A Toronto woman, Leya, faced significant challenges during this weekend’s snowstorm, highlighting issues with public transportation in the city. On January 25, she attempted to return home after a long day of work in difficult weather conditions.
Transportation Woes in Toronto’s Snowstorm
Leya was at Bathurst and College, waiting for a northbound streetcar to Bathurst Station. From there, she was set to transfer to the Line 2 subway and continue to Lawrence Station, a journey that normally takes about 37 minutes according to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Trip Planner.
However, due to the snowstorm, she found herself in a challenging situation. The TTC app consistently informed her that a streetcar was just six minutes away. Frustrated with the delay, she decided to walk towards the subway station.
Braving the Elements
- Leya navigated the unplowed sidewalks along Bathurst St., facing waist-deep snow.
- She took risky shortcuts, occasionally venturing onto the busy street.
After walking one kilometre to Bathurst Station, Leya discovered that subway services were shut down. Though shuttle buses were reportedly on the way, she decided to continue her journey on foot towards Bloor Station, an additional four kilometres away.
Long Walk to Bloor Station
- Leya did not encounter any of the promised shuttle buses on her way.
- Upon arrival at Bloor Station, she found a large crowd of commuters waiting for shuttle buses, some already waiting for an hour.
With the northbound subway also out of service, Leya continued walking up Yonge St. to Eglinton Ave., covering almost four kilometres. Despite the treacherous conditions, her effort resulted in a two-hour commute home.
Harsh Conditions and Frustrations
Leya described the walk as slippery and cold, despite being well-dressed for winter. She experienced tingling and frostbite on her face upon reaching her destination. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed dissatisfaction with the city and TTC’s preparedness for the storm.
She emphasized that both organizations had advance notice of the weather conditions and should have managed public transit better. Leya believes more should be done to serve the community during such emergencies, rather than leaving commuters stranded.
As another light snow is predicted in Toronto this week, residents hope for improved transit services going forward.
