Toronto transit advocates meet with community members over rash of TTC violence

Transit advocates and community members gathered on Thursday night to voice their concerns over the rise in violent attacks on the TTC.

Organized by the Toronto transit advocacy group “TTC Riders,” the town hall served as a forum for transit users to express their safety concerns and frustration over solutions put forward by the city.

There have been more than 21 incidents of unprovoked attacks on the TTC since last April — ten of them last month alone, as three of the victims succumbed to their injuries.

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“Mayor [John] Tory and City Councillors have the opportunity on Feb. 14 to make proactive investments in community safety and public services, such as supportive mental health crisis workers on the TTC, more shelter space, and more TTC service, not cuts,” said TTC Rriders director Shelagh Pizey-Allen.

Late last month, the TTC announced it would deploy approximately 80 additional employees to move throughout the system each day in the wake of the wave of violence. Transit advocates say the city should allocate more funding, like increasing shelter spaces and placing mental health workers on board TTC vehicles.

“Everyone deserves to be safe on public transit, whether you are a transit worker or a transit user,” said ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred. “Transit workers are in fear, and it’s time to listen to them for solutions.”