TORONTO

So you think the exorbitant cost of the TTC is no longer fair. How about no fare?

The TTC seems to have thrown in the towel on people who cheat the system by not paying their cash fares, telling collectors to "allow" them to ride even if they didn't pay.

It's certainly not fair to those who pay $141.50 for a Metro pass.

It's difficult to imagine but if you are short the fare for a bus, subway or streetcar, a new policy instituted this month instructs all operators to not get into it with riders who refuse to pay. No engagement. The memo has been posted.

It says "collection of fares is very important, as fares make up 70% of our operating revenue. However, it is not more important than your safety or providing a safe, reliable and courteous service to our customers."

They offer these steps.

"1: Observe that customers pay the proper fare or have proof-of-payment for travel. 2. Inform: If you suspect the customer has not paid the proper fare, used counterfeit fare, does not hold valid proof-of-payment or is not eligible for a discount fare, tell them what is proper payment, where it can be purchased and valid ID is needed for a discount fare."

But it states "please do not dispute the fare, or confiscate Metropasses or ID. Please disengage and leave this to Fare Inspectors and Transit Enforcement Officers."

The third step is for "operators to report to Transit Control by pressing the Fare Dispute Key" but "do not hold at the location. Should the situation escalate, press the yellow emergency and hold for assistance."

For collectors: "Report to station management or Transit Control" and "New: Allow the customer access into the station."

One veteran TTC employee was choking on his coffee: "Allow the customer into the station? Are you kidding me? That would not be a customer but a thief. What other ticket-driven business would let people sneak in?"

"How does asking someone to pay a fare take away from a safe reliable courteous service," said another TTC employee. "I'm really at a loss for words right now over this stupidity."

But TTC spokesman Brad Ross argued this protects the staff.

"What we ask our operators and collectors to do is to advise a customer who has not paid a fare, or the proper fare, of what the fare is," said Ross. "If the customer still refuses to tender the proper fare, rather than risk an assault or delay to other customers on the vehicle, is to advise the control centre, where the bus or streetcar will then be met by either a supervisor, special constables, police or a combination of the three."

However, the insider says this rarely happens.

"The TTC is very expensive to ride now... $141.50 for an adult Metropass which some can't afford and are going on cash rides," he said. "How many times have I called for help and no one comes? If they do, they just let the person go on anyway. Letting one not pay will be seen by many, leading to more not paying."

ATU 113 President Bob Kinnear agreed this is a dangerous precedent.

"It's only a matter of time before some realize our people have no power to stop them and more will go on unchallenged," he said. "First, they gave up $7-million in revenue by letting children 12 and under ride for free and now this. What is not being talked about is how much money will this approach cost the TTC in lost revenue. I would say it may be $20 million."

And those millions, said Kinnear, are saved each year thanks to the operators and collectors.

"For some riders, it's a game and our people encourage them to pay up," he said. "Ensuring that people do pay the fare is part of their job and they do it well."

Not anymore, it seems. Things are rapidly changing and collectors on the TTC are fearing they will soon be obsolete. PRESTO cards are now being used on the new streetcars--a glimpse into what the future holds.

"Once PRESTO is fully-implemented, the station collector role will shift to that of customer service assistant in the station," said Ross.

With their power to confront illegal riders taken away, some say, why not do it now?