Staggering class hours to prevent rush-hour commuting

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was never without its flaws. However, there’s a high threshold of crying children, dirty tunnel air, and malodorous crowding that any city-dweller can withstand for their daily commute. 

Of course, that threshold nosedived in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic—ridership for the TTC has only risen to 45% of pre-pandemic ridership (external link)  since the first fateful lockdown. 

Universities are one of the largest commuter groups in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and have a big part to play in bringing these ridership levels back up (TTC, 2021). As we know from the 2019 StudentMoveTO study, Toronto Metropolitan University (renaming in process) hosts the highest number of public transportation commuters for any Toronto post-secondary institution, making our role even more important.

There are countless ways to encourage a return to buses and trains, such as financial incentives, in-person work and school, and exceptional cleaning standards (Spurr, 2021a). Many of us will return regardless, as we cannot afford to give up public transit for other modes of transportation (Allen et al., 2020). 

However, “return-to-normal” is an event that Toronto will—hopefully—not have to experience again (in exchange for getting out of the pandemic permanently and safely). While we have this chance to change, it’s enticing to imagine a “new normal” that can be better than where we left off.

I’d like to see how our daily commutes can be fundamentally changed. 

Let’s look back at where we were pre-pandemic. 

In the  (PDF file) 2019 StudentMoveTO Study (external link) , researchers found shocking statistics on post-secondary commuters: 

• 41% of students reported that their commute discourages them from coming to campus; 
• 46% of students reported they picked their courses based on commute; and
• 60% of students reported their commute discourages them from participating in campus activities and events.

What this signifies is a fundamental barrier in our commuting patterns that is preventing Ryerson students from accessing campus and using the university’s resources to the fullest extent. [Also,] Students are expected to figure out how to get to and from campus on their own. 

[But let’s say] You have a lecture at 8 AM and you live two hours away from campus because you can’t afford a downtown apartment. [Or,] Intramural sports don’t fit in with your schedule because you’re in class in the morning and the trains stop running in your town when nighttime practice is let out.

I’d like to propose a scenario where Ryerson plans around this barrier. We will always be a commuter school, which makes us different from [some] other universities in the GTA. But, we still have no student transit pass, despite other universities passing their own (DeClerq, 2019). We also lack the specific in-campus transportation that other schools offer (York University, 2021). 

With this proposal, I recommend an alternative approach to class scheduling to address rush-hour commuting. 

We already understand, as commuters, that crowded commutes do us more harm than good (Chatterjee et al., 2018). Universities actively recommend students to avoid rush-hour commutes where possible (University of Toronto, 2021), but do not supply the resources or schedules to assist students to do so. This proposal can put a tool in the hands of the universities to follow through with their own suggestions. 

This proposal works so well with the current transit landscape because GTA residents are nervous, for both psychological and health reasons, to take their first step back onto the TTC and the GO Train (Fakuade, 2021). Both transit agencies have worked to make their stations, vehicles, and trains safe and clean, employing new technology where necessary (GO, 2021; Spurr, 2020). 

But this proposal extends beyond COVID-19. We know recovery and resiliency go hand-in-hand, but resiliency will be what carries us forward long past our generation’s first experience with worldwide pandemics. It will also carry students, staff, and faculty beyond our years at Ryerson. Changing the way we look at rush hour and commute stress is the logical progressive step in today’s planning climate. 

Flexible schedules will support students, staff and faculty with domestic obligations, other jobs, and pre-existing stressors, not constrain them (Chatterjee et al., 2018).

Further, as automobile use declines, our trains and buses will continue to pack in more people (Spurr, 2021b). By staggering students’ hours, we can anticipate changes in commuter numbers and act accordingly, minimized commuter stress.

Through a pilot project, Ryerson could be at the forefront of a “new normal” for commuting. 

Faculties and students could collaborate to create schedules that would minimize rush-hour classes and enable students to vote on which schedule would work for them, leaving students with more relaxed commutes and more time during their mornings and evenings.

It’s important to mention there actually are many offices and universities across North America that are temporarily recommending or allowing staggered hours to address COVID concerns (Acadia University, 2021; City of Toronto, 2020; University of Alberta, 2021; WHSC, 2020). This shows the viability of the pilot. 

However, by implementing these staggered hours through a pilot project, we can also collect new swaths of data to deepen our understanding of people’s commute needs and barriers, and develop a new normal, beginning right on our very own campus.

References

Acadia University. (2021, June 25). Messages to Employees - Return to Campus Plan and Work from Home Pilot - Acadia University. COVID-19. https://www2.acadiau.ca/covid-19/news-reader/return-to-campus-work-from-home-pilot.html

Allen, J., Palm, M., & Farber, S. (2020, May 31). Giving up public transit during the coronavirus is a luxury many Canadians can’t afford. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/giving-up-public-transit-during-the-coronavirus-is-a-luxury-many-canadians-cant-afford-138875 (external link) 

Chatterjee, K., Chng, S., Clark, B., Davis, A., De Vos, J., Ettema, D., Handy, S., Martin, A., & Reardon, L. (2019). Commuting and wellbeing: a critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future research. Transport Reviews, 40(1), 5–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2019.1649317 (external link) 

City of Toronto. (2020, July 10). COVID-19 Guidance: Employers, Workplaces & Businesses – City of Toronto. COVID-19. https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-reopening-recovery-rebuild/covid-19-reopening-guidelines-for-businesses-organizations/covid-19-guidance-employers-workplaces-businesses/ (external link) 

DeClerq, K. (2019, July 9). Discounted TTC pass will no longer be offered to Ryerson students  | CTV News. Toronto; CTV News. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/discounted-ttc-pass-will-no-longer-be-offered-to-ryerson-students-1.4500972 (external link) 

DH Toronto Staff. (2018, January 30). The TTC was crowded AF this morning (PHOTOS) | Urbanized. Dailyhive.com. https://dailyhive.com/toronto/morning-commute-ttc-january-30-2018

Fakuade, M. (2021, March 08). Crowds might be anxiety-inducing after Covid-19. Here's how to manage it. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22290011/crowd-avoidance-psychologist-anxiety-pandemic-anniversary

Fox, C. (2021, September 15). TTC ridership could linger below pre-pandemic levels for at least another two years: report | CTV News. Toronto; CTV News. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ttc-ridership-could-linger-below-pre-pandemic-levels-for-at-least-another-two-years-report-1.5586754 (external link) 

GO. (2021). COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Train & Bus Safety | GO Transit. Www.gotransit.com. https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/safety-and-security/go-transit-covid-safety

Mitra, R., Habib, K. N., Siemiatycki, M., Keil, R. and Bowes, J. (2020). StudentMoveTO- From Insight to Action on Transportation for Post-Secondary Students in the GTHA: 2019 Transportation Survey Findings. Web portal: www.studentmoveTO.ca (external link) 

Nanowski, N. (2020, November 27). Death threats, overcrowding and few masks: A TTC driver speaks out about life during COVID-19. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-buses-covid19-coronavirus-rexdale-northyork-1.5818492 (external link) 

Spurr, B. (2020, September 28). Worried you'll catch COVID-19 on the subway? How the TTC's ventilation system may lower the risk. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/28/worried-youll-catch-covid-19-on-the-subway-how-the-ttcs-ventilation-system-may-lower-the-risk.html (external link) 

Spurr, B. (2021a, June 29). TTC should consider cheaper fares, more frequent service to boost ridership, says transit group. The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/06/29/ttc-should-consider-cheaper-fares-more-frequent-service-to-boost-ridership-says-transit-group.html

Spurr, B. (2021b, October 7). Toronto’s gridlock is already back — and your commute may get worse than ever after COVID-19. The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/10/07/torontos-gridlock-is-already-back-and-your-commute-may-get-worse-than-ever-after-covid-19.html

TTC. (2021, September 15). Ridership Today….and Tomorrow. (Staff Presentation). 

University of Alberta. (2021). Planning and preparing for the transition to campus | Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment. University of Alberta. https://www.ualberta.ca/human-resources-health-safety-environment/managing/covid-19/planning-and-preparing-for-the-transition-to-campus.html

University of Toronto. (2021). Commuter Resources. Current Engineering Undergraduates. https://undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/undergrad-resources/commuter-resources/

WHSC. (2020, June 4). Safer Commuting During COVID-19. Confronting COVID-19. https://www.whsc.on.ca/Files/Resources/COVID-19-Resources/WHSC-WebinarPP_Safer-Commuting-During-COVID-19_June4-20_COVID-19-Resources.aspx

York University. (2021). Transportation Services. Transportation Services. https://www.yorku.ca/transportation/ (external link)