Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) riders will soon have a new tool at their disposal to help curb unwanted behaviour on the city’s transit system.
A new mobile camera app is expected to be released by the end of the year which captures images of individuals who commit unlawful acts on subways, streetcars and buses.
“The app automatically turns off sounds, turns off the flash, so the person — the alleged assailant, doesn’t know you’re doing it,” said TTC CEO Andy Byford.
“So that message gets sent to our transit control centre who can then call the police, call the transit enforcement officers and get the help you need.”
The new app comes as the TTC deals with a growing number of sexual assault cases among its users. For the first five months of 2016, 35 incidents have been reported, according to the TTC.
“Let’s put it into context. At the end of the day, we carry 1.8 million customers per day. It’s a very safe system and most people get where they want to go without any sort of hassle whatsoever,” Byford said.
“But I don’t want anyone being hassled, feel insecure or threatened on the TTC.”
Rider safety will be on the agenda on Monday as the TTC meets for their monthly board meeting. One of the items on the table include women’s safety and how adopting a “gender-specific lens” will help address those concerns.