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TTC Violence Hits YouTube For World To See

Amateur video capturing foolishness and appearing on sharing websites like YouTube.com is an old story, but a recently posted video that features extended fisticuffs on a packed TTC has recently surfaced, causing a major public relations problem for Toronto's public transit system.

The video was captured on one of the city's all night bus routes, officially known as the Blue Night line, but affectionately dubbed "The Vomit Comet" by frequent late night riders.

In it multiple individuals exchange glancing blows for more than three minutes, with limited interjection from passengers or the driver, the TTC's lone representative.

Similar amateur videos have been posted on YouTube in recent years, routinely snagging thousands of hits.

In this case however, the incident highlights precisely the reason that 10,000 new security cameras will soon be added across the TTC. The commission hopes it'll stop people from pursuing their 15 minutes of online infamy.

"We don't have a control over Youtube-type videos," said TTC Chair Adam Giambrone. "Clearly it makes people aware of the problems, which is important."

Of course the video in question is hardly the only instance of such behaviour on the TTC, and much more serious instances of violence between riders and even staff have occurred in the past, but Giambrone insists those moments are the exception not the rule and that in general the system remains safe.

"This is nothing new," he said. "What's happening last week will probably happen in the next couple of weeks and the point here is that overall crime is not dramatically up on the TTC."

The TTC also has plans to add more special constables to patrol subway cars and buses.

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