Comments on: Toronto Transit Camp: Sunday, February 4th, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/ Joey deVilla's Personal Blog Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:02:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8755 Anonymous Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:32:06 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8755 The unconference is a great idea. Apparently others have been blogging about the TTC brand issues lately as well: http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2006/10/our_ttc_swag_su.php Note the many excellent Tshirt ideas. My fave is the vomit comet. The unconference is a great idea. Apparently others have been blogging about the TTC brand issues lately as well: http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2006/10/our_ttc_swag_su.php

Note the many excellent Tshirt ideas. My fave is the vomit comet.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8754 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:07:15 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8754 The name "Toronto Transit Camp" is in fact a play on "Toronto Transit Commission", so it's appropriate in this case. As for limiting the scope of this Camp to the TTC -- remember that we're taking advantage of the current situation, which is a current of interest in the TTC with Adam Giambrone's installation as the new chair and considerable blog interest in our transit system. Besides, the TTC is already a big enough topic for a one day idea-fest without other subjects added. It's not that we're ruling out all other transit systems that serve this city, but we've got a big enough one to deal with at this event, and we've got to set some boundaries on the discussion topics. Now there's plenty of room for discussion of Toronto transit as a whole in the upcoming OpenCities conference... The name “Toronto Transit Camp” is in fact a play on “Toronto Transit Commission”, so it’s appropriate in this case.

As for limiting the scope of this Camp to the TTC — remember that we’re taking advantage of the current situation, which is a current of interest in the TTC with Adam Giambrone’s installation as the new chair and considerable blog interest in our transit system. Besides, the TTC is already a big enough topic for a one day idea-fest without other subjects added.

It’s not that we’re ruling out all other transit systems that serve this city, but we’ve got a big enough one to deal with at this event, and we’ve got to set some boundaries on the discussion topics.

Now there’s plenty of room for discussion of Toronto transit as a whole in the upcoming OpenCities conference…

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8748 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:01:37 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8748 2 a.m., unless you you used to go to <a href="http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/The-Matador-Club-nightlife.html" rel="nofollow">The Matador</a>, which meant that the boozin' could last considerably longer. Sadly, it's become a law-abiding establishment and in the process, a lame shadow of its former self. 2 a.m., unless you you used to go to The Matador, which meant that the boozin’ could last considerably longer. Sadly, it’s become a law-abiding establishment and in the process, a lame shadow of its former self.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8753 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:40:49 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8753 Just to clarify, when I said above that I thought it was too bad that Toronto Transit Camp = Toronto TTC Camp, that was not a criticism of the camp, but rather a lament about the reality that around here "Transit" = "TTC". Just to clarify, when I said above that I thought it was too bad that Toronto Transit Camp = Toronto TTC Camp, that was not a criticism of the camp, but rather a lament about the reality that around here “Transit” = “TTC”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8747 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:22:12 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8747 I guess this is how you can tell you're getting old, 'cause I have not closed a bar in ages. I thought "last call" was still around 0130.... What time is it really? I guess this is how you can tell you’re getting old, ’cause I have not closed a bar in ages. I thought “last call” was still around 0130…. What time is it really?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8752 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:19:03 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8752 Well, there is no harm in making the suggestions that require some union flexibility to the Commission. There will be tradeoffs in terms of what they can actually accomplish, but deciding to live with union-imposed restrictions (derived from laws no longer in force!) is being a bit too pessimistic. If the Commission doesn't know (or care) that the public wants these things, they will never push the union to adapt and evolve. We've had the status quo long enough, it's time for some change. Well, there is no harm in making the suggestions that require some union flexibility to the Commission. There will be tradeoffs in terms of what they can actually accomplish, but deciding to live with union-imposed restrictions (derived from laws no longer in force!) is being a bit too pessimistic.

If the Commission doesn’t know (or care) that the public wants these things, they will never push the union to adapt and evolve. We’ve had the status quo long enough, it’s time for some change.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8746 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:11:54 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8746 The TTC's "last train" times are also an artifact from those dark ages, back when last call for alcohol was 1 a.m.. The TTC’s “last train” times are also an artifact from those dark ages, back when last call for alcohol was 1 a.m..

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8751 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:09:46 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8751 <p>We will devote some time to what I like to call "problem triage", splitting what's broken in the TTC into:</p> <ul><li>What <em>can</em> be fixed by our suggestions and ideas</li><li>What <em>might</em> be fixed by our suggestions and ideas</li><li>What <em>can't</em> be fixed by our suggestions and ideas</li> <p>...and then spend our time accordingly.</p> We will devote some time to what I like to call “problem triage”, splitting what’s broken in the TTC into:

  • What can be fixed by our suggestions and ideas
  • What might be fixed by our suggestions and ideas
  • What can’t be fixed by our suggestions and ideas

    • …and then spend our time accordingly.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8750 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:05:34 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8750 Union issues are part of the reason I think that the upside is limited for TTC improvement. I hope the participants at Toronto Transit Camp don't waste too much time on things that require union flexibility. Creating good plans that go nowhere for that reason will not only be a waste of time but, worse, will discourage further efforts. More generally, I think it's too bad that Toronto Transit Camp = Toronto TTC Camp. Monopolies are generally bad things. Union issues are part of the reason I think that the upside is limited for TTC improvement. I hope the participants at Toronto Transit Camp don’t waste too much time on things that require union flexibility. Creating good plans that go nowhere for that reason will not only be a waste of time but, worse, will discourage further efforts.

More generally, I think it’s too bad that Toronto Transit Camp = Toronto TTC Camp. Monopolies are generally bad things.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8749 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:37:12 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8749 Hah, do you guys think that the union and its allmighty leader Bob Kinnear are going to agree that their members work earlier on Sundays! Good luck. No, really. Hah, do you guys think that the union and its allmighty leader Bob Kinnear are going to agree that their members work earlier on Sundays! Good luck. No, really.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8745 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:33:18 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8745 I think it is one of those artifacts from the past when the federal Lord's Day Act and provincial Retail Business Establishments statute prevented working/shopping on Sundays. Apparently the TTC did not move with the times. I think it is one of those artifacts from the past when the federal Lord’s Day Act and provincial Retail Business Establishments statute prevented working/shopping on Sundays. Apparently the TTC did not move with the times.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8744 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:54:10 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8744 Absolutely, Rohan - I couldn't believe it when I heard it! Even the MBTA in Boston (aka Puritanville, USA) doesn't do that - they begin at about six. Of course it does shut down a bit earlier than the TTC. But 9am is just stupid. Absolutely, Rohan - I couldn’t believe it when I heard it! Even the MBTA in Boston (aka Puritanville, USA) doesn’t do that - they begin at about six. Of course it does shut down a bit earlier than the TTC. But 9am is just stupid.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8743 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:12:42 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8743 Actually, that's a good topic for discussion at the Camp. What kind of subway system doesn't run until 9am just because it's Sunday? Actually, that’s a good topic for discussion at the Camp. What kind of subway system doesn’t run until 9am just because it’s Sunday?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8742 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:27:19 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8742 It was either start early or run the danger of losing people to the Superbowl. Arriving a little late is okay -- remember, unconferences are ad-hoc participatory events rather than strict conferences, so arriving a little bit late for one isn't so bad. It was either start early or run the danger of losing people to the Superbowl.

Arriving a little late is okay — remember, unconferences are ad-hoc participatory events rather than strict conferences, so arriving a little bit late for one isn’t so bad.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8741 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:45:08 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8741 Ah, also, the subway doesn't open until 9:00 AM on Sundays, so if someone is coming from farther away they may not make it on time. Ah, also, the subway doesn’t open until 9:00 AM on Sundays, so if someone is coming from farther away they may not make it on time.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8740 Anonymous Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:14:48 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/01/29/toronto-transit-camp-sunday-february-4th-930-am-to-530-pm/#comment-8740 Ouch, 9:30 AM on a Sunday! Ouch, 9:30 AM on a Sunday!

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