The TTC Experiment

I started taking the TTC as my main form of transportation in June. Well, only two things have changed from 15 years ago when I took it every day - there is a lot more air conditioned buses and subways and you can't get a seat going southbound at Sheppard. The minute I get on in the morning I read because I am not a morning person and this is my way of becoming more awake so I really want a seat. If you don't get one at Sheppard you will not get one until Eglinton. In the old days you could still get a seat at York Mills. So I have been going north to Finch and starting my book the minute I sit down. By the time I get to Bloor to change I am in a much better frame of mind and a little more alert.

So, if they keep saying ridership is down and I can no longer get a seat they must have pulled cars off of trains or the ridership south of Eglinton is where they have lost fares. People seem to be streaming in from the north!

My biggest surprise is that the announcements are actually no easier to understand and maybe even worse. I can barely make out the words let alone the entire message. They must have their own radio system for all the employees because the strange "99 Bloor. 99" announcements have stopped. I was told this meant a jumper but with the number of times it was called I knew that wasn't right - someone else told me it meant they need a janitor. Of course you would need a janitor in the other scenario too!

I don't need a metropass because when Cliff is on nights I have the car and when he is on evenings I can choose to take the car as long as I get back in time to take him to work. So, really, I'm relying on the car more than I thought. I don't think anyone is really surprised by that!