Having lived in Toronto for almost 30 years I have experienced several of the eight TTC strikes and slowdowns. I remember the six-day work to rule campaign of 1985: how jammed the entire in town roads were. I remember buying a small television and walking home with it because walking was faster than driving.

I remember the eight-day strike of September 1991. I lived in the west end, worked at Yonge and Eglinton, was going to school at Ryerson and doing a work placement in the east end. I had to ride my bike to work in the morning, then school downtown, then my placement and home. It was exhausting and I remember getting the flu part way through, but I did it because I had to.

I remember the two-day strike of April 1999 and the wildcat strike of May 2006. Both times I was working as a traffic reporter and I remember the panic and the mayhem.

After all of these experiences I was so glad to be able to add a happy TTC memory to my list.

No TTC Strike.

I would like to thank both the TTC and the Union for being so fair and keeping us in the loop. I can only imagine how tough it was, since both sides had such valid points. The union only wanted what was fair, and the TTC was trying to work within the parameters of financial constraints that are a part of all aspects of our lives these days.

But they did it. There are rumors that the city stepped in last minute, but regardless of how it happened … it happened.

So we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief and continue on with our lives, confident in the knowledge that the TTC is going to be there.

This city is so big and so reliant on the TTC that we cannot function properly without it. As each year goes by and the city grows we cannot even entertain the thought of a day, or even an hour, without its services.

We can only hope that, in the future, reason will continue to prevail and TTC service will carry on uninterrupted.

Because of two separate appointments in the city on the same day, I ended up with two parking slips on my dash. It just happened to be on the day we had the wind warning and my window must have been open a crack because the current parking slip blew over, revealing the outdated one underneath.

When I retuned from my second appointment and saw the bright yellow parking ticket in my windshield I figured that the misunderstanding should be easily resolved. All I had to do was go to one of several Parking Tag Operations Offices in the Toronto area, show them the ticket and the legitimate parking slip, and common sense would prevail.

I headed up to the office at Keele and Eglinton and waited in line for at least half an hour. When my turn finally came I was told that there was nothing they could do and if I wanted to dispute the parking ticket then I would have to go to traffic court.

What a colossal waste of taxpayer’s money!! I am very appreciative of the fact that we are offered the opportunity to stand up for our rights and dispute a parking ticket if we feel it has been unjustly given, but in this case it is a simple a matter of common sense. I had the proof in my hand!!

So I am going to traffic court because I already paid for parking and I will not pay again for a parking ticket!! It will likely be a year before I get my court date, and after all is said and done it will probably cost me about the same amount of money in gas and parking to fight it, and I’m not even factoring in my time. But it’s the principle of the thing.

To avoid this happening again I will make sure that only one ticket is on my dash. But the parking slips are so flimsy even the slightest gust of wind can blow them over. The city really should make them out of sturdier material. Or maybe there’s a see through pocket I can stick on my windshield. Now there’s an invention for one of you entrepreneurs.

My daughter had been complaining about how old my van was looking so I thought that, since I couldn’t afford a new car, I would at least make this one look as good as it possibly could.

Being a careful shopper I googled “Auto Detailers” in my area and came up with several options. I called a number of them to get an idea of the price and was quoted anywhere from $120.00 to $175.00. A few places said they couldn’t give me an exact price without seeing my car first. Not wanting to bother with an estimate I decided to simply go with the cheapest set quote. I called back to confirm the price and I made an appointment. I was told it would take about 5 hours.

I arrived on time and dropped off my van. Five hours later I returned and was told the price would be $150.00. When I said that wasn’t the price I was told over the phone the manager came in and berated me for bringing in a dirty car and not telling them I had a dog. I was stunned. He offered to split the $30.00 difference but I said that if he felt the job was worth $150.00 then I would pay $150.00, which I did.

When I got home I took a closer look at my car and was really upset to see that they had not cleaned it as meticulously as I had hoped. The tire rims were still dirty, they had not cleaned behind the sun visors and a storage drawer under the seat had not been cleaned either.

I was so upset with the whole experience I started to cry. My young daughter became very indignant on my behalf and said I should go back and complain but I just didn’t have the heart. That was the last time I ever took my car to be detailed.

Now I understand that my experience may be very different from that of others’. I am sure that many of you out there have had very positive experiences when taking your vehicle in for detailing but for those who have never tried it and are curious here are my suggestions.

Do not take in a dirty car. And by dirty I don’t mean junk all over the floor. I had removed everything from my car except the winter dirt and grime from the floor and the dust from the dash. So make sure you clean your car first before you take it in to be cleaned. I had no idea that most people who get this done simply want to maintain their immaculate, high end cars.

Secondly, tell them if you have a dog. This apparently makes a difference to the work involved and subsequently the price.

Thirdly, take it in for an estimate just to make sure you are not caught off guard as I was.

And finally, if your car is not a high-end vehicle, make sure you choose the location very carefully. I took it to an auto detailer in an upscale neighborhood because it was close to the subway. Wrong!! I got the feeling that my van was not nice enough to be taken there even though I was paying the same money as everyone else. I may have had better luck choosing a place closer to home.

Well perhaps I am being slightly optimistic, but a clean car certainly does look a whole lot better. And cleaning your car isn’t just for cosmetic reasons. It’s important to make sure that you wash off harmful substances before they can damage the finish on your vehicle. For example, bird droppings and tree sap, if left for any period of time, can be particlarly harmful.

So which is the best way to wash your car? Some like to do it at home in the driveway, on a nice bright, sunny day; the picture of domestic peace and well being. But doing it at home may not be the best thing for your vehicle or the environment. Some products you might use, like dish detergent for example, are not be designed for cars and can be too abrasive for the finsh. Also, at-home washes tend to use more water and the runoff can be harmful to the environment.

So if you decide to go to a car wash instead you have three basic choices. The first is the old fashioned, self-serve, coin-operated wash where you do all the work yourself. This is better than doing it at home because the cleaning solutions are designed specifically for cars and the runoff is likely disposed of in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

Then there are two types of automatic car washes. With one, you drive onto a conveyor belt and your car is moved through the wash facility. Brushes and other cleaning mechanisms actually come in contact with your vehicle. You can choose various options like the “bottom blaster” and waxes and the like.

Because some owners prefer not to have their vehicle touched by brushes and risk damage to the finish, there is a second type of automatic car wash known as the “touchless car wash.” You drive your vehicle into a bay and remain staionary, while machines move around your car and clean it that way. I personally find that a touchless wash does not do as good a job, but again there is the finish you may want to to consider.

How often should you wash your car? Obviously it should be more than once a year! How often though really depends on your vehicles exposure to the elements and to corrosive materials such as salt. But washing your car a couple of times a month should do it. This helps avoid harmful substances from staying on your vehicle for any period of time.

There is also the ultimate in car washes – auto detailing; an extensive, expensive car wash option. I decided to treat my car to detailing once and next week I’ll share that experience with you.

Even though we are not completely out of the woods yet we know that those snowy, icy, treacherous conditions will be behind us within the next few weeks.

And now we can look forward to … construction season!!

Well, if it’s not one thing it’s another. Because the weather has been so bad this winter many of the roads are in terrible shape. As the snow melts and the temperatures climb we are hit with pothole after pothole. We can see cracks in the asphalt and we can certainly feel how rough some of those road surfaces are.

Even this week I noticed a jump in the number of overnight work crews on the 401, with some scheduled maintenance on the 409 and the 427 as well.

So how can you keep on top of it? Well, we at the 680 Traffic Department will always do our best to cover as much as we can. But there are other tools at your finger tips as well. One of these tools is the TripInfo: 416-599-9090. It is a traveller information phone line that, among other things, provides scheduled road closure information for Ontario Ministry of Transportation highways and other streets within the City of Toronto.

Because there is so much information it can be a bit tricky and time consuming to navigate through all the choices. But if you go to their website at http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/tripinfo/index.htm you can get a list of the appropriate number codes for different routes. For example, #451 will connect you to the scheduled road construction on the 401 in Toronto, # 112 will connect you to the daily closures reports for Toronto south etc.

Now it’s time to get out your calendar. I can tell you right now that the DVP is scheduled to close the weekend of May 3-4th and Sept 6-7th for maintenance work, and the Gardiner is also scheduled to be closed for maintenance work April 12-13th and September 20-21st.

Construction season is tough on all of us. But it beats the alternative, namely roads that are almost impossible to drive on. Stick with us here at 680 and we’ll help you get through it.

But making a claim for damages and actually receiving compensation are two very different things.

I will tell you how to submit a claim in just a second but first I need to stress that the burden of proof lies with you. That means you have to prove that the city has in some way been negligent or careless; for example, that the pothole had already been reported to the appropriate authorities prior to your car being damaged and that nothing had been done about it.

Other evidence can also be useful. If you can, try and get testimony from other drivers and area residents in order to verify the existence of the troublesome pothole. If it is safe to do so, taking pictures and measurements may also help your case.

Once you have all your evidence, you need to write a letter that includes your name, phone number and address as well as the date. You also need to include the date and location of the occurrence and give details of exactly what happened as well as an estimate of the damages.

If you plan on making a claim, it is really important that you do it as soon after the incident as possible.

When your claim letter is ready call (416) 397-4212 and a recorded message will tell you how to either mail, e-mail or fax it in.

Each claim is forwarded to the city’s insurance adjustors for an evaluation. A letter of acknowledgement should be mailed out to you within a few weeks. This letter is simply to inform you that the claim has been received.

But don’t hold your breath. As in most matters such as these, the evaluation process can take awhile.

Good luck!!

I was cresting a hill and saw that traffic ahead of me had come to a sudden stop. I slammed on my brakes, but to no avail. So I tried to pull off to the shoulder and almost made it, but not quite, just nicking the vehicle in front of me and breaking their tail light. My car had suffered no visible damage. 

I was just shaking when I got out of my car. Vehicles were littering the ditches and there were several accidents up ahead. According to one of the motorists who had been involved in one of the other accidents, the police were tied up at a fatality in which a vehicle had slid through a stop sign. There was little chance that they would be able to come and attend to the many minor accidents on this particular stretch of highway anytime soon.

Having never been in a situation like this before, I didn’t know what to do. Now; however, I am much more prepared.

The first thing to do in a situation like this is, if possible and if safe to do so, is to get your vehicle off the road.

Next, call the police. The main police services number is 416-808-2222. They will be able to tell you if a police presence is required. There are other criteria besides simple vehicular damage (for example, if there is an injury or if there is damage to private, municipal or highway property) that warrants a police presence.

If it is determined that a police presence is not required, but the total damage to the vehicles involved is over $1,000, then police services can also direct you to the nearest collision reporting centre (CRC).  You then have 24 hours to report to a CRC so your vehicle can be inspected by either an OPP or Metro officer, and a police report can then be filed.

It is also really important that you exchange information with the drivers of all vehicles involved. Get their names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies, etc.  If this information is not forthcoming, then make sure that no matter what, you at least get the vehicle license plate number.

Just a note here: if you are planning to go to a CRC and your vehicle needs to be towed you have to, by law,  have it towed directly to a CRC first so the police can inspect it and write the report, before you take it to a garage to have it fixed.

When you do show up at a CRC, don’t forget to have all your documentation with you: your driver’s licence, ownership, insurance, etc.

One day I was sitting in my car at a traffic light when…wham…I was hit from behind. The driver got out of her car and came up to my window. She was obviously shaken and was apologizing profusely. We pulled over so I could assess the damage.

After looking at what appeared to be a few minor scrapes and scratches on my bumper, the driver offered to pay out of pocket for the repairs. I declined. I told her the damage was minimal and not to worry, stating that my car had obviously seen better days and a few more scratches would simply add to the character.

We hugged each other, wished each other well and that was the end of it … or so I thought.

Later that day, as my neck began to stiffen, I thought that maybe I had been a bit too
hasty in thinking all was well. Then I went to open the rear door of my van. It was jammed. I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally got it open, only to discover that I couldn’t close it.

According to my mechanic, the SUV that hit me was bigger than my van, had ridden over my bumper and had hit my rear door. “Did you get her name and number?” he asked. “No,” I replied sheepishly. “How about her license plate number then?” “No.” I said. He looked at me in disbelief and said “It’s okay to be nice, just don’t be too nice”

Point taken. In any traffic altercation, no matter how minor, always make sure you get some sort of contact information because all may seem fine, but you never know.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a remote car starter? Just a few hundred dollars and voila, you can stay in your warm cozy house while your car heats up outside. Then, when you are ready, your car is toasty warm and your car windows are nice and clear.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?  But wait — there are a few things to consider before rushing out to make that purchase.

First of all,  if your garage is part of the house, it could be very dangerous to start your car remotely without the garage door being open. An idling car generates carbon monoxide, which can easily creep into your living quarters.

Secondly, most people believe that idling your car and warming it up is good for the engine. That’s not necessarily the case. The truth is that excessive idling can actually damage some engine parts and even reduce the life of your exhaust system.

And remember, the engine isn’t the only component of your vehicle. Other parts, such as the transmission and tires, also need to be warmed up, and the only way to do that is to get the vehicle moving. Today’s electronically controlled engines allow you to drive away after only 30 seconds of idling, even on the coldest of winter days.

Probably the most powerful argument in favor of reduced idling is an economic one. In this day and age of rising fuel costs, unnecessary idling wastes fuel and wasted fuel is wasted money. Idling your car for 10 minutes a day can use up around 100 litres of fuel a year! Not to mention all the contaminants that are being released into the air.

Don’t forget about the Toronto idling bylaw. You are not allowed to idle your vehicle for more than three minutes each hour if the temperature is between 5C and 27C. Although there are no demerit points attached, there is a hefty $130 fine.

My old car had a remote starter so I know how convenient they can be, especially since I have to be on the road by 4 a.m. My new car doesn’t have one, and surprisingly enough, I don’t miss it. Because my car is a newer model, I don’t have trouble starting it in cold weather and it seems to warm up quite quickly. 

The few cold minutes I do spend in my car each morning are offset by the fact that I know I am not wasting fuel, I am not needlessly polluting the air and I am not causing unnecessary wear and tear to my car components.

Well, that was last week. So why is it sitting on my dresser at home, still covered in shrink-wrap? This is embarrassing to admit but I think I’m a little intimidated by the technology. Everyone I know who has a GPS navigation system just loves it. They all tell me that it is a very user-friendly piece of technology, and very useful. But I still have my doubts. Can it really be that easy to use?

There’s also a little bit of professional pride involved. I’m a traffic reporter for goodness sake. I, of all people, should know where I’m going. But I carry a map book in my car, so what’s the difference?

Okay. This is really silly. It’s time to remove the shrink-wrap from the little blue box and open it. A deep breath and here I go.

And there it is. My GPS. All black and shiny…and small! The screen is about the size of a 2-inch by 4-inch photograph.

I’m reading over the quick start guide and it seems simple enough. So it’s now time to test it out.

Well, first of all it has all the basics that a navigation system should have: the latest maps, points of interest, a touch screen, voice guidance as well as several other features. And, to my surprise, it is really easy to use. If you can figure out how to use a cell phone then you can figure out a GPS.

The size is actually perfect. GPS navigation systems used to be really big and bulky, but new technology has allowed them to become not only smaller, but also more accurate.

While I was lucky enough to win my GPS you can get one as standard if you buy a high-end car like a BMW or Mercedes. Or you can buy one as an optional extra in many other cars. You can also drop into your friendly neighborhood electronics shop and, depending on the make, model and features, pick up a GPS for anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

One word of caution, however. Tempting as it may seem, try not to fiddle with your GPS while driving. It can be yet another dangerous distraction. Make sure you set it before you head onto the road.

Well that wasn’t so bad. I have now become acquainted with my new GPS and am very happy to have discovered such a useful driving device.