Voices from the Six: TTC Riders Speak Out

Toronto’s transit system carries more than a million people every day—but ask anyone who rides it, and you’ll hear that the TTC is more than just a way to get around. It’s a lifeline, a frustration, a community, and sometimes a test of patience.

This week, Voices from the Six took a ride across the city—from Kennedy to Kipling, Union to Finch—to speak with everyday commuters about their experience on the TTC. No filters. Just real talk from real riders.

“It’s like a relationship—you keep hoping it’ll get better.”
— Marlene R., 42, nurse, interviewed at Kennedy Station

“I get up at 5:30 a.m. and still show up late to work sometimes because the bus doesn’t show. I live in Scarborough—we wait longer than anybody.”

“You wait. You hope. You cram in. That’s the TTC.”
— Ryan D., 26, tech support worker, at Dufferin Station

“When the train pulls in and it’s already full, you just take a breath and do what you gotta do. It’s like a daily battle.”

“For $3.35, you’d think they’d at least have a working escalator.”
— Jenna K., 58, retired teacher, at Yonge–Bloor Station

“This is one of the busiest stations in Canada and half the time the escalator doesn’t work. It’s exhausting. But I don’t drive. What choice do I have?”

“The subway’s the only place I see the whole city in one place.”
— Kwame E., 19, university student, at St. George Station

“You got everyone—construction workers, bankers, students, street performers. It’s annoying sometimes, yeah, but I kind of love it too.”

“Late, crowded, and still better than traffic.”
— Ayesha B., 33, daycare worker, at Finch Station

“We complain, but if you’ve ever driven down the 401 at 5 p.m., you know why we keep riding. TTC’s far from perfect, but it gets us there.”

Toronto’s transit system is a mirror of the city itself—diverse, chaotic, sometimes broken, often beautiful. These are the voices that echo through the tunnels and buses, spoken between stops and stations, waiting for something better.

🗓️ Next Week: One Love in Little Jamaica: Reviving Eglinton West’s Cultural Pulse

📍 Voices from the Six is GTA Weekly’s Sunday editorial series spotlighting the lived experiences of people across the Greater Toronto Area—one story at a time.
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