Transit in a big city

TTC Closure map - Sept 24th and 25th, 2016

For all of us that live in a big city we know that public transit can be good and then it can be really bad at times.

For us that have subways within our transit we know that there are going to be the challenges due to medical emergencies on the trains from time to time. We also understand that there will be mechanical issues on the trains from time to time. These are situations that cannot be helped and normally we just try and plan for a situation like this to happen when we are trying to get somewhere by a specific time.

Now what we don’t like with our transit system is when a major section of the subway is closed on a weekend when the transit system is really needed. Of course, there are only over night and some weekends when the subway system can be upgraded and that I understand. What I don’t understand if why the transit system would close off a major section of a subway line on a weekend that there are major events in the downtown core.

The closure that I am writing about is one that happened the weekend of September 24^th and 25^th. The TTC decided that it would be a good weekend to close down a section of the Yonge line between Bloor-Yonge and Osgoode Station. This basically is the main section of the Yonge line that gives people easy access to certain major locations. The locations that I am talking about are:

• Eaton Centre
• Union Station
• Air Canada Centre
• Rogers Centre
• Ripley’s Aquarium
• CN Tower

Yes there are the locations that during this weekend that are going to be a bit more of a challenge to get to. Now the explain why this isn’t a good weekend is simple as there are a number of events that are happening in the downtown core and these are:

• Blue Jay games versus New York Yankees – both Saturday and Sunday
• World Cup of Hockey – both Saturday and Sunday
• Word on the Street – Sunday
• Eaton Centre – open all weekend
• Ripley’s Aquarium – open all weekend
• CN Tower – open all weekends
• other tourist areas.

Now this isn’t a complete list of what will be impacted by the closure but you can see that even with the first two events going on that means that there are going to be ten’s of thousands of people trying to get into the downtown core each day over the weekend without one of the main subway lines available to them.

The TTC has stated that there will be shuttle buses running between all the stops on the subway line but a bus carries a lot less people than a subway train so it is going to be another crazy weekend in the downtown core. I understand that the TTC needs to do work on the subway tracks but this section of the line could have been booked for a different weekend. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is part of the city so they should be checking for major events in an area before they schedule the closures. Now the TTC has the closure is to make the service better in the future which I hope is true but really did it have to happen this weekend.

For everyone that is going to be traveling into the downtown core this weekend of the closure all I can say is make sure you give yourself lots of time to get where you are going. Pack your patience and understand that you aren’t the only one trying to get somewhere.

Public Transit

Have you ever taking some time to really look around when you are on public transit and to observe other people and what they are doing? It can be interesting to just sit or stand and watch other people around you and see what they are doing. Here are some things that I have seen on the public transit.

1. Bags don't pay for a seat – so many people decide that the bag or bags that they are carrying deserve a seat and they put their stuff on the seat beside them. The bags didn't pay a fare so why are they taking a seat from someone that has paid a fare. I know that if the vehicle is crowded and I see a seat occupied by stuff I ask the person to move the stuff so that I can sit in the seat.

2. Take up too much aisle space – I understand that we all need to carry stuff on public transit but try and keep it as close to you as possible. The aisle is for moving around so the stuff needs to be either on your lap or tucked in very close to you.

3. You paid for one seat, please take one seat – So many people when they sit down seem to spread out between a couple of seats. What I am talking about is how many people make sure it is very difficult for anyone to seat beside them in a seat. Either they spread their legs so that they are blocking part of the seat or they sit between the two seats so that no one can sit beside them.

4. Take your garbage with you – so many people will leave the newspaper that they have been reading and simply just drop them on a seat as they leave the vehicle. I have also seem people leave their empty beverage containers and other garbage. There are recycle and garbage bins that this stuff should be put into and not left to make a mess.

5. Priority seating – priority seating are for individuals that require them and not for the able bodies person. If someone gets on the vehicle that requires the seat and if you are seating it in and you are able bodies you need to move and let the other person sit down. I have seen people just look down and pretend to not see the person that really needs the seat. I love the drivers that make people move so that a person requiring the seat can get it.

6. Your music or conversation is for you not everyone else around you – so many people are listening to music on transit now. The only thing that really bothers me is when I can really hear the music when someone is using headphones. If I can clearly hear what they are listening too it means it is way too loud. The other people are the ones that watch videos on their mobile devices and don't use headphones which isn't right and it is against the transit rules. Conversations are the other thing that get me especially when young people want to carry on a conversation with someone at the other end of the vehicle, either move together or want until you are off the vehicle to carry on the conversation.

7. Door ways – doors ways are for entering and exiting the vehicle and not to be blocked just because you feel like standing there. I have seen so many people get on a vehicle and just stop just inside the door not thinking about anyone behind them. The other people are the ones that move in but then move back into the door ways and take up the door way and make it very difficult for others to enter or exit the vehicle.

As you can see I have had some interesting trips on public transit. I do take the time to watch the people around me because you can learn so much just by watching people. Please remember that when you are taking public transit to be considerate of the people around you as you never know who is watching.