What To Do If You Run Into Trouble On The TTC
Posted January 22, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s the question that will inevitably follow the shocking shooting at the Osgoode Subway Station on Thursday: is the underground system safe?
TTC officials, the mayor and police have all gone to great lengths to assure the public these kinds of incidents are rare but there are enough instances in the past few years that have led many to wonder about that claim. ( See a review of some of them here .)
Many riders point out there’s not much anyone can do if people carrying concealed weapons on the trains decide to use them over stupid and often petty arguments. And they want to see the system’s security tightened.
“You rarely spot anybody around when it comes to the subway level,” complains Selam Araia.
“If you’re travelling home at 11:00 or 12:00am, especially for women, it’s pretty scary, sometimes,” adds Mariam Ekram.
“Obviously when it occurs it’s disconcerting,” admits TTC Chair Adam Giambrone. “We are concerned about it and we have to remember that there are over a hundred special constables and over 10,000 security cameras.”
Chief Bill Blair points out our subway is one of the safest on the planet. “[There’s] a lot of video available to us,” he explains. “Frankly, it’s a stupid place to commit a crime.”
Still, nothing is perfect. So what should you do if you spot trouble or feel threatened on the TTC? Here’s a primer on staying safe under the surface.
Subway
Here’s where you’re the most vulnerable, because there’s no way to get off until the next stop and the nearest TTC employee may not be in the car. You can get out when the train stops and try to evade your harasser but if that’s not possible, reach up and hit the yellow strip located at every section of every car. They can be used to report crime or illness, and while the TTC doesn’t want you to use it frivolously, they do say it’s OK if you’re feeling uncomfortable, sick or in danger.
What happens when it’s pressed? The train goes on to the next station and stops there with the doors open, allowing you to get out if necessary. Crews come immediately and check out the nature of the problem and take steps to fix it.
There are also special constables who patrol the underground. Some wear uniforms, while others are undercover. The TTC won’t say much about them except that they keep records about when the most problems occur and that’s when the bulk of them are riding the rails with you. They can detain troublemakers and get police involved if necessary.
Buses
This is a lot simpler. If you have any problems, report them immediately to the driver. They have two different kinds of emergency devices to contact transit control, and they can dispatch police, fire trucks, an ambulance or whatever is needed to the scene right away. Buses are now also equipped with cameras and while they obviously won’t stop an attack, they can help I.D. troublemakers after the fact.
Platforms
You’re waiting at a bus terminal or a TTC stop and you see someone suspicious hanging around or acting odd. Move to the Designated Waiting Area, where you’ll be in camera range of the collector. A push of a button puts you in contact with the man or woman in the booth and they can not only see what’s wrong but immediately summon help. And it’s a good place to sit even if you just want to read while waiting for that bus or train because the areas feature brighter lights than other spots on the platform. There’s almost always a pay phone in these places so if your cell doesn’t work underground, remember that 911 is a free call from any of them.
On The Street
The TTC can’t take responsibility for what happens on a city street – that’s a police matter. But if you’re a woman and you’re travelling on a bus between the hours of 9pm to 5am, you can ask the driver to let you off between stops, so you can exit close to your home without walking a long distance in the dark. The policy only applies to women and the TTC won’t let a man get off in the same mid-point stop to ensure safety. But being male doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to use the program. Drivers are given wide latitude about the issue and will let you off if they feel it’s in your best interest.
It’s the question that will inevitably follow the shocking shooting at the Osgoode Subway Station on Thursday: is the underground system safe?
TTC officials, the mayor and police have all gone to great lengths to assure the public these kinds of incidents are rare but there are enough instances in the past few years that have led many to wonder about that claim. ( See a review of some of them here .)
Many riders point out there’s not much anyone can do if people carrying concealed weapons on the trains decide to use them over stupid and often petty arguments. And they want to see the system’s security tightened.
“You rarely spot anybody around when it comes to the subway level,” complains Selam Araia.
“If you’re travelling home at 11:00 or 12:00am, especially for women, it’s pretty scary, sometimes,” adds Mariam Ekram.
“Obviously when it occurs it’s disconcerting,” admits TTC Chair Adam Giambrone. “We are concerned about i
t and we have to remember that there are over a hundred special constables and over 10,000 security cameras.”
Chief Bill Blair points out our subway is one of the safest on the planet. “[There’s] a lot of video available to us,” he explains. “Frankly, it’s a stupid place to commit a crime.”
Still, nothing is perfect. So what should you do if you spot trouble or feel threatened on the TTC? Here’s a primer on staying safe under the surface.
Subway
Here’s where you’re the most vulnerable, because there’s no way to get off until the next stop and the nearest TTC employee may not be in the car. You can get out when the train stops and try to evade your harasser but if that’s not possible, reach up and hit the yellow strip located at every section of every car. They can be used to report crime or illness, and while the TTC doesn’t want you to use it frivolously, they do say it’s OK if you’re feeling uncomfortable, sick or in danger.
What happens when it’s pressed? The train goes on to the next station and stops there with the doors open, allowing you to get out if necessary. Crews come immediately and check out the nature of the problem and take steps to fix it.
There are also special constables who patrol the underground. Some wear uniforms, while others are undercover. The TTC won’t say much about them except that they keep records about when the most problems occur and that’s when the bulk of them are riding the rails with you. They can detain troublemakers and get police involved if necessary.
Buses
This is a lot simpler. If you have any problems, report them immediately to the driver. They have two different kinds of emergency devices to contact transit control, and they can dispatch police, fire trucks, an ambulance or whatever is needed to the scene right away. Buses are now also equipped with cameras and while they obviously won’t stop an attack, they can help I.D. troublemakers after the fact.
Platforms
You’re waiting at a bus terminal or a TTC stop and you see someone suspicious hanging around or acting odd. Move to the Designated Waiting Area, where you’ll be in camera range of the collector. A push of a button puts you in contact with the man or woman in the booth and they can not only see what’s wrong but immediately summon help. And it’s a good place to sit even if you just want to read while waiting for that bus or train because the areas feature brighter lights than other spots on the platform. There’s almost always a pay phone in these places so if your cell doesn’t work underground, remember that 911 is a free call from any of them.
On The Street
The TTC can’t take responsibility for what happens on a city street – that’s a police matter. But if you’re a woman and you’re travelling on a bus between the hours of 9pm to 5am, you can ask the driver to let you off between stops, so you can exit close to your home without walking a long distance in the dark. The policy only applies to women and the TTC won’t let a man get off in the same mid-point stop to ensure safety. But being male doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to use the program. Drivers are given wide latitude about the issue and will let you off if they feel it’s in your best interest.
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