TORONTO

That didn't take long.

TTC workers removed a sign at Downsview station Tuesday morning after the map of the bus platform began circulating around the Internet showing what looks to be the shape of a penis.

"Everybody who had seen the sign, it led some to believe it looked like a very phallic-looking symbol and we don't want any of our maps to be misconstrued, so we're in the midst of replacing it," TTC spokesman Brad Ross said.

No complaints from the public have been made, he added.

Several TTC employees were seen removing the sign just after 10:15 a.m. in the bus depot.

When shown a screenshot of the titillating map, a number of commuters smirked.

"That's the first thing that came to my mind -- I don't think it was an accident," said Yonas Samuel, 25. "Come on. Before (the designers) make it public, it's obvious."

A woman who didn't wish to be identified was convinced it was instead a picture of fungus.

"It's a mushroom, there is the root going to the ground," she insisted, pointing to the bottom of the map. "When I'm running for the bus, I'm not looking for the shape. I'm an engineer. It depends on your level of education and imagination."

The picture popped up on Reddit Monday. As of Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. there were 69 comments.

"Did they really need to colour in the tip?" remarked one commenter.

Ross said the TTC is taking a long, hard look at the incident and it appears the employee who designed the sign was doing a bit of a rush job to get it completed on time.

"I'm told that map was erected in December when we were putting up Next Vehicle Arrival signs," he said. "The person who designed the sign did not seek proper approval and the process was not followed."

There is an alternative sign ready to go.

Ross said he doesn't believe the employee -- who is not being named -- created the phallic shape on purpose in an effort to embarrass the transit authority.

"There's an approval process for signage and maps and in an effort to expedite things, to get the job done as quickly as possible, the process was not followed in this case," he said. "We will follow up with that employee to make sure that process is followed in the future."

Salesman Brian Shugar, 55, said he considers himself a "liberal" guy, but even he was offended by the image.

"It looks very pornographic," he said. "If anyone brought it to my attention, yes, it's offensive. For an organization like the TTC, they should be ashamed of themselves."