Sunday, February 6, 2011

A Streetcar Named Despair

I have an urge to interview someone who works at the TTC, just so I can understand the logic behind why the transit system runs the way it does in this city. Because from the patron's view, it just doesn't make sense. I would pose the following questions:

- In a span of 5 minutes, why would 5 streetcars go past me northbound, but none southbound? And then, why do they leave the station (Spadina) in clusters, rather than spaced out and timely like I'd expect them to?!?
- Why do streetcar and subway operators always insist on being late for their shifts? And, when they're on time, why do they insist on delaying my travelling schedule just so they can have a chat with the outgoing employee? DON'T THEY REALIZE THAT I'M IN A HURRY?!
- Apparently one TTC operator a day gets abused. Does the TTC think that maybe this is because they insist on only two criteria for employment - (1) complete lack of manners, and (2) disregard for urgency of everyone else's schedule?
- Why do TTC drivers insist on honking at each other as they go by? Don't they think that this annoys riders? Or, people who are jaywalking across the tracks?
***NB: people are jaywalking across the tracks, not because they are suicidal and want to get hit, but because they're in a hurry and can't be bothered to walk up to the next crosswalk. Why are they in a hurry? Because they're late. And why are they late? BECAUSE THEY TOOK THE $%^&ING TTC.

And finally, has there ever been a day in the history of the TTC when there have been absolutely NO delays? If so, there are a few options. We could:
(a) commemorate that day every year with a big celebration, and hope that TTC workers continue to strive to repeat it. I propose fireworks, and free hot dogs, barbecued to the same red hue of Rob Ford's face.
(b) fire everyone who was not working on that day, to show the whole work force that inefficiency is intolerable.
(c) do nothing. because that's what EVERY DAY should be like in the life of the TTC.

sigh. can anyone tell that I'm fed up with transit in this city?

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