Masooma Ali is a Toronto-based urban planner and recent graduate from the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University. Prior to the pandemic, she was studying which riders were being left behind as the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) became more digitized through the presto system. In March, she began looking at the intersection of transit equity and the TTC’s response to the pandemic. CJRU spoke with Ali about her research, the relationships that riders have with the TTC and how it's impacted by COVID-19.

Ali explains that even the mode of transportation is a factor in transit equity. She says that a riders’ opinion of TTC can vary depending on the routes they’re frequenting. Subways and streetcars, whether underground or street-level, are more reliable because they operate on their own tracks. In comparison, buses have a varied travel time because they’re sharing the road with other vehicles and are impacted by weather conditions. Ali says this is one way that transit inequity predates the pandemic. She adds that her hometown of Scarborough is primarily serviced by TTC buses and it’s an entirely different experience from someone travelling around the downtown core with access to all three modes of TTC transportation. She says her experience in Scarborough is similar to that of Etobicoke and certain areas of North York.

Ali says that these differences in TTC service are dictating which riders’ can protect themselves from COVID-19. She explains that there is a greater possibility of social distancing on subways or streetcars since they’re quite large. Buses are much smaller and travel less frequently so their riders have less flexibility. Ali says that it's worrying to hear that the TTC is telling riders that social distancing is no longer possible on all transit routes. She reminds us that riders with a greater reliance on public transit may not have the luxury of avoiding public transit or delaying their trips. She urges the TTC to consider who is accessing public transit because it is their preferred method of transportation and who is accessing public transit because it is their only option. Ali says the TTC is placing greater risk on the latter group by putting the onus of social distancing on riders.

“When you’re waiting for a bus and it’s already 5-10 minutes late and you have to get to your job, you don’t have the luxury of waiting for the next one,” she adds.

During her time at Ryerson, Ali was exploring the impacts of digitization on public transit. She says a transit equity lens is necessary as more cities encourage cashless payments during the pandemic. Ali explains that smart payment systems like presto are helpful because it provides insight into travel patterns, but there must be a way to account for riders that continue paying cash. Without this step, the TTC will make decisions with incomplete data. Ali is not against digitization but she wants to see a design that meets the needs of all riders, especially those that have a greater reliance on public transit and do not have bank accounts.

“If the big picture is looking at all the information coming from these digital platforms, and there's that gap, those people [paying cash] cease to exist. That’s the danger with digitization, you are leaving people behind,” Ali explains.

Looking forward, Ali hopes to see the TTC take more responsibility for protecting its riders. She says this should include a mix of immediate responses such as bus-only lanes as well as long-term solutions. Furthermore, these solutions should be implemented in all Toronto neighbourhoods, especially those outside the downtown core. To hear more about Masooma Ali’s thoughts on transit equity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, listen to the interview below.