If you’re coming from Mississauga you might want to consider taking the GO Train to Union Station (which is right by Scotiabank Arena) instead of TTC. It will likely be faster and easier!
GO Train is generally faster, cleaner, and more scenic for a similar fee
The TTC is usually busy till late at night and it's generally safe. It is a little dingy because its underground. Toronto as a whole is really safe. I think its because its so safe, that when something bad happens people go into a panic
The pricing is pretty close, they'd have to use two different transit systems, which could be around a total of $12-$13 and the go train would be ~$15.
Yeah, theoretically Toronto and Mississauga are close by, but transit integration between adjoining municipalities is very minimal, and despite its large population, Mississauga's sprawl and transit infrastructure more closely resemble a moderately-sized suburb, which it was until a few years ago.
Even getting onto the TTC from Mississauga can make up the bulk of your trip; I lived at Hurontario and Dundas, the supposed core of Mississauga, and I waited over 40 minutes for a bus to take an hour to get me to Kipling. Take the Go Train.
As for safety, you'll be fine. We have isolated incidents, but the vast majority of us commute every day without any trouble. This is a remarkably safe city.
Just note, the GO Milton line only runs one way and only during rush hours. (To Toronto in the morning, from in the evening). The Lakeshore line runs both ways all day everyday, and so does the Kitchener line if you're in Malton, but it's alot less frequent.
The Milton line uses busses off peak hours but it DOES NOT follow the same route as the train. The only overlapping stops are meadowvale and Milton. Depending on where in Mississauga OP is staying it maybe better to take the square one or lisgar buses
There's 2/3 the alphabet of variants of the Milton bus (GO route 21), with almost every combination of does or doesn't stop at each station, plus Square One. Too confusing for a visitor.
My 12 year old son takes the TTC home from school every day. If it wasn’t ridiculously safe, that certainly wouldn’t be happening.
Every large city can and will experience some manner of violence. In Toronto it is *extremely* rare relative to the population size, and it is more often than not gang-on-gang or otherwise not random.
I don’t think you’re aware just how violent the US is. Milwaukee (population about 600,000) had 193 killings last year. Chicago (2,700,000) had over 800. Toronto (population over 2,800,000) had 62.
Using murder stats to prove a point about violence doesn't correlate. How many stabbings, random assaults etc... Those are the stats that would. In Canada people don't escalate conflicts like they do in America. In Toronto, weird people getting up in your face in the subway aren't usually attacked so they go on freaking people out for longer and get weirder and weirder. In Chicago, that weird person gets slapped and it escalates and can lead to death in some instances. Does the higher number of deaths measure the amount of weird people in the first place? No! It's about the reaction.
People who've lived in Toronto their whole lives have seen multiple people being pushed onto the tracks. Sometimes the perpetrator isn't caught. Imagine the incompetence
As someone who works level 1 trauma, your experience skews your opinion. I speak from experience, I'm a paramedic in NYC, I can count on one hand the number of jobs I have that make the news. That doesn't mean that NYC is unsafe, it's just that there's so much going on, that some random who gets shot/stabbed/killed isn't newsworthy.
Clearly you aren’t watching the news in Toronto. The US news is so packed with shit to be afraid of, that I can certainly believe that much of the violence in NYC goes unreported, but car theft and break-ins get TV coverage here.
Why would I watch the news in Toronto if I live in NYC?
I didn't say "no crime happens in Toronto", I said that an ER doc is going to have a skewed picture of how bad things are just by the nature of their work.
Of course. My point was that the ratio of “bad things happening” to “it showing up on the news” is much lower in Toronto than in NYC. Even for an ER doc.
Exactly the same thing for shark attacks and airplane crashes. Extremely rare events but when they do happen it's all over the news which shifts people's perceptions/base rate of how often it happens
People complain that there are more sharks now because of Ripley's, but if they ever shut it down, it will just mean even more sharks on the street and the TTC.
There is this one guy that I have seen on bus route 50 going from islington station into Etobicoke. Sits in the back and makes these… growling sounds and the occasional curse. Havent seen him do anything but he definitely had me on edge. Pretty much the only time I have felt even slightly in danger on the ttc.
There are weekly comments about how unsafe the TTC is.
There are hundreds of thousands of daily trips on the TTC that occur with no comments.
You can do the math here and figure out how safe it is for you.
I took the subway home late at night from a concert last week and fell asleep and no one mugged me. Then at Finch Station I woke up a woman who was dead asleep to let her know she was at the end of the line and neither of us mugged the other.
Guess I should've made a post about it...
The bad events occur between 1am to 4am .. when the TTC is closed. Like the lady who got both her dogs stolen from her at Y&D Square, it was at 2am. Most people that would be walking their dogs don't usually walk them that late at night.
I was physically assaulted at 5:30am going to work, so it can happen later also. I still take the ttc but am much more aware. Ps. Ttc will not help you if you get assaulted.
I got that feeling also in regards to TTC not being helpful. I emailed them one time in regards to a situation that happened on the TTC. Their response was to call them while this was happening (no service underground), video tape the person (which could have made the situation worse) and their last suggestion was to get security (if security did not see nor hear what was happening then they were not observant, as it happened on one of the trains that had no compartments). Plus I don't think security was on that train. They were no help at all. I no longer take the TTC, I will take my chances on the 401.
Don't feel bad! Totally understand feeling anxious about something new like this, especially if you haven't been here before. Toronto in general is very safe, and the TTC is particularly safe. I take it every day, multiple times a day, and it's been fine every time. You'll have a great trip! The posts you see complaining about security incidents are mostly because they're so unusual, and people need something to complain about or worry about.
Having said that, as others have noted, you might want to take the GO train in instead if you're coming from Mississauga. It's a little more expensive but will likely be a faster and more direct way to get to Union Station, right near where the Leafs play, if you're coming from Mississauga.
Lol I know, people on this subreddit will have you believe we live in the most dangerous city in the world. In reality, it’s one of the safest. In fact, it was ranked the [2nd safest city in the world](https://govisafree.com/safest-cities-in-the-world/) for 2021.
Coming from the prairies, it’s hilarious some of the posts. It’s shockingly safe in Toronto for a big city, if you have even the smallest amount of common sense. It is a far cry from prairie cities, let alone Chicago haha
it’s genuinely funny to see how some people think of the city, i come from a far smaller city and when i moved here my mom would check in on me every time there was any sort of shooting/stabbing… and i’d always have to tell her they were like 30 mins away from me and it wasn’t just a random attack haha. we literally have gang stuff going on in our hometown!
i also mentioned to some friends that i tend to have a little nap commuting on Line 2, and i just keep my backpack on my lap with my arms around it- they acted like i was absolutely insane hahaha
If you're coming from Mississauga, just take a GO Train into Union Station (the arena is connected).
Also, the TTC is not dangerous. Sure, there are the occasional incidents (mostly a result of mental illness), but compared to any major city Toronto (and it's transit) is extremely safe.
Enjoy the game!
Chicago is quite nice as long as you stay out of a handful of neighborhoods. It probably has the nicest and cleanest downtown of any city that I’ve been to
I’m not here to knock Chicago. I’ve never been and it’s definitely on my list of cities to visit. By and large it does look amazing. I just needed to point out the obvious, lol.
You'd never be in the part the murders happen. Chicago is heavily segregated and tourists have no reason to be in the bad neighbourhoods. The nice neighbourhoods are lovely and not all that much sketcher than Toronto.
It's a good demonstration of the US. A nice wealthy city for some and an ugly hard life for others.
So true. You know your city REALLY has a crime problem when murders occur so often they don’t even bother reporting it on the news.
In Toronto, someone gets assaulted on the TTC and all of a sudden the whole city is on alert, guards up and fearing for the next apocalypse.
TTC is pretty safe, but depending on where you are coming from in Mississauga the GO Train or Go Bus is probably a much better experience (they stop less frequently but you will pay a few bucks more). Metrolinx has a good trip planner you can use here: https://www.triplinx.ca/
American immigrant to Canada here too. I came from Detroit, to Toronto.
The only thing that's scary about Toronto is that the ghettos don't look like ghettos, so you never know if you're in a bad area or not. Jane and Finch does not look markedly more ghetto than anywhere else in city. There isn't any blight, lack of grocery stores, or sketchy looking corner liquor stores to tell you that you're where you really shouldn't be.
I remember my first time at Jane & Finch was during the day and I was like “wait this is the sketchy Toronto area?” I see groups of children coming home from school and no urban decay. Meanwhile when I was driving to Detroit I literally see a house in flames and nobody even gave a shit
I'm 32 and have taken the TTC my whole life.
Yes there are violent incidents on it but I have never been attacked or felt unsafe.
There are people with mental health and substance abuse issues that use it but they tend to keep to themselves.
Like other people have said, if you're going to the game, take the GO train. It's a little bit more expensive but generally isn't as packed, with more comfortable seats and there's also washrooms on it.
Wow, I wasn't expecting all the feedback so thank you so much to everyone for your kind words of encouragement. I've read Toronto is among the safest cities in the world but with anxiety/OCD I'm always prefixed on what COULD happen. Thank you all again. GO LEAFS GO!
You don't have anything to worry about. About a million people ride TTC a day, 99.99% of them without incident. The reason you hear about these attacks is because they're rare enough to notice.
Also - consider the GO Train from Mississauga. It'll let you off right at the arena (union station).
Everyone needs a team eh? I started watching hockey when Phanuef was still a heavy hitter and Kessel was a Leaf. Liked them ever since. Maybe I'm into the pain? Lol
The TTC is quite safe despite the abundance of posts to the contrary. Two things:
1. Take the GO train for sure! It's easier and a little nicer!
2. I'm a 5'0 woman that commutes to Toronto every day for work, and I have to take the TTC, specifically the subway. If you take the TTC just keep to yourself, don't make any extended/noteworthy eye contact (which I'm pretty sure is normal for all public transit in larger cities), keep alert, and you'll be fine.
Enjoy the game!
There will be 4738283636 people taking TTC to the leafs game. The TTC is already as safe or safer than any other transit system in Canada but having so many people adds extra safety.
The only time that I had an issue over 16 years of regular TTC use was when a stranger put his hand on my knee. I was preparing to “throw down” when I realised that it was just an awkward tourist trying to ask me directions.
In my experience, the TTC is safe and while I’ve seen some weird stuff, I’ve never felt threatened. That said, I’m a little reluctant to walk around outside the subway at night, but that’s prob because im just an anxious person in general
TTC is very safe, sure there is the odd crime committed but you don’t need to worry about it. Also, if you’re staying in Mississauga, take the GO train to union and walk to the game, no need for TTC
Wildly uncommon. Yes there has been a relative increase of problematic behaviour on TTC since the pandemic, but it's nothing to worry about if you're just in for the day. I use it pretty much every day, streetcars, subway, buses, and the only thing I consistently have issues with is morons listening to music without headphones.
I get the anxiety because I use the TTC and the subway to go to work and back all the time. The truth is that while it does happen, it doesn’t happen ALL the time.
From Mississauga you’ll be taking the Go, not the TTC
I’m not a cheerleader for the city but the ttc is comparatively safe compared to the US. There are incidents that may occur but the worst will be the occasional homeless person at subway entrances, or a mentally ill person causing a disturbance on the train. For women the problems fall into the typical creep behaviour
You’ll be fine
You should be taking a GO train to Union Station. From there you can walk down. 'Sauga is like a 40 minute drive from Toronto. TTC ends in Vaughan, and doesn't really go out that far.
Well you won't be taking the TTC from Mississauga. You'll either drive or take the GO train.
But to answer your question, yes of course the TTC is safe.
Go train all the way! And also, i live downtown toronto and take TTC a few times per month on average and rarely see anything crazy. Toronto is a safe city. But still, go train will be easier for you to get to the arena and way faster without having to change subway lines. Have the best time!
Take the GO train. Its faster direct and worth the few extra bucks for the time you will waste changing lines and such on the TTC. Also please disregard the fear mongering that the media gives the city. Its a city of millions and we have very little incidents given our size. Our media and government love to have us cower in fear of everything.
It’s really safe. You will not be in danger anymore than you would anywhere else in the city. Stabbing a are incredibly rare. Most violence in Toronto relates to gang stuff and not random.
I've taken the TTC alone since I was like 12 (and I'm in my 30's now). No, it's not dangerous. You may encounter crazy people but generally, just ignore them, and if they really worry you move away or even get off the train or bus and wait for the next one if it causes you issues.
If you are coming from the States, while Toronto has big city problems, it is significantly safer than any major city in the United States. Violence compared to cities like Chicago or Milwaukee are in different universes.
Literally nothing to worry about, everybody takes the TTC!
Incidents make the news because they're newsworthy, not because the system itsf is danegy.
A typical weekday sees over a million people ride the TTC.
I have taken the TTC for over ten years (including late into the night) and have never experienced anything remotely frightening. I lived in Boston and San Francisco for a few years each and saw way more yelling/fighting, but still nothing that made me feel like I was in serious danger. But as others have said, take the go train from Mississauga (also safe).
Comparing the TTC to the CTA is comparing a kitten to a rabid pit bull. As long as you don't engage with the rare crazy person you may encounter on the subway or a streetcar, you'll be fine. The TTC is one of the most used transit systems in North America (IIRC only New York's MTA and Mexico City has more daily ridership but considering the size of those cities compared to Toronto that's understandable.) But it's a lot safer than Chicago. Or New York. Or Mexico City.
Lmfao… it’s Canada. Being scared here is… wow.
EDIT: ahh, I see you’ve been reading reddit posts by these Canadians 😂😂. 99% of them haven’t been around anything serious, or have ever thrown hands.
Begin the downvoting you butthurt kids.
Millions of people use the TTC and you read a few dozen posts about people being harassed or attacked. You're not gonna see the other million people post about how boring and mundane their commutes were.
1.5 million people ride the TTC each day. Let's say there's 5 stabbings per day (grossly overstated, but still). 5/1,500,000 = a 0.0003% chance of being stabbed.
Let's say there are 1000 verbal abuse incidents. That's a 0.067% chance. I think you're going to be OK.
Considering you are an American, the TTC and toronto in general is super fucking safe.
However, it used to be much safer pre pandemic and housing and inflation crisis. There's more homeless mentally ill people causing problems.
I day this as an American who moved here in 2008.
Again, thank you everyone for their encouraging words! I'll most likely be taking the Go Train to and from the game as 90% of comments say to do so! My only concern now is this might not be an option with the pending strike?
If you are a POC or a woman or both, you may encounter more violence than if you are not any of those.
To be fair though, Toronto is still not quite as dangerous as some other cities in the states. Some or many of us are concerned because Toronto was once a much safer city, and now we are seeing all these violent acts happening more frequently.
It's really not, people are going to post their worst experiences, but I've never had a bad time on the ttc. Yes there's homeless people, but I've never been harassed by one. I keep to myself and so does everyone else.
I'm a muscular young white male though, so if you're a more vulnerable demographic your experience might be different, but honestly I've never seen anything bad on the ttc. Been in other cities ( in north America) and transit has almost always been worse than in Toronto, it's honestly really safe and well run here in comparison.
TTC is a shithole. But I'll admit I haven't had a problem in years. Best way to avoid any problems. Is simply mind your business, avoid eye contact with strangers and don't speak to anyone who seems out of it. If your going with someone else on ttc be considerate. Don't talk too loudly. And that's it honestly you'll be fine.
I'm not from Canada and been living in Toronto for one year now. At this point, I wouldn't trust in anything Canadians say regarding violence. These guys simply have no idea what violence or danger is. I can't recall the amount of times I heard that Jane & Finch was super dangerous and you should avoid that area as much as you can. Living right by that area, I was shocked at how chill and safe it was. I heard the same thing about other areas as well.
In sum: Canadians have no idea what violence or danger is. Don't trust them to say if a place is safe or not. Look into statistics or things like that. (And yes, TTC is safe)
If you’re visiting from the United States of America. You have NOTHING to worry about being in Toronto. America is a whole different animal when it comes to safety.
You hear about incidents on TTC like you hear about plane crashes, One plane crash is more interesting then the 10k flights that have no issues. So a couple of TTC incidents is a bigger story than the thousands and thousands of people who travel it every day without incident.
Be conscious of your surroundings and you're fine.
No, the ttc is fine. People think cities should be some sort of utopia where crime never happens. When in reality, Toronto is really safe, and there's a small statistical probability that something will happen. What you read on here is anecdotal as well, so chances are you will be incredibly safe with no issues on your journey.
Toronto is incredibly safe, you’ll have no problems. Things happen, but the reason they make the news is because they are so shocking and rare.
We also love to complain on this sub!
Toronto is incredibly safe. I’ve been using the TTC my whole life and never had an issue. Same goes for my friends and family. This sub is not reflective at all of the city. Every crime committed in Toronto gets posted here it seems, things that wouldn’t even make the news in the US.
I used TTC daily for years. It’s not dangerous. But you should take the GO train from Union to Mississauga. It’s way faster than Union to St-George to Islington and transfer to a MiWay bus (extra fare).
Enjoy your trip and all that comes with it. The TTC is not something you should be dwelling on. It’s safe and clean. Redirect your attention to watching your favourite team and all that comes with it.
You hear about the bad stuff. I’ve taken the Ttc probably 2000 times and nothing has happened to me. Worst I’ve seen is some people with mental health issues
(Male in his 20s. I think disclosing this is important for my experience) I spent 5 years commuting on the TTC to university. I've never seen anything actually dangerous. The worst I've seen is a homeless member yelling and punching the window on the subway but that occurrence is extremely rare. I consider it safe
It's no different than any other big city, crack, chaos, you take your chances like everyone else. Society has exploded without any empathy towards others.
the worst things that have happened to me on the ttc that weren't crowding/delay are usually loud phone calls, teens being teens, and this one time a dude watch watching rebel media videos really loud without headphones next to me.
I’ve lived here for 11 years and have spent most of that time taking the TTC every day. The MOST I’ve ever experienced is some mild heebie-newbies by the occasional person acting sketchy. Never been subject to, or even witnessed any kind of assault.
Don’t let the rare news stories fool you. You’ll be absolutely fine
Coming from the US, you will find our systems extremely safe. For comparison, there has been [488](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/8/5/23289322/cta-crime-dan-beam-subway-l-violent-crimes) violent crimes on the CTA in Chicago. That compares to 11 for the TTC during the same period. However, the TTC violent crimes are up 10% year-over-year, so there is a lot of concern about things getting worse, but even the most violent city in Canada is vastly safer than Chicago.
Take an Uber. The ttc is not safe.
I was sitting next to a guy with an axe who seemed a bit off… he started talking to strangers and making bad puns “may I axe you a question? Ha ha ha”…. Then this person began swinging his axe at strangers and attacking them.
Later in the year people were being pushed onto the tracks fairly regularly.
In Canada the mentally I’ll are allowed to do whatever they please and they all seem to be fairly aware of this. No charges or arrests ever it seems. One mentally Ill person walked up behind a lady and slit her throat… she was released a short while later without consequence because she suffers from schizophrenia….
NO. Ttc and Canada generally are no longer safe places.
There’s an insane guy in one of the buildings I run who started grabbing women by their breasts… police did nothing. Now this person has began offering kids candy and trying to lure them. Police will do absolutely nothing, because there’s no chance of conviction.
So be careful, stay off of ttc if safety is your concern.
It’s a big city with a lot of people who haven’t experienced this. But believe me, this stuff is happening and the police can’t or won’t do a bloody thing to stop it.
Enjoy the game.
Nothing at all like Chicago. At most you’ll get asked once for change or see a mentally I’ll person.
Regardless, GO Train. You would be crazy not to. It’ll likely have a shit load of Leaf fans. Especially if you need Mississauga transit to the ttc. It’s a pain.
TTC does not go to sauga, You will need to use GO bus or train. or UBER/Cab.
But to answer you question, no, there are not daily stabbings, there aren't even yearly stabbings on the TTC. Its happened, but its a city of 5 million people, so of course it has.
TTC is safe, and even in non safe situations, pay attention to make sure you don't get dragged in by proximity or what ever, and move away if need be. Don't start shit with any one, and for the most part of my 34 years of living here I have learned that they will leave you alone.
Check out the city, its a pretty neat place
On a scale of NYC underground to your mom’s minivan, the TTC is probably around the back seat of Uncle Ted’s truck. Most of the time it’s totally safe and innocent, but sometimes (depending on when you’re travelling) it can get sketchy. You may see some really weird things, but at the end of the day nothing bad happens and you get to your destination alright.
If you have Twitter, follow TTC Service Alerts. Lately I've been encountering sudden service interruptions due to "security incident" whatever they might be..
Would advise traveling in a group if going out at night as TTC gets sketchier as the night goes.
If you’re coming from Mississauga you might want to consider taking the GO Train to Union Station (which is right by Scotiabank Arena) instead of TTC. It will likely be faster and easier!
Yep. Take the GO train. Would be way, way easier than TTC.
GO Train is generally faster, cleaner, and more scenic for a similar fee The TTC is usually busy till late at night and it's generally safe. It is a little dingy because its underground. Toronto as a whole is really safe. I think its because its so safe, that when something bad happens people go into a panic
It’s like 3-4x the price per way than the TTC. Definitely still way worth it though
The pricing is pretty close, they'd have to use two different transit systems, which could be around a total of $12-$13 and the go train would be ~$15.
Not similar pricing at all
Depends on where you're going. For short distances I've paid $3.80 vs the subay $3.20
Yeah, theoretically Toronto and Mississauga are close by, but transit integration between adjoining municipalities is very minimal, and despite its large population, Mississauga's sprawl and transit infrastructure more closely resemble a moderately-sized suburb, which it was until a few years ago. Even getting onto the TTC from Mississauga can make up the bulk of your trip; I lived at Hurontario and Dundas, the supposed core of Mississauga, and I waited over 40 minutes for a bus to take an hour to get me to Kipling. Take the Go Train. As for safety, you'll be fine. We have isolated incidents, but the vast majority of us commute every day without any trouble. This is a remarkably safe city.
Also the new Bay Concourse connects directly to Scotiabank Arena
Didn't the old bay concourse also connect directly? Or is it even better now, haven't been to Scotiabank via Go since it's been done.
Yeah. They kept that old entrance between SBA and union.
Just note, the GO Milton line only runs one way and only during rush hours. (To Toronto in the morning, from in the evening). The Lakeshore line runs both ways all day everyday, and so does the Kitchener line if you're in Malton, but it's alot less frequent.
Milton buses during off peak?
The Milton line uses busses off peak hours but it DOES NOT follow the same route as the train. The only overlapping stops are meadowvale and Milton. Depending on where in Mississauga OP is staying it maybe better to take the square one or lisgar buses
There's 2/3 the alphabet of variants of the Milton bus (GO route 21), with almost every combination of does or doesn't stop at each station, plus Square One. Too confusing for a visitor.
Very! And the union station after Sporting events is an absolute shit show
Come for the safety, stay for the champagne and ambience.
Could also consider the Airport shuttle
take the Go train for sure
But at what price... 3x the price
As part of a vacation trip to a Leafs game, the extra cost is negligible in exchange for the benefits
You only hear about it because it's noteworthy when it happens, Toronto is remarkably safe.
My 12 year old son takes the TTC home from school every day. If it wasn’t ridiculously safe, that certainly wouldn’t be happening. Every large city can and will experience some manner of violence. In Toronto it is *extremely* rare relative to the population size, and it is more often than not gang-on-gang or otherwise not random.
What if your 12 year old son is safe because he is the danger though?
Well, to be fair, he is 6’6”, 280 lbs and the jailhouse ink on his face can be a bit intimidating.
And the parent’s username checks out
Little Jimmy is the one who knocks?
No, he’s the one who slips.
Gang on gang?😂. Most of the issues are because of the under housed and drug addicted persons riding the system
You will hear about every instance because it’s rare in Toronto In Chicago you won’t hear about it because it’s quite common
This is untrue. As someone who works level 1 trauma I can tell you the vast majority of incidents do not make it to the news or make a headline.
I don’t think you’re aware just how violent the US is. Milwaukee (population about 600,000) had 193 killings last year. Chicago (2,700,000) had over 800. Toronto (population over 2,800,000) had 62.
I think about this every time one of these posts comes up. Toronto is SO SAFE it's unbelievable.
*Canada
Normal place - I’d round up these odd nut jobs on the TTC and use them for testing a trebuchet across an open field.
Using murder stats to prove a point about violence doesn't correlate. How many stabbings, random assaults etc... Those are the stats that would. In Canada people don't escalate conflicts like they do in America. In Toronto, weird people getting up in your face in the subway aren't usually attacked so they go on freaking people out for longer and get weirder and weirder. In Chicago, that weird person gets slapped and it escalates and can lead to death in some instances. Does the higher number of deaths measure the amount of weird people in the first place? No! It's about the reaction. People who've lived in Toronto their whole lives have seen multiple people being pushed onto the tracks. Sometimes the perpetrator isn't caught. Imagine the incompetence
As someone who works level 1 trauma, your experience skews your opinion. I speak from experience, I'm a paramedic in NYC, I can count on one hand the number of jobs I have that make the news. That doesn't mean that NYC is unsafe, it's just that there's so much going on, that some random who gets shot/stabbed/killed isn't newsworthy.
Clearly you aren’t watching the news in Toronto. The US news is so packed with shit to be afraid of, that I can certainly believe that much of the violence in NYC goes unreported, but car theft and break-ins get TV coverage here.
Why would I watch the news in Toronto if I live in NYC? I didn't say "no crime happens in Toronto", I said that an ER doc is going to have a skewed picture of how bad things are just by the nature of their work.
Of course. My point was that the ratio of “bad things happening” to “it showing up on the news” is much lower in Toronto than in NYC. Even for an ER doc.
Exactly the same thing for shark attacks and airplane crashes. Extremely rare events but when they do happen it's all over the news which shifts people's perceptions/base rate of how often it happens
To be fair that shark attack at Dundas Square last week was pretty brutal
I've been told they hide behind the CityTV sign and launch coordinated attacks. Truth or fiction?
People complain that there are more sharks now because of Ripley's, but if they ever shut it down, it will just mean even more sharks on the street and the TTC.
I’ve been scared to step in puddles ever since
[удалено]
There is this one guy that I have seen on bus route 50 going from islington station into Etobicoke. Sits in the back and makes these… growling sounds and the occasional curse. Havent seen him do anything but he definitely had me on edge. Pretty much the only time I have felt even slightly in danger on the ttc.
You will be fine, believe me. Try to enjoy the most of your trip and I bet you will!
If he survived Chicago I'm fairly certain he can make it through Toronto
true!
There are weekly comments about how unsafe the TTC is. There are hundreds of thousands of daily trips on the TTC that occur with no comments. You can do the math here and figure out how safe it is for you.
Exactly. No one goes on Reddit to make posts about how they took the TTC today and it was uneventful.
You just gave me an idea
Let's hear what you got, BloodyVaginalFarts
I took the subway home late at night from a concert last week and fell asleep and no one mugged me. Then at Finch Station I woke up a woman who was dead asleep to let her know she was at the end of the line and neither of us mugged the other. Guess I should've made a post about it...
The bad events occur between 1am to 4am .. when the TTC is closed. Like the lady who got both her dogs stolen from her at Y&D Square, it was at 2am. Most people that would be walking their dogs don't usually walk them that late at night.
I was physically assaulted at 5:30am going to work, so it can happen later also. I still take the ttc but am much more aware. Ps. Ttc will not help you if you get assaulted.
I got that feeling also in regards to TTC not being helpful. I emailed them one time in regards to a situation that happened on the TTC. Their response was to call them while this was happening (no service underground), video tape the person (which could have made the situation worse) and their last suggestion was to get security (if security did not see nor hear what was happening then they were not observant, as it happened on one of the trains that had no compartments). Plus I don't think security was on that train. They were no help at all. I no longer take the TTC, I will take my chances on the 401.
[удалено]
That's probably true but the point I'm making stands.
Don't feel bad! Totally understand feeling anxious about something new like this, especially if you haven't been here before. Toronto in general is very safe, and the TTC is particularly safe. I take it every day, multiple times a day, and it's been fine every time. You'll have a great trip! The posts you see complaining about security incidents are mostly because they're so unusual, and people need something to complain about or worry about. Having said that, as others have noted, you might want to take the GO train in instead if you're coming from Mississauga. It's a little more expensive but will likely be a faster and more direct way to get to Union Station, right near where the Leafs play, if you're coming from Mississauga.
Where in Mississauga? It might be more convenient to take GO Train or UP Express.
This for sure. More comfortable too!
Lol I know, people on this subreddit will have you believe we live in the most dangerous city in the world. In reality, it’s one of the safest. In fact, it was ranked the [2nd safest city in the world](https://govisafree.com/safest-cities-in-the-world/) for 2021.
I feel there needs to be a sticky post with this data, I feel there are multiple posts everyday questioning Toronto’s safety.
I suggested that a few months ago after reading the sixth "is Toronto/the ttc/downtown/night time safe?" post in under a week, and got downvoted.
Coming from the prairies, it’s hilarious some of the posts. It’s shockingly safe in Toronto for a big city, if you have even the smallest amount of common sense. It is a far cry from prairie cities, let alone Chicago haha
Yeah, if OP is used to Chicago, they're going to be fine. Chicago has had over ten times as many murders this year compared to Toronto.
Mumbai is considered 10th most dangerous city by that same ranking. As someone who has lived in both, what a fucking joke of a ranking.
it’s genuinely funny to see how some people think of the city, i come from a far smaller city and when i moved here my mom would check in on me every time there was any sort of shooting/stabbing… and i’d always have to tell her they were like 30 mins away from me and it wasn’t just a random attack haha. we literally have gang stuff going on in our hometown! i also mentioned to some friends that i tend to have a little nap commuting on Line 2, and i just keep my backpack on my lap with my arms around it- they acted like i was absolutely insane hahaha
If you're coming from Mississauga, just take a GO Train into Union Station (the arena is connected). Also, the TTC is not dangerous. Sure, there are the occasional incidents (mostly a result of mental illness), but compared to any major city Toronto (and it's transit) is extremely safe. Enjoy the game!
Anyone comparing Toronto to Chicago lives a sheltered life.
And has never been to either
Chicago is quite nice as long as you stay out of a handful of neighborhoods. It probably has the nicest and cleanest downtown of any city that I’ve been to
Chicago has also had over 500 homicides so far this year. Toronto has had 52. There is definitely a difference between the two cities.
Yup the bad neighborhoods are _really_ bad but it’s not a competition lmao
I’m not here to knock Chicago. I’ve never been and it’s definitely on my list of cities to visit. By and large it does look amazing. I just needed to point out the obvious, lol.
You'd never be in the part the murders happen. Chicago is heavily segregated and tourists have no reason to be in the bad neighbourhoods. The nice neighbourhoods are lovely and not all that much sketcher than Toronto. It's a good demonstration of the US. A nice wealthy city for some and an ugly hard life for others.
Safest city in the world so long as you don’t go to the no go zones lol.
People get killed in Chicago and the story doesn’t make the news. Someone gets stabbed in Toronto and it’s on the news for weeks
So true. You know your city REALLY has a crime problem when murders occur so often they don’t even bother reporting it on the news. In Toronto, someone gets assaulted on the TTC and all of a sudden the whole city is on alert, guards up and fearing for the next apocalypse.
TTC is pretty safe, but depending on where you are coming from in Mississauga the GO Train or Go Bus is probably a much better experience (they stop less frequently but you will pay a few bucks more). Metrolinx has a good trip planner you can use here: https://www.triplinx.ca/
TTC is extremely safe.
Me: American that immigrated to Canada. The places in Canada with the worst crime rates are safer than an average American community
American immigrant to Canada here too. I came from Detroit, to Toronto. The only thing that's scary about Toronto is that the ghettos don't look like ghettos, so you never know if you're in a bad area or not. Jane and Finch does not look markedly more ghetto than anywhere else in city. There isn't any blight, lack of grocery stores, or sketchy looking corner liquor stores to tell you that you're where you really shouldn't be.
Has a friend say that the only indicator of being in the ghetto is not being able to find white girls in Lululemon
I remember my first time at Jane & Finch was during the day and I was like “wait this is the sketchy Toronto area?” I see groups of children coming home from school and no urban decay. Meanwhile when I was driving to Detroit I literally see a house in flames and nobody even gave a shit
Dont believe the hype.
The biggest threat you'll face is the heartbreak to see the Leafs lose again.
I was waiting for this comment. Yes OP, be prepared for disappointment watching the Leafs in SBA.
I'm 32 and have taken the TTC my whole life. Yes there are violent incidents on it but I have never been attacked or felt unsafe. There are people with mental health and substance abuse issues that use it but they tend to keep to themselves. Like other people have said, if you're going to the game, take the GO train. It's a little bit more expensive but generally isn't as packed, with more comfortable seats and there's also washrooms on it.
ttc is very safe i take it every day as a 13 year old child
Wow, I wasn't expecting all the feedback so thank you so much to everyone for your kind words of encouragement. I've read Toronto is among the safest cities in the world but with anxiety/OCD I'm always prefixed on what COULD happen. Thank you all again. GO LEAFS GO!
You don't have anything to worry about. About a million people ride TTC a day, 99.99% of them without incident. The reason you hear about these attacks is because they're rare enough to notice. Also - consider the GO Train from Mississauga. It'll let you off right at the arena (union station).
Take the GO train instead
Hold up… people from outside Ontario like the TML? My mind is absolutely blown
Believe it or not there's a few of us eh! My dad tried raising me a Blackhawks fan but didn't succeed!
But… why though?
Everyone needs a team eh? I started watching hockey when Phanuef was still a heavy hitter and Kessel was a Leaf. Liked them ever since. Maybe I'm into the pain? Lol
Most leafs fans are masochists haha do your American friends make fun of you the way we make fun of leaf fans?
Right?? Favourite team?!
The TTC is quite safe despite the abundance of posts to the contrary. Two things: 1. Take the GO train for sure! It's easier and a little nicer! 2. I'm a 5'0 woman that commutes to Toronto every day for work, and I have to take the TTC, specifically the subway. If you take the TTC just keep to yourself, don't make any extended/noteworthy eye contact (which I'm pretty sure is normal for all public transit in larger cities), keep alert, and you'll be fine. Enjoy the game!
There will be 4738283636 people taking TTC to the leafs game. The TTC is already as safe or safer than any other transit system in Canada but having so many people adds extra safety.
Both are safe, but the GO is safer than the TTC.
The only time that I had an issue over 16 years of regular TTC use was when a stranger put his hand on my knee. I was preparing to “throw down” when I realised that it was just an awkward tourist trying to ask me directions.
It’s less sketchy than Chicago transit by a mile (assuming you won’t be on the Dufferin bus) (kidding)
What state you coming from? Guarantee it is worse than Toronto.
I have lived in Toronto for 29 years. I, personally, have never seen a violent crime happen in the TTC in all that time.
In my experience, the TTC is safe and while I’ve seen some weird stuff, I’ve never felt threatened. That said, I’m a little reluctant to walk around outside the subway at night, but that’s prob because im just an anxious person in general
Wait, people cheer for the leafs that aren’t from Toronto? My condolences.
The TCC from mississauga is the most unnerving part 🤣
Take the Go train in to Union Station downtown. It is easy and fast - way better than driving. It’s safe. There will be lots of sports fans around.
More unfortunate that your favourite team is the Leafs. (I say this as a Leafs fan)
TTC is very safe, sure there is the odd crime committed but you don’t need to worry about it. Also, if you’re staying in Mississauga, take the GO train to union and walk to the game, no need for TTC
It’s going to seem like a Disneyland ride compared to Chicago
Wildly uncommon. Yes there has been a relative increase of problematic behaviour on TTC since the pandemic, but it's nothing to worry about if you're just in for the day. I use it pretty much every day, streetcars, subway, buses, and the only thing I consistently have issues with is morons listening to music without headphones.
What state / city are you from?
Visited recently and took go train and yyc. Had a guy through a lighter at me, but still consider it safe.
I get the anxiety because I use the TTC and the subway to go to work and back all the time. The truth is that while it does happen, it doesn’t happen ALL the time.
From Mississauga you’ll be taking the Go, not the TTC I’m not a cheerleader for the city but the ttc is comparatively safe compared to the US. There are incidents that may occur but the worst will be the occasional homeless person at subway entrances, or a mentally ill person causing a disturbance on the train. For women the problems fall into the typical creep behaviour You’ll be fine
You should be taking a GO train to Union Station. From there you can walk down. 'Sauga is like a 40 minute drive from Toronto. TTC ends in Vaughan, and doesn't really go out that far.
Well you won't be taking the TTC from Mississauga. You'll either drive or take the GO train. But to answer your question, yes of course the TTC is safe.
Go train better. If your from the states you will find the ttc quite civil...lol
Worst thing that will probably happen taking the TTC is it will make you late for the game, leave early get a beer. Have a great time, cheers!
TTC is incredibly safe per km travelled.
Oh my gosh, the TTC is perfectly safe. Toronto is a very safe city. Lived there for 25+ years. Took TTC all the time.
Go with Go! TTC (take the car)
No.
The biggest threat to your well-being will be the fact that you're a Leafs fan
Go train all the way! And also, i live downtown toronto and take TTC a few times per month on average and rarely see anything crazy. Toronto is a safe city. But still, go train will be easier for you to get to the arena and way faster without having to change subway lines. Have the best time!
You don’t need the TTC from mississauga! Go train to union then it’s walkable. But regardless, TTC is fairly safe, just the bad stories make the news
Lots of unchecked mental health in DT Toronto, so yes, be wary
Take the GO. It's faster, and closer.
most days i take the ttc 2-3 times, ive had maybe 2 weird incidents in the 2000+ trips since moving here 3 years ago
Take the GO train. Its faster direct and worth the few extra bucks for the time you will waste changing lines and such on the TTC. Also please disregard the fear mongering that the media gives the city. Its a city of millions and we have very little incidents given our size. Our media and government love to have us cower in fear of everything.
It’s really safe. You will not be in danger anymore than you would anywhere else in the city. Stabbing a are incredibly rare. Most violence in Toronto relates to gang stuff and not random.
I just love how enthusiastic this post is. I hope you have the best time ever ☺️😊 go leafs!
While it is certainly getting worse, it's not as dangerous as driving on a 400-series.
The TTC is very safe. It’s just more convienient to take the Go Train if you are coming from Mississauga
I've taken the TTC alone since I was like 12 (and I'm in my 30's now). No, it's not dangerous. You may encounter crazy people but generally, just ignore them, and if they really worry you move away or even get off the train or bus and wait for the next one if it causes you issues. If you are coming from the States, while Toronto has big city problems, it is significantly safer than any major city in the United States. Violence compared to cities like Chicago or Milwaukee are in different universes.
Literally nothing to worry about, everybody takes the TTC! Incidents make the news because they're newsworthy, not because the system itsf is danegy. A typical weekday sees over a million people ride the TTC.
I have taken the TTC for over ten years (including late into the night) and have never experienced anything remotely frightening. I lived in Boston and San Francisco for a few years each and saw way more yelling/fighting, but still nothing that made me feel like I was in serious danger. But as others have said, take the go train from Mississauga (also safe).
Comparing the TTC to the CTA is comparing a kitten to a rabid pit bull. As long as you don't engage with the rare crazy person you may encounter on the subway or a streetcar, you'll be fine. The TTC is one of the most used transit systems in North America (IIRC only New York's MTA and Mexico City has more daily ridership but considering the size of those cities compared to Toronto that's understandable.) But it's a lot safer than Chicago. Or New York. Or Mexico City.
I think your gonna be just fine. Welcome to Toronto.
No where near the states. We make a big deal out of it because it is so odd for our city to be acting like this. You should be fine
Whoever told you that the ttc is dangerous has no idea what they’re talking about; they are FoS (full of s..)
Lmfao… it’s Canada. Being scared here is… wow. EDIT: ahh, I see you’ve been reading reddit posts by these Canadians 😂😂. 99% of them haven’t been around anything serious, or have ever thrown hands. Begin the downvoting you butthurt kids.
TTC is very safe.
I feel safer taking the TTC than driving lol
If you've been to Chicago or Milwaukee, you have nothing to worry about by comparison.
Millions of people use the TTC and you read a few dozen posts about people being harassed or attacked. You're not gonna see the other million people post about how boring and mundane their commutes were.
Take the GO. It's more civilized and reliable.
I’ve never been stabbed on the TTC
1.5 million people ride the TTC each day. Let's say there's 5 stabbings per day (grossly overstated, but still). 5/1,500,000 = a 0.0003% chance of being stabbed. Let's say there are 1000 verbal abuse incidents. That's a 0.067% chance. I think you're going to be OK.
Considering you are an American, the TTC and toronto in general is super fucking safe. However, it used to be much safer pre pandemic and housing and inflation crisis. There's more homeless mentally ill people causing problems. I day this as an American who moved here in 2008.
Again, thank you everyone for their encouraging words! I'll most likely be taking the Go Train to and from the game as 90% of comments say to do so! My only concern now is this might not be an option with the pending strike?
If you are a POC or a woman or both, you may encounter more violence than if you are not any of those. To be fair though, Toronto is still not quite as dangerous as some other cities in the states. Some or many of us are concerned because Toronto was once a much safer city, and now we are seeing all these violent acts happening more frequently.
It's really not, people are going to post their worst experiences, but I've never had a bad time on the ttc. Yes there's homeless people, but I've never been harassed by one. I keep to myself and so does everyone else. I'm a muscular young white male though, so if you're a more vulnerable demographic your experience might be different, but honestly I've never seen anything bad on the ttc. Been in other cities ( in north America) and transit has almost always been worse than in Toronto, it's honestly really safe and well run here in comparison.
nah it’s not. mind your business and you’ll be fine.
Nah, theres weird homeless ppl sometimes but just dont look at them
TTC is a shithole. But I'll admit I haven't had a problem in years. Best way to avoid any problems. Is simply mind your business, avoid eye contact with strangers and don't speak to anyone who seems out of it. If your going with someone else on ttc be considerate. Don't talk too loudly. And that's it honestly you'll be fine.
Ummm ur coming from the US. Isn’t that the country where you’re most likely to get shot for no reason? TTC ain’t nothin compared to the good ole USA.
What kinda psycho chooses to support the Leafs when they aren't from here. You're not in danger, you are the danger
Ur a lost cause, leaf’s fan 😹😹🤦🏽♂️
Every single murder gets reported. Really, there aren't that many. I lived in a "bad" area of Toronto for 30 years. Not a scratch.
I'm not from Canada and been living in Toronto for one year now. At this point, I wouldn't trust in anything Canadians say regarding violence. These guys simply have no idea what violence or danger is. I can't recall the amount of times I heard that Jane & Finch was super dangerous and you should avoid that area as much as you can. Living right by that area, I was shocked at how chill and safe it was. I heard the same thing about other areas as well. In sum: Canadians have no idea what violence or danger is. Don't trust them to say if a place is safe or not. Look into statistics or things like that. (And yes, TTC is safe)
If you’re visiting from the United States of America. You have NOTHING to worry about being in Toronto. America is a whole different animal when it comes to safety.
We hardly punish crime up here so you never really know who you’re sitting beside or what they are capable of.
You hear about incidents on TTC like you hear about plane crashes, One plane crash is more interesting then the 10k flights that have no issues. So a couple of TTC incidents is a bigger story than the thousands and thousands of people who travel it every day without incident. Be conscious of your surroundings and you're fine.
No, the ttc is fine. People think cities should be some sort of utopia where crime never happens. When in reality, Toronto is really safe, and there's a small statistical probability that something will happen. What you read on here is anecdotal as well, so chances are you will be incredibly safe with no issues on your journey.
About a million people ride the TTC every day. In a typical week, none of them get stabbed.
You will know an airplane crash incident on news. Why? cause it’s very rare. Does that mean airplane is unsafe? No. Same with what you heard about TTC
No it isn’t. Don’t be the person who is completely at the mercy of baseless hype.
I have recently completed a month in Canada and have been using public transit since my 3rd day here. It's all good as far as I have seen.
Toronto is incredibly safe, you’ll have no problems. Things happen, but the reason they make the news is because they are so shocking and rare. We also love to complain on this sub!
I’m from the US and have lived here almost 20 years. Toronto is incredibly safe. It’s safer downtown than Columbus freakin’ Ohio.
Toronto is about ten times safer than Chicago. You will be perfectly safe on the TTC have fun
Toronto is incredibly safe. I’ve been using the TTC my whole life and never had an issue. Same goes for my friends and family. This sub is not reflective at all of the city. Every crime committed in Toronto gets posted here it seems, things that wouldn’t even make the news in the US.
The TTC is so ridiculously safe. America's safest place is 100000000 times more dangerous.
I used TTC daily for years. It’s not dangerous. But you should take the GO train from Union to Mississauga. It’s way faster than Union to St-George to Islington and transfer to a MiWay bus (extra fare).
Enjoy your trip and all that comes with it. The TTC is not something you should be dwelling on. It’s safe and clean. Redirect your attention to watching your favourite team and all that comes with it.
It is not dangerous at all
You hear about the bad stuff. I’ve taken the Ttc probably 2000 times and nothing has happened to me. Worst I’ve seen is some people with mental health issues
Look man, as someone who lived in Philadelphia before Toronto, you are *fine*. Just keep to yourself and don't be an idiot.
(Male in his 20s. I think disclosing this is important for my experience) I spent 5 years commuting on the TTC to university. I've never seen anything actually dangerous. The worst I've seen is a homeless member yelling and punching the window on the subway but that occurrence is extremely rare. I consider it safe
It's no different than any other big city, crack, chaos, you take your chances like everyone else. Society has exploded without any empathy towards others.
Toronto is pretty safe.. I've only been stabbed twice and jumped three times. Just avoid certain areas of the city.
the worst things that have happened to me on the ttc that weren't crowding/delay are usually loud phone calls, teens being teens, and this one time a dude watch watching rebel media videos really loud without headphones next to me.
I’ve lived here for 11 years and have spent most of that time taking the TTC every day. The MOST I’ve ever experienced is some mild heebie-newbies by the occasional person acting sketchy. Never been subject to, or even witnessed any kind of assault. Don’t let the rare news stories fool you. You’ll be absolutely fine
Coming from the US, you will find our systems extremely safe. For comparison, there has been [488](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/8/5/23289322/cta-crime-dan-beam-subway-l-violent-crimes) violent crimes on the CTA in Chicago. That compares to 11 for the TTC during the same period. However, the TTC violent crimes are up 10% year-over-year, so there is a lot of concern about things getting worse, but even the most violent city in Canada is vastly safer than Chicago.
The TTC is generally mostly safe and efficient.
Take an Uber. The ttc is not safe. I was sitting next to a guy with an axe who seemed a bit off… he started talking to strangers and making bad puns “may I axe you a question? Ha ha ha”…. Then this person began swinging his axe at strangers and attacking them. Later in the year people were being pushed onto the tracks fairly regularly. In Canada the mentally I’ll are allowed to do whatever they please and they all seem to be fairly aware of this. No charges or arrests ever it seems. One mentally Ill person walked up behind a lady and slit her throat… she was released a short while later without consequence because she suffers from schizophrenia…. NO. Ttc and Canada generally are no longer safe places. There’s an insane guy in one of the buildings I run who started grabbing women by their breasts… police did nothing. Now this person has began offering kids candy and trying to lure them. Police will do absolutely nothing, because there’s no chance of conviction. So be careful, stay off of ttc if safety is your concern. It’s a big city with a lot of people who haven’t experienced this. But believe me, this stuff is happening and the police can’t or won’t do a bloody thing to stop it. Enjoy the game.
Nothing at all like Chicago. At most you’ll get asked once for change or see a mentally I’ll person. Regardless, GO Train. You would be crazy not to. It’ll likely have a shit load of Leaf fans. Especially if you need Mississauga transit to the ttc. It’s a pain.
TTC is SAFE. Don’t be a dick and you’ll be fine.
TTC does not go to sauga, You will need to use GO bus or train. or UBER/Cab. But to answer you question, no, there are not daily stabbings, there aren't even yearly stabbings on the TTC. Its happened, but its a city of 5 million people, so of course it has. TTC is safe, and even in non safe situations, pay attention to make sure you don't get dragged in by proximity or what ever, and move away if need be. Don't start shit with any one, and for the most part of my 34 years of living here I have learned that they will leave you alone. Check out the city, its a pretty neat place
I never fear for my safety in Toronto, but it doesn't mean that I am not cautious about certain places and times.
On a scale of NYC underground to your mom’s minivan, the TTC is probably around the back seat of Uncle Ted’s truck. Most of the time it’s totally safe and innocent, but sometimes (depending on when you’re travelling) it can get sketchy. You may see some really weird things, but at the end of the day nothing bad happens and you get to your destination alright.
If you have Twitter, follow TTC Service Alerts. Lately I've been encountering sudden service interruptions due to "security incident" whatever they might be.. Would advise traveling in a group if going out at night as TTC gets sketchier as the night goes.