total disrespect to the concept of time.
7.
What's a Schedule?: I am not sure if this happens on your bus route,
but I look at the time sheet on the stop and it says the bus will be
here at 3:05 and it's 2:58. Okay, the bus should be here in 7 minutes,
that's a fair. 15 minutes later and a bus arrives. Absolute dog shit.
These
buses need to be on time. I mean traffic or accident can happen, I get
that. But the bus I take, the 73 Royal York is never on time. That is
not acceptable.
6.
Surprise Streetcars: Who hasn't been on a King or Queen streetcar and
finds out half way on route to Dundas West station that the streetcar is
stoping at Bathrust or Dufferin. It certainly didn't say that on the
streetcar when I got on, good to know that I won't be on time for that
appointment.
Now
I have had a few drivers give me the heads up at times, and I honestly
appreciate that. But I have been on more then a few were it ends being a
surprise that no one wanted.
5.
The Cost is Too Damn High: We pay a lot of money already with the TTC. I
mean 7 tokens for $20, holy pumpkins Batman that's a lot! I find this
to be ridiculous because it seems to me we go to work, so we can pay for
transit to keep on going to work. And it doesn't help when the TTC
doesn't get you to work on time.
4.
Should be Simple: I am sure many other transit organizations in other
cities have their fair share of problems, mistakes and goof ups. I can
understand that, especially with subway systems as big as New York and
London. But how can you not maintain the TTC? Look at how simple it is, a
long line across the city and a U-line in the middle, with a small line
at the the top. I don't get it. From what I've been told it's an old
system that hasn't been fixed in years, so now we need to play catch up
and clean up.
We can't ask for more lines on our system if we can't take care of the ones we have now.
3. Bus Line Ups, Why Not?: You know what I need, three more Dufferin buses to go with these three infront of me. Said no one ever. I think a few people have complained about this in the past, and I have seen this at Royal York station with 76 Royal York bus, it's especially annoying when the 73 Royal York takes forever to get there.
2. Let's Not and Say We Did: This one I will admit doesn't happen too often, but I've been on my way to Kipling station and this is during daytime hours as well, and I will hear that this train is stopping at Islington and turning around. This is really annoying especially when you are trying to get to where you need to be and on time, the lack of consideration is really annoying. But again, this doesn't happen to often.
This was a bit of a write off, especially compared to number one.
1. Rush Hour, Motherfucking Rush Hour: The great Canadian torture, morning and evening rush hour. Where do I start? Okay so if you work anywhere from 6-9 AM all through until 5-7 PM and you take the TTC, consider yourself shit out of luck. The fact is there is nothing worst then going to a job that needs you to stand for 5 to 8 hours straight (breaks in between of course, it's still a bitch) and taking a packed train with no where to sit. And these trains aren't kind of packed or a little packed, I am talking 40 timbits in a 10 timbits box. Just imagine that for a second, it's possible but you are not going to be happy with the aftermath.
Rush hour is a punishment to the mind, body and soul. I don't wish upon anyone.
I would like to hope that the TTC could do something about it, maybe more trains and buses. Or at least more frequent vehicles. The thing is no one needs rush hour, if it can be something we can get rid of, then by all means get rid of this. Before new lines, before new trains, let's fix this monster called rush hour.
Until next time, keep chasing the storm.
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