The TTC bylaws regarding the use of transfers are Draconian, nonsensical and business unfriendly.

[charles chris]

August 9, 2012

The TTC bylaws regarding the use of transfers are Draconian, nonsensical
and business unfriendly.
Feedback from complaint #38212 regarding an incident on July 25, 2012
suggests TTC is
supporting the heavy handed enforcement of rules regarding transfers.

The rules stipulate that no stop overs are allowed and transfers must be
used at transfer
points.

These idiotic rules stifle consumer spending, the life blood of our economy.
Potential customers that travel via TTC are deterred from purchasing goods
and services.

Ma and Pa operations do NOT get funding from multiple levels of government
that have collected
taxes from the population.

The abolition of these archaic rules regarding the use of transfers will
NOT kill TTC revenue.

Imagine a coffee shop operation getting most of its revenue from customers
purchasing
coffee.  The owner of the business must process thousands of $2.00
transactions in order to
pay thousands of dollars in rent every month not to mention cost of
supplies, utilities and
payroll.

Every other transit authority in the GTA has less rigid policies regarding
the use of
transfers.  Transfers can be used to ride transit anywhere within a two
hour time period.

The TTC must do its part to help stimulate the sluggish economy.  These are
tough times and
oppressive rules regarding the use of transfers are NOT justified!

The TTC has studied adopting the same transfer policy practiced by
Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Brampton, etc.
The TTC has chosen to aggressively enforce Draconian laws regarding the use
of transfers!  This MUST STOP NOW!

On July 25, 2012 I forgot my metro pass at home.  I had boarded the south
bound
41 bus from Keele and Sheppard Ave.

The bus driver refused to believe me when I told him of my mistake.  So, to
avoid the
escalation I sensed the driver was eagerly anticipating, I paid my $3.00
fare.

I received a transfer with a time of 3:30 PM.  I got off at Lawrence.  I
purchased a lunch
at Mr. Jerk and tried to board a 52 Lawrence east bound bus #1389 at the
nearest bus stop,
1 stop east of Keele St.  I placed my bicycle on the bike rack and entered
the bus.
I showed the driver my transfer.

The driver refused to even inspect my transfer and stated my transfer was
no good at this stop.
I explained to the driver, a black female,  that I subscribe to the TTC and
just forgot my metro pass at home,
that I had already paid double fare, that as a TTC subscriber of the metro
pass I don't
concern myself with transfer points.

The driver insisted I remove my bicycle, go back 1 stop to Keele and wait
for the next
east bound bus.

I refused!  The bus driver escalated matters by calling the police and
taking the bus out
of service, inconveniencing several passengers on board.

I waited for the police to arrive and I told them my story. I removed my
bike from the rack,
rode 1 stop west to Keele St and boarded another east bound bus.  I showed
the driver the same
transfer and continued my journey to see my physician.

Why does the TTC call police on law abiding fare paying customers?  Not
long ago TTC bus
drivers called cops on me 5 times in an 8 day period.  One driver was
directly responsible
for 3 such calls and indirectly responsible for a 4th.  The 5th calling of
police came from
another driver.

Now the TTC is NOT all bad.  They allow strollers, pets and eating food on
TTC vehicles.

Also, recently, the TTC has extended its hours for customer service and the
lost and found is
now open on Saturdays with extended evening hours.  This is great!

Now the TTC needs to abandon Draconian laws for the use of transfers ASAP!

Thanks for your consideration.

Christopher C. Charles

-- 
http://drpcdr.ca
http://jobcircle.ca
416 398 3772 OR 647 453 3327
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