The Yonge
and Bloor transfer station brings together the TTC’s two busiest
lines, and almost every time I pass through it, there is at
least one person looking around, trying to find their bearings.
Navigating
Yonge and Bloor can be tricky for newcomers, and during rush
hour even Torontonians may find it a challenge. Although it has
been more crowded in years past, if TTC ridership continues to
increase Yonge and Bloor will have to function better.
Smoothing
the crowds may make the interchange safer and less stressful, so
below are some measures the TTC might consider. Substantially
rebuilding the station is not in the cards, so in order to make
the best use of limited space, let’s put our heads together.
Read over the following ideas and send me your feedback. If you
have suggestions that will help ease the crush at Toronto’s
busiest subway junction, send them to transit@eddrass.com.
Let’s start
with escalators. The moving stairs at Yonge and Bloor are by no
means the longest on the TTC, but when they get clogged, the
whole station functions less effectively. One way to keep people
moving is to convince them not to take a rest on the left side
of the escalators. Small signs are posted next to handrails
stating “Walk Left, Stand Right.”
When riders
don’t see, or understand the signs, or ignore them, an escalator
can become a low-capacity waiting zone, barely faster than
taking the stairs. What’s more, a clogged escalator will induce
some folks to take the adjacent stairway as an alternate. No big
deal, unless a rush of transferring passengers want to head in
the following direction -- suddenly it’s gridlock, Yonge and
Bloor style.
Why not
place larger signs alongside the escalators, reminding users to
keep to the right if they wish to rest a spell? There is plenty
of space for posters along many of the TTC’s busiest moving
stairs.
Since
there’s only a brief opportunity to convince rushing riders, the
slogan could be more succinct. Other transit systems offer the
simple request “Stand Right” and somehow people seem to get it
-- without being told exactly what to do on the left side.
Next, let’s
talk about boarding subway cars. What can be merely a bad habit
at other stations can cause considerable delays at Yonge and
Bloor: namely blocking riders from exiting the trains. During
busy hours, a double-file line of people will often try to leave
through the open doors, only to be squeezed down to single file
by waiting crowds.
Perhaps
some of those waiting on the platform are eager to get a seat,
or are worried about being left behind, but the unconscious rush
to board can actually delay the subway’s departure. Take a look
at the doorways where patrons exit freely, compared to those
where only a trickle squeeze through waiting crowds.
What will
convince more of our fellow riders to keep stations flowing
freely? Please write me, and I’ll include your comments in a
future column.
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