Three years of TTC headaches made me loath commuting, but my experience with GO transit has restored my hope for public transit in the GTA.
Graduation often comes hand in hand with moving. For some students, it means moving out of their parent’s house and being on their own for the first time. For others, it means dissolving their roommate situations as everyone accepts articling offers in different locations.
For students articling at Bay Street firms, the default is to seek an apartment downtown within walking distance of their new firm. The benefits of living close to work are obvious: it reduces both commuting time and the stress of commuting while also allowing you to benefit fully from the vibrant downtown social life. However, for some students, living downtown may come with additional costs.
For myself, living downtown was never really an option. My fiancé works in Mississauga. To ask him to drive 1.5 hours in rush hour traffic is a cruel and unusual torture I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemies. So we decided to set up our “adult” residence in Cooksville, Mississauga. This means a 30-minute drive for him and a 45-minute GO transit ride for me. Initially, I was hesitant about the move; however, I already love it much more than my commute from the Eglinton West Station area.
GO transit is much more enjoyable than the TTC system—it feels much safer than the TTC and is much more comfortable, and is a more consistent mode of transportation.
Safety first
If you were a TTC girlie through law school and found the experience at best unreliable and at worst dangerous, don’t let this experience turn you off from public transit. It’s an unfortunate reality that the country’s housing crisis has turned the TTC into an involuntary shelter for many people struggling in our city. Constant friction exists between commuters and those sheltering, which sometimes creates unsafe escalations. Anecdotally, the GO Transit does not face these challenges as few people shelter on GO Transit, likely due to higher fares. Unlike the TTC, the end of the line often brings you way outside the city. Instead, GO Transit is filled exclusively with commuters, all focused on getting to and from work, school, and home. The result is less conflict.
Increased comfort levels
Second, I have found GO transit a lot more comfortable than the TTC. The GO trains and buses are much cleaner and less congested than the subway. They also lack the constant lurching of the subway’s 3-5 minute stops. I can actually get some work done on the ride! Or, more frequently, enjoy a TV episode or a few chapters of my novel. You also never lose cell service because the GO operates entirely above ground.
Consistent and reliable
Third, the GO is much more consistent and reliable. Anyone who has dealt with the whims of the TTC is familiar with the TTC’s constant disruptions to service. Flooding, fires, power outages, trespassers on the tracks, and stabbings at the stations grind the subway to a halt on a nearly daily basis. During rush hours, buses arrive and depart seemingly randomly, often resulting in unscheduled delays. The inconsistency is especially painful when you have a longer commute or multiple transfers, forcing you to leave with extra time to ensure you will make important appointments. GO transit is much more consistent! The trains and buses generally follow their schedules tightly. I have yet to experience a major disruption, allowing me to comfortably leave the house with much less spare time.
Bonus!
A final thing I have enjoyed about my new GO commute has been the food selection at Union Station. I had a s’mores Cinnaholic gourmet cinnamon bun and it was truly a life-changing experience. They also sometimes do promotional giveaways at Union. On November 18, I got two Tim Hortons energy drinks for free!
I’m thankful my new commute has been so enjoyable, it will surely be an asset when articling begins. To anyone else moving outside of the downtown core, consider living along the GO transit lines!