Notes From the Night

Today I’ve been experiencing the public transit systems of the GTA up close and it kinda sucks.  I missed the GO Train twice today!  The first time I took the Oakville Transit bus #3 down Third Line to the Bronte GO station.  The bus arrived seconds before the GO Train did and I was still purchasing a GO ticket at the machine, while I watched the train leave the station without me.  I did make it to Toronto on the next train (one hour later).

On the way back to Oakville I took the subway to Union station.  I’ll admit that I did squeeze in a little extra shopping, but I thought that the subway ride wouldn’t be too long.  I didn’t take me long and when I arrive at Union Station on the Yonge-University line the clock said 20:38.  Yet when I got into the GO Train concourse at Union station, the GO Train clocks were saying 20:42.  I sprinted to the tracks and the train was still there, but the doors were closed.  The other two gentlemen and I just stood there for a whole minute vainly hoping that the conductor would open the doors.  He did not.  We watched forlornly as the train slowly departed without us. I did make it to Oakville on the next train (one hour later).

Once in Oakville I took the number 13 West Oaks Trail bus.  There is no GPS enabled stop signage or bus stop announcements.  Obviously you can see where you are in the daytime, but at night if you’re reading - like I was - you can get hopelessly lost.  I can recognize the lights of the local variety store and the intersection of Third Line & West Oak Trails, but the Fab magazine was so engrossing that I missed seeing my stop.  I ended up having to go to the end of the line and come back.  So I ended up getting home at 23:30 instead of 21:50 as I originally planned.

My parents were complaining on Sunday about the underfunding of transit. I said that we have to let the politicians know that not everyone in Oakville goes every by car.  So this is my cry to let you know that not everyone in Oakville goes everywhere by car.