TTCriders in the News

Shaken by Toronto transit attacks, riders say they don't feel safe — but doubt more police will help

Shelagh Pizey-Allen, executive director of the advocacy group TTCriders, would like to see Toronto do something similar, rather than adding more police.

"We have been hearing loud and clear from Black and Indigenous and racialized transit users that special constables do not make them feel safe," she said.

"Having more supportive staff around, more presence, is important, but why not expand supportive staff roles," Pizey-Allen asked. "What about creating a welcoming staff role, someone you can go up to and ask for directions?"

For its part, in a statement to CBC News, the TTC says safety is one of its top priorities and acknowledges that increasing special constables, security, police presence and uniformed staff alone won't address the problem.

'A band-aid solution': Ford says plan for extra cops on TTC doesn't go far enough

While advocacy group TTCriders echoed Ford by calling Tory’s plan a “bandage solution,” they also suggested that an increased police presence doesn’t get to the root cause of the issue. They say the real problem is a lack of support for those experiencing homelessness and people with severe mental health issues.

“Police don’t address the root causes of violence,” says TTCriders spokesperson Shelagh Pizey-Allen. “Police cause harm to Black, Indigenous and racialized people.”

She argues the extra officers will actually make many people feel less safe on transit.

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