If I worked for Google, I would work on getting the TTC onto Google Transit, a service included in Google Maps which includes transit options when finding directions. Many cities have it - other than big cities like New York and Taipei, even smaller areas like Hamilton and the York Region just north of Toronto have these services too. Of course, if the TTC is unwilling to go through with this project, than Google can't really provide it. At the moment, TTC is preparing to launch it's own service, and has declined Google's offer in collaboration.
But more about the service. For example, let's say I wanted to go to Taipei 101 from Jiantan Station, just minutes away from where I'm staying (on the left). On the right, is Toronto. Let's say that I was at Don Mills Station, not too far from my house, and I wanted to go to the CN Tower. Yay for tall structures.
(click for larger image)
(click for larger image)
Taipei leads you down the red line, and east on the blue line. There is a short bus route (bus 537). The overall cost runs at about 25 NT for the train. I'm unsure about the bus. But at most, it's 2 Canadian dollars. Estimated time, 30 minutes. Fairly accurate.
Toronto (on the right) actually asks you take to a York Region Bus (since TTC isn't there). Then you transfer to a VIVA transit bus. And then a GO Transit train to get to Union Station, where you walk to the CN Tower. You go North several kilometers, the East, before you finally get to your destination that is south-west from your location. Also, cost? York Region and VIVA are both around 3 dollars. GO Transit will be another 5 dollars, at least. That's an 11 dollar trip that takes nearly two hours. The TTC only takes about 40 minutes, and will cost you a maximum of 3 dollars.
Transit Fail.
Granted Taipei Metro is a relatively new and modern subway/mass rapit transit system. Toronto on the other hand was one of the first cities in North America to develop its subway. But the difference in service and convenience is quite significant. Here are five other things I found quite awesome about the Taipei Metro.
1. Varying Fares depending on which station you get off - with a good system. Most people who ride the transit have an "Easy Card". The card uses radio-frequency identification, i.e. you put the card near the sensor, and it'll read it. You scan your card when you enter the station. And you scan to exit. They see how far you've travelled, and deduct it from the value of the card (which can be reloaded). This also works with their...
2. Tokens. They also use radio-frequency ID, so it's very difficult to make counterfeit fares. You pre-purchase your token to the value you choose. As you enter the entrance gate, you insert your token, and your token comes out the other side of the gate for you to pick up. You take the subway to your station. At the exit gate, you insert your token again to pass. This ensures that you've paid the right fare.
3. Numbered exits. Not too difficult to implement, but very useful. It's much easier to meet up with people.
4. On-train communication. In the cars, there are LED screens that show the next two stops, while the voiceovers (in Mandarin, English, and Taiwanese) state the next stop and also any important destinations, i.e. if you want to go to the Airport, get off here, etc.
5. Escalators. This is kind of off topic, but the elevators at the stations are also advanced. Here's the sign:
Of course, these escalators aren't mutually exclusive to the Taipei Metro, I've seen them elsewhere. But I mention this because a) putting them somewhere exposed to the general public and lots of tourists is great for publicity and spreading awareness, and b) using them in transit areas where people come in waves makes the most out of this escalator.
Hopefully, Toronto's Transit City Project should bring new life to the TTC, but at the moment, the TTC's only getting older.
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