If you live in the GTA and have to commute to UofT, you know that public transit is a hot-button topic. So this blog has been a long time coming, please be prepared for some major complaining in a hopefully humorous way.
I am a commuter to the University of Toronto; I come all the way from dear old Scarborough (Google it). I commute for an hour and 15 minutes every day, from school and back. I’ve been a commuter for my entire university experience (3 years), and it is the worst thing ever. Okay, maybe it’s not the worst thing EVER but seriously commuting is pretty terrible.
Commuting is a time killer extraordinaire (in the worst way). Because of all the endless everyday delays the bus and subway bring me, it can feel like all my time is spent getting to and fro. Now this would be okay if I was able to sit down and do some reading, but where am I supposed to read? Most times I can barely move my arms on the bus, let alone open up my tablet to read tiny words (my eyesight is terrible).
Commuting is like that Willy Wonka machine, but instead of raw materials going in and delicious ever-lasting gobstoppers coming out, good people go into the subway and monsters come out. I mean I’d consider myself to be a pretty nice gal, but once you are in Toronto’s packed subways or crazy bus lines you lose all sense of self. I’ve seen older ladies push and shove, even display a bit of parkour to get to that bus door. When you are in a long line to the entrance of a bus on a Canadian winter day, your only hope is to make it through that door. If you’re trying to get to on/off at Yonge and Bloor you better be ready to shout THIS IS SPARTA and make a push for it (maybe I’ve done this).
Commuting is the most draining part of my day. Stepping onto the bus in the morning is like taking a trip to Azkaban; it sucks the hope out of you. I really have no explanation of why commuting makes me so tired. I suppose it could be because of constant waiting, delays and crowded seat-less rides. Maybe it’s just because the transit system is just so awful.
Now as I commute every single day, the people who are part of my commute always fascinate me the most. Toronto is an interesting place; here are some of the most common subway goers you will encounter.
The “Good” Intentioned Preacher – I have been stopped by so many people and since I’m too much of a coward to ignore them, I must suffer through their “advice” every time. Once I was handed 4 different pamphlets on one commute home. I was even engaged in conversation 2 different times on that same day. I mean I have to give it to the people who preach on the TTC because that is when people are at their absolute worst. However, the commute home is when I feel the least bit inclined to accept any deity in my life.
The terrible/horrible no good Commuter – If you are one of these people, please stop your madness. Everyone is tired when they get off of work or school and just want to get to and fro in peace. But this commuter is the person who leaves their huge bag on, when everyone else is literally standing nose to nose. This commuter is also the person who decides that their bag has had a long day and it needs to rest beside them on another seat that could be used by the human standing next to the seat. This commuter is the person who decides that even though there is absolutely no space they’d like to be as comfortable as possible. Legs spread wide, body slumped downwards and elbows out in couch position. Please stop being this person.
The Walking Speakers – This is the person who is listening to their music much louder than any human ever needs to hear anything, or they are purposefully playing their not-so-groovy tunes for the world to hear. As a lover of music, I implore those who make everyone else listen to their favourite super loud/annoying song to spare our ears. We’re tired; we just want to listen to our own stuff, why do you think we all have our headphones in? You may love Nickleback and want the whole world to know, but trust me, we don’t need that on top of our long commute.
The Dreamboat – Oh yes, you thought it was all bad (well mostly it is) but sometimes you can luck out. Many people have told me that they expect to meet their partner on their commute. This may sound strange, but I mean people commute for hours a day; let us have this. Sometimes you’ll be on your regular route and be graced by the presence of that oh so fine human, who will certainly be the person you grow old with. That person whom you will casually keep looking back towards and then awkwardly look down once they see you staring. That, my friends, is my favourite kind of commuter encounter. Now I’ve not yet heard of any such relationship emerging from a Dreamboat encounter, but at least the ride becomes a little less awful with your subway soul mate around.
So basically commuting wastes time, makes you sad and can bring out the worst in you. BUT if you’re lucky you can see great moments of kindness or even find true love (shhh let me have this).
Please standby for probably the only and best book, I soon aspire to write. It will be filled anecdotes of my terrible commuting experiences; it will be in bookstores across North America sometime someday (dare to dream).
This is an accurate portrayal of a commuters life.