TLC for the TTC

[rusty_armour]

I have to admit that I’m surprised. When I learned yesterday that the TTC was holding a meeting to address ways in which it might improve its relationship with its customers, I laughed. A lot. However, it looks as if some real progress has been made. This morning, Kevin from TTC Control told BT viewers that they should be polite to bus drivers, which made me conclude that the TTC must have experienced some kind of epiphany. It’s the customers that need to change, not us. Customers should be treating us better, not the other way round. We’re not the problem: they are. After all, it was a customer that posted that vid on YouTube of a bus driver taking an extended break in the middle of his shift. And it was customers that took incriminating photos of TTC employees sleeping on the job. Yes, it’s obviously the customers who are to blame for expecting TTC employees to perform their jobs to the same standards as, oh, everyone else on the planet. We’ve obviously been putting way too much pressure on them...All the same, I resent the implication that TTC customers aren’t polite.

With the exception of three minor altercations (only one of which involved profanity), I’ve been perfectly civil to TTC employees. Okay, I have been known to direct a frosty glare at a bus driver after my bus has arrived at least half an hour late, but 98% of the time I thank the driver when I exit through the front door of the bus. And it’s not as if I’ve been gathering any potential blackmail material, though this is due more to laziness on my part than any sense of decency.

I’m sure this post originally had a point but I lost it. The point disappeared through the same dark vortex as my earmuffs. Ah, yes, it must be February. I’m suffering from SAD and I have to buy a new pair of earmuffs. *g*

Comments

[puckrobin.livejournal.com]

So, apparently, if we all just smiled more -- the prices of the TTC would be more in line with every other North American city, the service would run more often, they wouldn't keep falling asleep or holding wildcat strikes?

It's so typical of them.

I still think they should change their slogan to "The TTC - We Apologize for the Inconvenience.* *Actually, the apologies aren't sincere but we're a monopoly, so what are you going to do about it?"

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

So, apparently, if we all just smiled more -- the prices of the TTC would be more in line with every other North American city, the service would run more often, they wouldn't keep falling asleep or holding wildcat strikes?

It's so typical of them.

Well, I'm not sure if Kevin's statement actually represents the views of the TTC, but I wouldn't be surprised. The TTC rarely takes responsibility for itself. Someone else always seems to be to blame. Lately, it's been the customers...or maybe it's always been that way.

I still think they should change their slogan to "The TTC - We Apologize for the Inconvenience.* *Actually, the apologies aren't sincere but we're a monopoly, so what are you going to do about it?"

It would certainly be a lot more accurate than their current slogan! *g*

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

I now have a mental picture in which all bus passengers are forced to watch Due South and while someone tells them take Frasier as a role model: "This is how a TTC passenger should behave!"

It's a good thing that tomorrow's Friday. *sigh*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I now have a mental picture in which all bus passengers are forced to watch Due South and while someone tells them take Frasier as a role model: "This is how a TTC passenger should behave!"

LOL! Now that would certainly be something!

It's a good thing that tomorrow's Friday. *sigh*

I know! I'm very happy about that! :-)

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

One would think that if they truly wanted to improve relations with their customers they would simply provide transportation that is reliable and affordable.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Well, in the TTC's defence, they don't receive the kind of funding they should from either the Federal or Provincial governments. However, saying that, it seems like the fares keep rising and there is no significant improvement in service.

[pyrateanny.livejournal.com]

>>>With the exception of three minor altercations (only one of which involved profanity), I’ve been perfectly civil to TTC employees.<<<

That's an astonishingly good record, considering your daily commute! ;)

>>>I’m sure this post originally had a point but I lost it. The point disappeared through the same dark vortex as my earmuffs. Ah, yes, it must be February. I’m suffering from SAD and I have to buy a new pair of earmuffs. *g*<<<

I hate losing my earmuffs! Especially so late in the season, since it's often difficult to find replacements in the shops. By mid-February, they all seem to have their "spring" merchandise out. Good hunting!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

>>>With the exception of three minor altercations (only one of which involved profanity), I’ve been perfectly civil to TTC employees.<<<

That's an astonishingly good record, considering your daily commute! ;)

Yeah, considering my temper, I think that is pretty good. Ironically, two of the "altercations" took place when I was heading to my parents' place. My parents found both stories quite entertaining. *g*

I hate losing my earmuffs! Especially so late in the season, since it's often difficult to find replacements in the shops. By mid-February, they all seem to have their "spring" merchandise out. Good hunting!

There's this little bag/luggage store at the Yonge/Eglinton Centre. Last year, I'm pretty sure I was able to find a new pair of earmuffs there in February...or maybe it was January. Well, if that store isn't carrying earmuffs then I'll make do with my hat (which I usually save for temperatures below -17C) or just do without.

[bakerybard.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that we should be taking the word of Kevin from TTC Control as a spokesman for the whole service. And yes, there are problems, and yes, the service has gone downhill, but there is also the side of the story which involves TTC drivers being spit on, punched, or in some other way physically assaulted far too often. Are you going to tell me that no one has ever fallen asleep on the job at your place of work? Or gone off for an extended lunch or smoke break while someone was waiting on them to finish whatever it was they were supposed to be working on? Would you want your performance judged on the basis of the idiot who did? Yes, we need to fix the problems, but in the meantime, yeah, making an effort to be civil and polite to individuals who haven't actually done anything to deserve incivility or rudeness might not come amiss...

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that we should be taking the word of Kevin from TTC Control as a spokesman for the whole service. And yes, there are problems, and yes, the service has gone downhill, but there is also the side of the story which involves TTC drivers being spit on, punched, or in some other way physically assaulted far too often.

You're absolutely right. TTC drivers have been treated horribly in some cases and have done absolutely nothing to deserve such treatment. However, it's not as if customers have never been placed in danger. During the last strike, a number of people were left stranded downtown. Some of these same people ended up walking a great distance because they either couldn't afford a cab or weren't able to hail one. These same people were put at risk of being robbed or physically assaulted.

Are you going to tell me that no one has ever fallen asleep on the job at your place of work? Or gone off for an extended lunch or smoke break while someone was waiting on them to finish whatever it was they were supposed to be working on?

As my workplace is like Big Brother, I'm pretty sure that there aren't a lot of people who have gotten away with that kind of behaviour. I actually did hear about someone getting fired by the company some years ago for falling asleep. I don't know if that would happen now, but the culprit would probably receive a pretty severe reprimand if nothing else. As far as extended lunch and smoke breaks go, there probably are some people who stretch the rules. As my manager walks past my cubicle at least twenty times a day, it's not something I'd be able to get away with.

Yes, we need to fix the problems, but in the meantime, yeah, making an effort to be civil and polite to individuals who haven't actually done anything to deserve incivility or rudeness might not come amiss...

I'm not saying that we shouldn't be polite or civil. I just resent being told that this is the way customers should act. I'd certainly have no problem with this if it were actually a two-way street. I'm getting sick of hearing that it should be the customer who should be polite and patient. What about TTC employees? If I thought that it was going to work both ways then I'd think it was fabulous. Now, that isn't to say that there aren't polite TTC employees. In fact, I've come across a number of them that are friendly and helpful. The same goes for certain customers. Maybe the message needs to be that everyone should try to make an effort.

[bakerybard.livejournal.com]

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2010/02/06/ttc-general-manager-issues-a-stern-letter-to-employees.aspx