I’ve been
going through the messages sent in by readers on how to make transit
service better. Many riders may recognize some of these issues from
their own travels.
Mary Ann
Piscopo writes about her commute on the Jane 35 bus. “I sent an
email to the TTC months ago, but didn't receive a reply. Every day
we have to wait at least 20 minutes for a bus. Then four Jane buses
come all at once -- the schedule should be adjusted.” She also
experiences problems boarding the bus at Jane station. ”There is no
systematic line up of who is waiting the longest to get on the bus
first. They should have a supervisor checking transfers, so we can
get on the bus through the rear doors and therefore leave the
station a lot faster.”
Greg Knittl
commutes from Warden Ave. and Highway 7 into Scarborough and sent a
list of wishes “from small to huge.” The first is have the TTC’s
Warden 68B bus always stop at the TTC loop north of Steeles. He
writes, “York Region Transit really needs to put a YRT stop there
too. Oh, and how about a bus shelter there? I wonder how many bus
shelters (that) transit systems could buy with all the money being
spent on the electronic debit card system?”
Mr. Knittl also
wants bike racks to be installed on buses. Lastly, he writes that
the TTC or YRT web sites do not offer route schedules in the same
format, and there is no way to calculate trip times. He would also
like to see real-time information that shows if buses are on
schedule. In some cities around the world, this kind of service is
available over the internet or even on monitors installed at bus
stops. The planned rapid bus service in York Region will use this
technology.
Amina Rizvi of
North Etobicoke writes of her experience using the TTC every day.
“As you will see I am not asking for much, just some consideration
for those of us who use this service. On December 23, I experienced
one of the worst days of waiting for a bus. I left my home in at
7:05 a.m. to catch the Highway 27 bus (# 191) going to Kipling
Station and the bus never showed up until 7:50 a.m. As you may
remember, it was exceptionally cold, and there was freezing rain.
During the time I and others were waiting, five or six Finch 36
buses passed by, with only a few passengers in each bus. At the
Finch and Martin Grove intersection, four Martin Grove 46 buses went
by. How come there was no Highway 27 bus going to Kipling?
“This situation
occurs every winter and every time there is bad weather. About a
year and a half ago, I wrote to the TTC about the lack of service
and I got a reply from an assistant to (TTC chief general manager)
Rick Ducharme who promised that they are looking into improving the
timing and frequency of the #191 buses to and from Kipling station.
The service did improve and it is usually better in summer, spring
and fall, but it is horrible when winter is here. Is there anything
that can be done?”
I also got a
message from former TTC user Carmen Vega, who now lives in Central
America. “I am from Costa Rica, and lived in Toronto for three
years. Congratulations to the TTC for service that is very fast and
safe. Now that I am back in my country, I miss the TTC -- its
service is the best."
Send e-mail to
transit@eddrass.com. Include
address and phone number.