It's funny this was bumped, as my girlfriend and I took the C-Train for the first time in over a year on Sunday and had one of the worst transportation experiences in recent memory. Here's a summary:
- Got on at Sunalta, where we were greeted by a junkie at the bottom of the escalator menacingly waving a hockey stick - thankfully he was in is own world and not on a bad trip.
- Had to transfer to the red line at one of the stations downtown, which was an absolute nightmare. Half of the people on the platform were roaming around in a meth-induced psychosis, yelling and screaming and being generally unpleasant. On top of this there were the street dealers hanging around on their miniature bikes who seem to be able to do whatever they want with impunity. Oh, and there were multiple instances of vomit on the ground and garbage strewn about.
- We find a spot to wait for the train that is relatively calm, but in short order we are accosted by an addict who is acting erratically and aggressively panhandling. The poor guy waiting next to us declined to give this guy money - he was then berated, screamed at, his accent mocked, and finally spit at. We received the same treatment, minus the spit.
- Finally get on the train which is a relief as the only issue was the stench emanating from a gent passed out on one of the seats.
- Get off at Chinook, where the shelters on the platform have been taken over by people shooting up - leaving piles of used needles, packaging, and other debris all over the benches and ground.
I had heard that things are bad, but the extent to which the C-Train system has deteriorated has to be experienced to be believed. I have the utmost empathy for people battling the demons of addiction, but tolerating these types of petty crimes and antisocial behaviours does nothing to help these people and dissuades Calgarians from using what is an excellent transit system. We desperately need to step up basic enforcement of existing laws and bylaws.
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