Torontonians who rely on public transit to get to work or school will have to find other ways to get around in the event of a strike at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
Nearly 12,000 workers in the CTT could walk out on Friday at 12:01 a.m. if negotiations between the transport agency and the United Transport Union do not lead to an agreement for a new employment contract.
A strike would mean that metros, buses and trams would not run. However, the Wheel-Trans service for people with disabilities would continue to operate.
If you are one of the people who usually use public transportation in Toronto, here are your options in the event of a strike.
Taxis, Lyft or Uber
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Users are encouraged to try traveling in groups, with friends or strangers using UberX Share.
Photo: Shutterstock / starmaro
Unsurprisingly, many Torontonians are considering turning to on-demand transportation services, such as Uber, Lyft or traditional taxis. An easy solution for many Torontonians, but which could nevertheless prove costly depending on the duration of the strike.
Will rental bikes be popular during the strike?
Photo: Radio-Canada
The Uber company indicates that in the event of a strike, it will put in place a limit on price increases, while offering incentives to drivers to increase the number of trips.
We call on both camps to reach an agreement and avoid the widespread disruption that a strike would cause.
, adds the company. Its competitor Lyft did not respond to our requests.
The race to find a self-service bike
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A Bike Share Toronto station in the Beaches district.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Pierre-Mathieu Tremblay
It’s Bike Month in Toronto, so if the weather permits, why not take the opportunity to go for a ride on two wheels? Very handy if you already have a bike, but getting your hands on one of the 9,000 bikes BikeShare renting could be a challenge.
Ridership has doubled since then 2019 in Torontoand Toronto’s bike share service is growing in popularity as it has 700 stations across the greater Toronto area.
BikeShare Toronto is not revealing its plans until a strike is officially called. However, there is reason to wonder what would happen to all these bikes borrowed from the outskirts. Would there be enough stations to accommodate them downtown?
Use the GO Transit train and bus network
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GO and UP Express trains will run if the CTT is on strike.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Anne-Marie Trickey
A strike at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) would not affect GO Transit. Many will then turn to GO and UP Express trains. One thing is certain, the trains should be busier.
The provincial transportation company Metrolinx says it has an emergency plan in the event of a service interruption, but does not specify its content in the event of a strike. CTT.
GO and UP Express trains will continue to operate normally and our stations will remain open, says Metrolinx.
GO and UP Express trains will continue to operate normally and our stations will remain open, says Metrolinx.
Here is a map of the stations in the territory served.
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The map shows GO train stations that are within the territory served by the CTT.
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Car sharing services
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A shared car from Communauto (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Daniel Thomas
If you really want to use a car, you can also use a car-sharing service, such as Communauto or ZipCar, which works by time and mileage.
In any case, you will have to be patient, since a strike would cause disruption in the city. Shelagh Pizey-Allen, spokesperson for the users organization TTC Ridersbelieves a strike would mean more cars on the roads and more congestion.
She believes that you should ask your employer if there is a plan, particularly regarding teleworking.
With information from Jean-François Gérard
