Toronto Transit Commission investigating after driver apparently abandoned idling bus and passengers

The Toronto Transit Commission is investigating after a bus driver reportedly abandoned his idling vehicle and more than a dozen passengers at the end of his shift earlier this week.

According to reports, including a detailed video posted to YouTube, a bus driver abandoned his Eglinton Avenue bus route Tuesday afternoon, by announcing it was the end of his shift and boarding another bus leaving the area.

A video of the minutes after the incident were posted to YouTube by user Victor Bulario, who said he was on board the bus when the driver split.

The TTC now says they are investigating the incident and determine what happened. Depending on their previous records, TTC employees could face suspension or termination for such incidents, and have in the past.

While the results of that investigation may or may not be made public, you can expect it to be done with the utmost diligence. Because TTC officials are more aware than most about what can follow the public's loss of confidence. An all-out war could break out on city transit routes... again.

"When things like this happen, customers raise concerns that service is not being provided as intended," TTC spokesman Brad Ross told CBC's Matt Galloway on Thursday. "For us, it becomes an issue about customer service and reputation. These are things we have been working very, very hard to rectify."

Brad Ross said they are still trying to understand what happened on Tuesday, but it appears the driver was supposed to be relieved, either for a break or at the end of his shift, and the relief operator did not arrive.

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The TTC policy is that a driver should wait with his bus to be relieved. If there is a delay, they are supposed to contact dispatch and request passengers exit and get on the next available bus. The driver is then to either secure the bus or, when appropriate, return the vehicle to a depot.

That did not appear to have happened. The bus was left unattended, doors still hanging open and the bus still running, with about 20 passengers still on board. One irate passenger filmed the scene on his cellphone. "We have no bus driver, where is he?" the man asked as he shot footage of the abandoned vehicle.

Eventually a second bus arrived at the stop. When the passenger explained what happened, that driver said, "Yeah, I know. It's because he's finished."

That driver's major concern didn't appear to be that a bus and its passengers had been abandoned, but that the upset passenger was filming the scene.

Several years ago, the Toronto Transit Commission was embroiled in a cold war of sorts with its passengers who took it upon themselves to record and document instances of arguably reputation-damaging public service follies by drivers and employees.

The most memorable instance was a photograph taken of a subway ticket taker who was apparently sleeping on the job. But the unofficial campaign went on to document bus drivers leaving their vehicles in traffic to get coffee, others using their cell phones while driving and other instances of general rude behaviour.

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In 2011, TTC brass tightened the screws in the wake of the tension and newly-appointed general manager Andy Byford declared that public service was the top priority. What followed was a crackdown of sorts on errant behaviour.

Later that year, three drivers were fired after they were caught texting while driving.

But more directly related to this week's incident was one that came in 2012, when bus driver Dino Oroc was suspended after abandoning his bus mid-route. Oroc had contacted police before jumping off his bus to chase a man who had allegedly sexually assaulted another passenger.

At the time, the TTC said drivers were not allowed to leave their vehicles unattended. But Oroc was quickly reinstated amid public backlash.

It is doubtful the public will come out in droves to support the drivers in this case. This time, it's not a case of Good Samaritan-ship. This time, the safety of the passengers seems to have been the last thing being considered.

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