TORONTO

It takes some political moxy to subsidize children’s TTC rides to deflect from a broken campaign promise.

Maybe it will work for Mayor John Tory. Thanks to his campaign flip-flop, adults who buy TTC tokens will be hit with a 10-cent increase while children 12 and under may soon ride streetcars, buses and the subway for free.

Forget the new ride at the CNE which costs money. This is the new ride at the TTC — and it won’t.

Get ready for the free riding! As if the TTC operators and ticket takers don’t already have enough headaches.

Hopefully, all those new kids riding transit for free will offer their seats to seniors who did not catch a break Monday.

“Didn’t anybody think of the consequences of this?” says one TTC insider. “Kids will be kids. Kids who now have a short walk will pile onto buses, riding one or two stops filling the buses, subways and streetcars (and) slowing the service.”

Previous to this, the cost for children over three to ride on the TTC was 75 cents cash or 70 cents by token.

Out of nowhere Monday comes this strange announcement.

It was just October when Tory said: “Given that there have been a number of fare increases in recent years and the high cost of living in the city in general, TTC riders need a break. I would freeze fares for at least the first year of my administration.”

He has not even finished his second month as mayor. Tory does have some explaining to do. And not just on the backtrack.

These changes were not recommended through the TTC and sent to council and the commission for rubber stamping. The proposal came from the top down.

It will be decided at a special commission meeting Feb. 2. The union representing TTC workers heard about it for the first time Monday.

“The TTC has not sat down and spoken with us about this,” said Bob Kinnear, president of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113. “I did receive a courtesy call from Mayor Tory an hour before. I don’t want to be critical and I do appreciate getting the call, but it might have been better a few weeks before.”

Suddenly allowing kids one day shy of 13 on down to ride at will without adult supervision could have its challenges in terms of safety, security and God knows what else.

“I am not looking forward to our first incident with our people having to deal with a 16-year-old who claims to be a 12-year-old,” said Kinnear.

Or 13- and 14-year-olds.

What is the protocol? What is the fine? How is this policed? How is it enforced?

Legitimate questions on behalf of the drivers, ticket takers, fare enforcement inspectors and special constables.

“We are not looking for confrontations,” explained TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

He said it will be the operators and ticket takers, as well as the people checking for proof-of-fare payment or proof of age, that will have to make judgment calls and use their “discretion.” If need be, the TTC’s special constables could be called in.

Mostly, the word Monday was basically if kids say they are 12 or under, a blind eye will likely be turned and there will be little done about it. It’s going to be kind of an honour system.

“People are so confused,” Kinnear said. “You need a transfer when you are on the Queen streetcar but not on Carlton or your transfer is good for two hours on St. Clair but not for downtown. There are mixed messages. Some of this stuff is coming out of left field. It’s perplexing.”

Just wait and see how it is when there are buses, trains and streetcars full of 12-year-olds and younger kids enjoying their free rides. Putting this in place without doing the proper due diligence is not wise.

What’s next? Free swimming for kids at city pools? For children over 19 months it’s currently $1.75.

TTC commissioners should reject this political decision. At very least, kids should only be permitted to ride for free with their parents or to and from school or important appointments.

Mayor Tory should not be allowed to let the TTC become a year-round amusement ride.

joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca