Torontonians and, of them, regular transit riders are split on whether Mayor Tory and the City Council have Toronto on the right track to fix many of Toronto’s transit woes – half (51%) of Torontonians along with half (52%) of regular TTC users believe Mayor Tory and City Council have Toronto on the right track to fix many of Toronto’s transit woes. Geographically this is led by residents in York/East York at 63% followed by those in North York at 53%, Etobicoke at 52%, old city of Toronto/downtown at 51% and Scarborough at 42%.
However, this compares to the other half of Torontonians (49%) flanked by half (48%) of regular transit users who disagree that Mayor Tory and City Council have Toronto on the right track to fix many of Toronto’s transit woes. Those most likely to express this view come from Scarborough (58%) followed by those in old city of Toronto/downtown (49%), it Etobicoke (48%), North York (47%) and York/East York (37%)., Etobicoke at 48%, North York at 47% and York/East York at 37%.
Half (48%) of Torontonians regularly use the TTC either every day (23%) or a few times each week (25%). For the other half, one in 10 (12%) use it less than once a week, 8% use the service about once a month, 22% use it less than once a month and 10% never use the TTC. Those most likely to regularly use the TTC are women (53%), Young (66% aged 18 – 34) and middle aged (53% aged 35 – 54), those who are employed (58%), renters (58% versus those who own 41%) and university graduates (52%). Geographically, regular riders are most likely to be found in Old City of Toronto/Downtown (59%) and York/East York (59%) followed by those who in North York (48%), Scarborough (38%) and Etobicoke (37%).
When compared with results from a poll asking the same question in 1999 (18 years ago) there have been some subtle changes in ridership but not much in terms of overall increases in utilization:
1999 – 45% regularly used the TTC versus 48% today (+3)
1999 – 28% used the TTC every day versus 23% today (-5)
1999 – 6% used the TTC less than once a week versus 12% today (+6%)
1999 – 11% used the TTC about once a month versus 8% today (-3)
1999 – 21% used the TTC less than once a month versus 22% today (+1)
1999 – 16% never used the TTC versus 10% today (-6)
So, is There Potential to Get More Transit Riders?
Six in 10 (58%) of Torontonians and seven in 10 (67%) of regular transit riders say something can be done to get them to ride public transit more often. They’re more likely to be well-educated (63%), young (62%) and men (62%) and across the city those with the highest intentions are in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (70%) followed by those in York/East York (59%), Etobicoke (56%), North York (55%) and Scarborough (51%).
But this utilization potential doesn’t seem to reside in the other 42% of Torontonians and one third (33%) of regular TTC riders who agree there’s nothing that could be done to get them to ride the TTC more often. Of those most likely to indicate that there’s nothing that can be done to get them to ride the TTC more often (42%), they’re more likely to be women (46%) older (47% aged 55+) and lower educated (63%). Geographically, this sentiment can be found the most in Scarborough at 49% followed by those in North York at 45%, Etobicoke at 44%, York/East York at 41% and in the old city of Toronto/downtown at 30%.
Loving the better way – a majority (54%) agree that they love their public transit –whenever they need and use it, it’s great. Of those Torontonians who say they love their public transit (54%), they’re most likely to be older (62% aged 55+), regular riders (59%) and men (58%). Geographically, those who love their public Transit the most come from Etobicoke and York/East York at 57% each followed by the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (56%), North York (53%) and Scarborough (51%).
Not showing the love so much—those Torontonians least likely to say they love their public transit (46%), are most likely to be young (55% aged 18 – 34), women (49%) and least educated (46%). Notably, 41% of regular TTC riders indicate they don’t love their public transit, implying that whenever they need and use it, it’s not great. Geographically, the least love comes from Scarborough (49%) followed by those from North York (47%), the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (44%) and from Etobicoke and York/East York both at 43%.
Half (50%) of Torontonians and a majority (54%) of regular public transit users say they never worry if drugs or alcohol affects a TTC driver. This is most likely the view held by those in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (60%) followed by those in York/East York (61%), Etobicoke (52%), North York (43%) and Scarborough (39%).
The other half (50%) of Torontonians along with 46% of regular public transit users disagree – implying that they do worry if drugs or alcohol affects a TTC driver. Those who worry the most come from Scarborough (61%) followed by those from North York (57%), Etobicoke (48%), the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (40%) and York/East York (39%).
A significant majority (81%) of Torontonians indicate that they feel safe riding on the TTC – including 86% of regular public transit riders. This contrasts with just 19% of Torontonians and just 14% of regular riders who disagree. There are no discernible/significant demographic differences on these opinions.
A majority (67%) of Torontonians and seven in 10 (69%) regular TTC riders believe TTC employees work hard. TTC workers get consistent marks across the city for their work ethic with highest marks coming from Old City of Toronto/Downtown and Scarborough (68%) followed by York/East York (67%), North York (66%) and Etobicoke (65%).
.
This compares with one third (33%) of Torontonians and three in 10 (31%) regular TTC riders who disagree that TTC employees work hard. Geographically, this criticism is held highest in Etobicoke (35%) followed by those in North York (34%), York/East York (33%) and those in Old City of Toronto/Downtown and Scarborough (both at 32%).