Comments on: TTC: Toronto’s terrible commuters http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters Toronto's new weekly city magazine Mon, 20 May 2013 15:34:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Gar http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-46398 Gar Mon, 20 May 2013 01:45:02 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-46398 On the other hand, not everyone sits in an office all day. Some have to work hard, and no amount of deodorant will allow them to keep smelling like a perfect rose by the end of it. On the other hand, not everyone sits in an office all day. Some have to work hard, and no amount of deodorant will allow them to keep smelling like a perfect rose by the end of it.

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]]> By: Occasional rider http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-46172 Occasional rider Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:55:46 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-46172 I cannot stand the littering. Sure the Metro and 24 papers are free but this is no reason to just leave them on or under the seats. Recently I picked up a few discarded papers on a train. There were only a few other riders and one of them had the balls to take his paper and throw it on the ground. I shook my head and suggested that he throw his paper in the recycling bin instead to which he told me to "fuck off" and then chastised me for picking up garbage telling me I was a freak. The only thing that made me smile was that an older woman chewed him out and told him that she wished she was his mother so she could slap some sense into him. He apologized, picked up his paper and got off at the next stop! I cannot stand the littering.

Sure the Metro and 24 papers are free but this is no reason to just leave them on or under the seats. Recently I picked up a few discarded papers on a train. There were only a few other riders and one of them had the balls to take his paper and throw it on the ground. I shook my head and suggested that he throw his paper in the recycling bin instead to which he told me to “fuck off” and then chastised me for picking up garbage telling me I was a freak. The only thing that made me smile was that an older woman chewed him out and told him that she wished she was his mother so she could slap some sense into him. He apologized, picked up his paper and got off at the next stop!

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]]> By: LOLBRBY2K http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-46130 LOLBRBY2K Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:15:57 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-46130 The worst is that person who would much rather, AT THE LAST MINUTE, slip through the back doors without paying, forcing themselves onto a completely packed vehicle instead of waiting for the next car/bus/train, and THEN refuse to get out of the vehicle despite the fact that they, and they alone, ARE PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM CLOSING. I especially love when the doors are fully opening and closing on their bodies and they STILL look around, all "who now, what's happening?" when the driver announces that nobody is moving until the doors are completely closed. These are probably the same type of assholes who silently fart at a guests house and then blame it on the family dog. Much to my delight, however, the last time this happened, the riders united and stood their ground. "I can't move unless the doors are closed. The doors need to close. Somebody is going to have to get off the bus", the driver droned, for the second time. The doors continued to open and close on the fat oaf who had just weaseled onto the bus. Passengers looked at one another with a mixture of dismay and disgust. "You're too big! The doors can't close", a hero then piped up. "Yeah, get off the bus!" chimed in another. The doors continued to open and close on the brute. "Oh my god, just get off!" "Yo buddy, get OFF!" In vain, the whale sucked in it's gut and leaned into the crowd, who stumbled to catch their footing and remain upright. "What's wrong with you? There's no more ROOM!" "I can't breathe!" "I'm being crushed!" And then, at last: "Okay, everyone, just...just...PUSH BACK!" And, collectively, the passengers were able to use their force to eject the cow, who stumbled off the bus with a hearty "wooahhh", and the riders, who were all quite satisfied with themselves, were able to arrive at their destinations on time (well, within 15 minutes--it is the TTC after all!) The worst is that person who would much rather, AT THE LAST MINUTE, slip through the back doors without paying, forcing themselves onto a completely packed vehicle instead of waiting for the next car/bus/train, and THEN refuse to get out of the vehicle despite the fact that they, and they alone, ARE PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM CLOSING.

I especially love when the doors are fully opening and closing on their bodies and they STILL look around, all “who now, what’s happening?” when the driver announces that nobody is moving until the doors are completely closed.

These are probably the same type of assholes who silently fart at a guests house and then blame it on the family dog.

Much to my delight, however, the last time this happened, the riders united and stood their ground.

“I can’t move unless the doors are closed. The doors need to close. Somebody is going to have to get off the bus”, the driver droned, for the second time.

The doors continued to open and close on the fat oaf who had just weaseled onto the bus. Passengers looked at one another with a mixture of dismay and disgust.

“You’re too big! The doors can’t close”, a hero then piped up.

“Yeah, get off the bus!” chimed in another.

The doors continued to open and close on the brute.

“Oh my god, just get off!”

“Yo buddy, get OFF!”

In vain, the whale sucked in it’s gut and leaned into the crowd, who stumbled to catch their footing and remain upright.

“What’s wrong with you? There’s no more ROOM!”

“I can’t breathe!” “I’m being crushed!”

And then, at last:

“Okay, everyone, just…just…PUSH BACK!”

And, collectively, the passengers were able to use their force to eject the cow, who stumbled off the bus with a hearty “wooahhh”, and the riders, who were all quite satisfied with themselves, were able to arrive at their destinations on time (well, within 15 minutes–it is the TTC after all!)

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]]> By: LOLBRBY2K http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-46129 LOLBRBY2K Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:24:25 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-46129 You forgot the Stench Wearers, that is: twats who douse themselves in the latest celebrity stink and essentially FORCE you to choose between getting up and leaving the window seat you somehow managed to snag during rush hour/ elbowing your way unnecessarily to the opposite end of the vehicle to avoid an oncoming headache, or staying put and breathing in their toxic fumes for the next 40 mins. We all share the same air--make the TTC a scent-free zone! You forgot the Stench Wearers, that is:

twats who douse themselves in the latest celebrity stink and essentially FORCE you to choose between getting up and leaving the window seat you somehow managed to snag during rush hour/ elbowing your way unnecessarily to the opposite end of the vehicle to avoid an oncoming headache, or staying put and breathing in their toxic fumes for the next 40 mins.

We all share the same air–make the TTC a scent-free zone!

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]]> By: NB201 http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45214 NB201 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:39:55 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45214 "You’re already getting a break on the price of the fare, Junior. Make it count." How very condescending. “You’re already getting a break on the price of the fare, Junior. Make it count.”

How very condescending.

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]]> By: CBug http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45199 CBug Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:39:30 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45199 This was my question. Is carrying my instrument on the subway/bus/streetcar an annoyance to other riders? I've taken my bass on the subway and streetcar and yes, knocked a couple people with it. Thankfully they were very courteous to me - sometimes willing to give up their seat. When I worked downtown, there were days when I had my purse, my gym bag, and my bass with me on the subway, in rush hour. I never got a dirty look. Funny how there was an instance when I had those three bags with me and a pregnant woman came on the train and NO ONE was willing to give up their seat for her but me. I'm not giving up the activities that I do just because some people think a bag is annoying. And I have car! But I'm not driving it downtown. Taking transit is the easiest and most economical way to get around when you have a few things to do in the city. Public transit is about being courteous and mindful of other commuters. You have different people from different places with different lives huddled together in one space. Yeah, smelling food on the train is kinda gross, but what if this person is commuting between two jobs and their time in transit is their only time to eat? I do agree that feet on the seats, bags on the seats (along with rushing into a train before everyone has exited and loud music) is annoying. I blame that on people who don't understand courtesy. So that's why i think these 'annoyances' come with the territory when taking public transit. This was my question.
Is carrying my instrument on the subway/bus/streetcar an annoyance to other riders?

I’ve taken my bass on the subway and streetcar and yes, knocked a couple people with it. Thankfully they were very courteous to me – sometimes willing to give up their seat.

When I worked downtown, there were days when I had my purse, my gym bag, and my bass with me on the subway, in rush hour. I never got a dirty look. Funny how there was an instance when I had those three bags with me and a pregnant woman came on the train and NO ONE was willing to give up their seat for her but me.

I’m not giving up the activities that I do just because some people think a bag is annoying. And I have car! But I’m not driving it downtown. Taking transit is the easiest and most economical way to get around when you have a few things to do in the city.

Public transit is about being courteous and mindful of other commuters. You have different people from different places with different lives huddled together in one space. Yeah, smelling food on the train is kinda gross, but what if this person is commuting between two jobs and their time in transit is their only time to eat?
I do agree that feet on the seats, bags on the seats (along with rushing into a train before everyone has exited and loud music) is annoying.
I blame that on people who don’t understand courtesy. So that’s why i think these ‘annoyances’ come with the territory when taking public transit.

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]]> By: older person http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45034 older person Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:47:19 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45034 Why do people insist on passing you on the escalator when there is an empty flight of stairs right next to the escalator? If you have the energy to climb, then use the stairs and leave the stationary escalator rider safe. Same thing happens when buying tickets at the ticket booth. People just can't wait for you to finish your transaction and think that blurting out 'excuse me' gives them the right ot push their way thru. Patience is a vertue!! Why do people insist on passing you on the escalator when there is an empty flight of stairs right next to the escalator? If you have the energy to climb, then use the stairs and leave the stationary escalator rider safe. Same thing happens when buying tickets at the ticket booth. People just can’t wait for you to finish your transaction and think that blurting out ‘excuse me’ gives them the right ot push their way thru.

Patience is a vertue!!

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45029 Anonymous Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:03:51 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45029 I'm pretty sure this philosophy will radically change when you turn 42 or when you injure yourself or are dealing with a debilitating illness or injury. It's not an issue of your right to be able to sit, it's about a inner belief of having concern and a sense of compassion for those less fortunate than you. I’m pretty sure this philosophy will radically change when you turn 42 or when you injure yourself or are dealing with a debilitating illness or injury. It’s not an issue of your right to be able to sit, it’s about a inner belief of having concern and a sense of compassion for those less fortunate than you.

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]]> By: mHmm http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45021 mHmm Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:18:52 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45021 I've travelled a lot and used many public transit systems, and Toronto is the only city where I've consistently seen aisle-sitters. When the phobias were being handed out there must have been a run on the claustro type in this city. I’ve travelled a lot and used many public transit systems, and Toronto is the only city where I’ve consistently seen aisle-sitters. When the phobias were being handed out there must have been a run on the claustro type in this city.

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]]> By: occasional rider http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/ttc-torontos-terrible-commuters/#comment-45003 occasional rider Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:34:41 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=117446#comment-45003 as an occasional TTC rider, I just wanted to say that it's quite difficult as 35 year old guy to complain or politely ask some offenders to stop their behaviour. With all the violence going on in Toronto, the last thing I need is to confront some dude who's ready to knock me out because I tell him to pick up his garbage. Things can escalate quickly, and I have no faith in the TTC itself to provide a safe environment. as an occasional TTC rider, I just wanted to say that it’s quite difficult as 35 year old guy to complain or politely ask some offenders to stop their behaviour. With all the violence going on in Toronto, the last thing I need is to confront some dude who’s ready to knock me out because I tell him to pick up his garbage. Things can escalate quickly, and I have no faith in the TTC itself to provide a safe environment.

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