Toronto’s public transit system, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), is a vital lifeline for millions of residents and visitors. However, despite the size of the subway network, it remains inaccessible to many due to missing elevators and the frequent breakdown of existing ones. For people with disabilities, seniors, and parents with strollers, these barriers make using public transit difficult, unpredictable, and sometimes impossible.

Accessibility is not a convenience. It is a right. Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), public transit systems are legally required to be fully accessible. Yet the TTC has failed to meet this standard. As of recent reports, only 55 out of 75 subway stations are fully accessible, meaning 20 stations still lack proper elevator access. This leaves nearly one in four subway stations unusable for riders who cannot rely on stairs or escalators.

Even at stations where elevators exist, reliability remains a serious issue. Elevators frequently break down, sometimes without warning, instantly turning an accessible station into an inaccessible one. For riders who depend on elevators, a single outage can force long detours, missed appointments, or complete loss of independence. This ongoing lack of maintenance and accountability shows that accessibility has not been treated as a priority.

The TTC has made promises to improve accessibility, but repeated delays and missed deadlines, including the failure to meet the 2025 accessibility target, continue to impact thousands of riders every day. When accessibility upgrades are postponed, it sends a message that disabled riders’ needs are optional rather than essential.

We want the TTC to:

• Show real-time elevator status through the TTC website or apps like Transit so people can plan ahead before starting their trip
• Have a fast-response system so when an elevator breaks down, it is repaired quickly instead of staying out of service for days or weeks
• Install elevators in all remaining subway stations so every station is fully accessible, not just some of them

By signing this petition, you are standing up for an inclusive and equitable transit system that allows everyone to move through the city with dignity and independence. Toronto cannot call itself an accessible city while major parts of its transit system remain out of reach. The time to act is now. Sign this petition and help push the TTC to make accessibility a guarantee, not an afterthought.