(Toronto, ON) – TTCriders, a membership based organization of transit riders, released the following statement in response to the TTC's plans to deploy plain clothes fare inspectors:
"The TTC should be a welcoming public service for everyone. Plain clothes fare inspection is a mistake that will fuel conflict and an environment of mistrust that could be abused.
The TTC has an open payment system. Does the TTC really expect transit riders to hand over their credit and debit cards to strangers claiming to be fare inspectors?
Trying to "catch" riders contradicts the TTC's plan to bring back a "taps before tickets" approach. According to TTC data, 50% of riders pay when asked to.
If the TTC wants to get creative, why not hire "greeters" on streetcars who could make all transit users feel safer and would encourage people to tap without creating more fear and mistrust.
TTC data demonstrates that the expansion of non-enforcement frontline staff in subway stations has had a positive impact on rider safety. But TTC enforcement staff have a track record of racial profiling.
Toronto should focus instead on regulating ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft, which are costing our transit agency millions by siphoning away 4.6% to 6.9% of weekday TTC ridership."
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