#4 – On why I am grateful for the TTC
A gratitude note for Toronto's public transit services
It’s 6:10am. My alarm goes off. I wake up, turn it off. Take a quick shower. Meditate. Have a breakfast of toast with peanut butter. Get dressed. Grab my bag and I am headed out of the door on my way to the office. After a 12-minute brisk walk, I arrive at a TTC subway station to get on the Bloor-Danforth Line westbound for Kipling.
Toronto’s public transit system operated by the Toronto Transit Commission aka the TTC is my primary way of getting around the city. Although I sometimes complain about the ways the TTC has become more delay-prone and less safe, at this moment, on this day, just for a change, I’d like to reflect on all the reasons I am grateful for it.
Riding the TTC is a mini adventure in and of itself. On some mornings, I flip open a book I am reading (these days, “Four Seasons in Rome” by Doerr) or listen to some of my old favourite songs (“Take Me Home, Country Roads” is a regular). But on some days, I tuck away my AirPods and my book, and I start observing my fellow passengers while trying to avoid making awkward eye contact.
Sometimes, I am mildly surprised – a man is doing jumping jacks, or someone approaches me and offers to save my soul (“No, thank you.”) But sometimes, I am delighted by the wonderful display of humanity I get to see, even just for the half an hour I am riding the Bloor-Danforth Line.
On a recent ride on the TTC on my way back home, I felt my heart warm at overhearing a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson going to a Mirvish play. I was amused by two teenage school girls seriously and systematically comparing the length of their bangs. I was also delighted to witness a 5-year-old’s attempts at cajoling more Goldfish crackers from his mom. (The mother’s love for her son was palpable to me even from a distance.)
Observing these people was a way to remind myself of all the different seasons of life and slow down the thoughts whirling around in my head.
And lately, I’ve been feeling encouraged by TTC’s efforts to improve its services. In April of this year, TTC announced a joint investment of $700 million towards the electrification of its bus fleet. The funding will enable the purchase of 340 zero-emission buses and 248 bus chargers. CBC has also reported that by November, the TTC will increase its service levels to 95 per cent, with bus services at 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. And since August, TTC has started accepting debit and credit cards, not just Presto cards, for fare payment.
The fact is moving a city of 3 million people is no small undertaking, and the TTC folks are working day in and day out so that a city resident like me could go get a COVID booster shot on the other side of the city, visit a friend who lives far away for Thanksgiving dinner and go to work every week. I’m grateful for the TTC for all these reasons and a lot of other good ones.
Earlier this year, I read that the TTC aims to electrify its entire operations by 2040.
2040 does feel far away, but I am hopeful.
And until then, I will just keep riding.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with the TTC except for the fact that I’m a frequent user of its services.
Thank you for being here.
I do the same while on the transit. Some days, I read; some days, I listen; and some days, I observe.