Chippa-Dee Doo Da

* TTC Sucks

Whatever happened to waking up half an hour before class? Or the 10-minute walk to the library? Oh yeah, I forgot. I’m not in London anymore.

Instead, I am in Toronto where I wake up early to commute an hour everyday. Where there are a gazillion people crowding on the bus and subway that you can’t even breathe. Where eyes stare downwards and impersonality dominates.

I’ve realized I really hate people. Masses of them. Semi-circling the train doors. Cramming themselves into a tiny rectangular space. Even around 7:30 or 8pm, there are still people standing on the subway. Why are you still taking the subway? Go home.

And whatever happened to civility and respect? A few days ago, I got shoved into people exiting the train because people trying to get into the train were fighting for seats. First of all, do people not have any sort of courtesy or decency in them? Secondly, there is CLEARLY no room for movement. And lastly, it is impossible for 30+ people competing for what? Three empty seats. So really, just stand or wait for the next freaking train.

Some people say that our system is way cool compared to New York’s. But crap that. What about the much more organized subway system in Tokyo? They have designated arrows for entry/exit, and spots on the platform indicating where train doors open. People actually line up single filed to enter the train.

You may say that these TTC horrors occur only during rush hour. Yet, Sunday’s suck just as much.

To add, these are some other TTC pet peeves:

• People who walk so slow that they’re impeding traffic flow
• 4 words: STAND RIGHT, WALK LEFT
• People who stand covering the entire hand poles so that no one can hold on. Thus, they are pretty much balancing on their own
• Old people who use their oldness to excuse their inappropriate behaviour, so that it’s “okay” that they break all rules of mannerisms
• People who do not move down into the train/bus/streetcar i.e. it means I have to wait for another stupid train
• When the train is fully packed and people still try to move toward the exit for the next stop even when everyone’s getting off at the same stop e.g. Yonge/Bloor

In terms of TTC service, did you know that Finch station opens at 8:50 am on a Sunday? Yeah, it opens at that time, but nothing runs for a good 15 minutes. Anyhoo, you would expect that they’d be there at 8:30 to set up. Slackers.

So no, I do not think it is just the people because the TTC sure as hell doesn’t help the situation.

What I also call into question is the increase in fares and boost in government funding when:

a) We do NOT have better customer service.

Example #1: Stupid Streetcar Man can see me running for the streetcar (SC) on Spadina and College. My supervisor is waiting to “hold up” the SC. We both step up the stairs to pay our fares when Stupid SC Man says that I can’t keep a SC waiting. What? Like 2 seconds for me to run across the street?

Example #2: Stupid TTC Booth Man can clearly see me (the only person in line) waiting and ignores me until he finishes making me watch him sort his stupid TTC coins into nice neat piles because the stupid token machine was busted.

b) The TTC cut down more bus lines

c) The TTC environment is not changing for the better.

Someone points to the fact that they are arriving with 800 new buses by the year 2007! Yeah, 800 buses that are, I personally think, poorly designed in terms of spacing and being old people friendly. And what now with the contemplation of implementing bike racks on the bus?

On another note, I have noticed also that the TTC selects inappropriate advertisements to put up. For example, the British Virgin ads or the Sex professor ad. But the one that really bothered me was the Vex alcoholic beverage.

Ad #1: Picture of an androgynous man with mid-length hair, thin body frame, seductive look.

Catchphrase: With Vex, I could go either way.

Ad #2: Picture of a young sixties couple. Man’s arm around girlfriend.

Catchphrase: Sometimes we watch her friends have Vex.

Ad #3: Picture of a 40+ rich woman (i.e. Sugarmama) with exposed cleavage and jewelled hand on 20+ lad.

Catchphrase: We don’t have much to talk about, but the Vex is great.

Click here for the article called Cooler Ad About Good Sex Vexing to Some by Judy Gerstel. I guess I wasn’t the only feeling this way.

Why does our society heavily rely or at least emphasize sex to promote their products? What happened to well thought out and creative tactics to really catch one’s attention? I really challenge future marketers to this proposition.

Because maybe if they get really creative, I’ll decide to have Vex. Ugh.

posted by miss.chip @ 15:31