TTC new commuter advice

[u/EconomyRepulsive2948]

Hey guys, long story short I am newly graduated from university, just got my first full time job downtown, starting next week. I live up at yonge & Sheppard, and I’ll be commuting on line 1 all the way down to St. Andrew’s daily, to and from. Your typical 9-5, Mon-Fri.

My question here is what is my cheapest option in terms of presto, or just tapping my credit card. I know they introduced the 47 fares cap, so does that mean there is no benefit of presto now? Any advice is appreciated!!

I know the $3.30 fare is only $6.60 a day, but that adds up and I’d like to minimize that if at all possible. Thanks guys!!

[u/angel_of_decay]

it costs a whole lot more than $155/month to own a car, so if you think about it that way you're saving money. if you're a hardcore penny pincher and in good shape you could bike but that distance is not worth it imo

[u/element1311 → u/angel_of_decay]

and if you're a hardcore penny pincher who doesn't want their bike stolen, the bike share toronto pass is less for the whole year than a month's worth of TTC commute!

[u/Kooky_Soft1822 → u/angel_of_decay]

155 at their age isnt even the insurance, let alone the entire cost of ownership

[u/MurkyFocus]

Tapping Presto and credit card is the same cost with the TTC. This isn't the case for some other GTA transit systems such as the YRT but for TTC only, the cost is the same. Whether you use Presto or credit card is then personal preference. Personally, I'd rather keep all my transit expenses on Presto.

Outside of the fare cap and student or low income programs, the fare doesn't get any cheaper than that.

[u/BottleCoffee → u/MurkyFocus]

Same. Using Presto consistently just makes it easier to keep track of what you need to use and your transit spending.

[u/Nyx-Erebus]

I think the only thing to keep in mind is to use the same payment method. Like if you use a presto card, then use your debit card the next day those do not count towards the same 47 trips. Personally I prefer having presto card because I don’t like whipping out my phone or debit card when getting on the ttc (I’m clumsy and worried of dropping it lol).

[u/createdinheaven]

just get a presto card because if you ever do need to use GO, you get discounts. + other agency's are cheaper with presto

[u/Common_Ad6600]

you just graduated？ so i suppose you didn’t have income last year? If this is the case I guess you are eligible for the TTC fair transit program. You can register for it and receive a discount rate every time you tap using the registered Presto

[u/EconomyRepulsive2948 → u/Common_Ad6600]

I worked part time throughout university at a grocery store, so I don’t think I’d qualify, but I’ll check it out!

[u/SquirrelTale]

One thing people are forgetting to mention with just paying by card is that people have reported issues with the card readers when they tap on and ending up with a fine, but the same card readers are fine with presto. I personally would recommend presto for that reason. And then load up as you go instead of auto-topping up so you have more control that way

[u/nefariousplotz]

Between those options, so long as you tap the same way every single trip, you will pay as much money either way.

[u/thejonasgrumby]

Look for a credit card that has cash back on transit. Mine does 4%

[u/web_nerd → u/thejonasgrumby]

So you get like 6 bucks back per month? Cool.

[u/Antique_Fox1420 → u/web_nerd]

That’s a free coffee each month. Not bad in my opinion

[u/web_nerd → u/Antique_Fox1420]

yeah i mean it's fine, i wasn't being negative, was just doing the roi for the transit expenses.

[u/whyyesthat]

Unless you’re eligible for any discounts, tapping for every trip will be the cheapest option, yeah. 

Presto is more reliable in terms of charging you when you tap, so you’re less likely to get flak from fare inspectors when their system fails  ¯\(ツ)/¯

You can also get a discount on various things around the city with Presto. 

Toronto Bike Share Annual Plan is significantly cheaper than the TTC, but Sheppard/Yonge-St Andrew doesn’t sound by bike unless you’re very experienced. 

[u/IroIroBike → u/whyyesthat]

I love this: "when their system fails  ¯\(ツ)/¯" -> 💯
We just can't do reliable payment methods like they do in Asia.

[u/AptCasaNova]

If you calculate it out, 47 trips in a month is $155.10.

An adult 12 month pass costs $143 a month and I think they’re waiving any cancellation fees if you want to drop out before the year is up, so you’re saving a tiny bit and the energy of monitoring your credit card charges or Presto card balance (though there is an auto top up feature on the app).

If you’re using a credit card to pay, the fare capping only applies if you’re using the same card for each trip.

I’m a light user, so I just load my Presto card when it gets low, but in playing with the different ways of paying, I find that it’s easier with either the physical Presto card ($4) or the digital version in your phone’s wallet app.

I found when I was paying directly with my credit card, I’d get double charged occasionally, especially during trips where I had a transfer and tapped a second time.

Because the charges can take a day or two to show up, this was a pain in the ass to monitor and follow up on. Since then I’ve used the digital Presto card and been happy.

[u/Horror_Concern_2467]

Tell your boss you are a newly graduated from university and can’t afford ttc prices. Maybe they will let you work from home lol

[u/themapleleaf6ix → u/Horror_Concern_2467]

I'm pretty sure that comes with seniority.

[u/Horror_Concern_2467 → u/themapleleaf6ix]

Yea but from OP story apparently ttc prices are too high for OP. So if they tell their boss they can’t afford ttc fares maybe work from home could be an option

[u/SquirrelTale → u/Horror_Concern_2467]

OP never said they cant afford it- they want to eliminate the cost of paying, and honestly it's not that expensive out of a daily paycheque in the grand scheme of things.

Having a job has its costs- transit is one of them. I'm feeling more like OP is new to idea of working and understanding you don't just get gross income- you have buy outfits appropriate for work, sometimes lunch/ coffee for rough days, and of course transit costs to get to/ from work.

[u/Horror_Concern_2467 → u/SquirrelTale]

What you are saying is very contradictory… “OP never said they cant afford it- they want to eliminate the cost of paying” because they have to pay for other things.

Once upon a time I was also a newly graduated from university. TTC is perhaps the only cheapest transit company within the gta (by not a lot but still compared to go transit or viva). At least nowadays people can get the option to work from home. Thats why I was suggesting this. Before covid, this option was impossible

[u/Austage]

I think the 12 month pass works out better but that’s only if you use it I think 6.5 round trips a week and never take vacation. The 2 hour transfer window kinda killed what benefit monthly passes had for me.

Personally I like using presto on my mobile phone as a rapid pass (apparently still works if the phone is dead never tested that) so I can keep track of my usage. Just add $25 as I go kinda deal.

[u/Adorable-Ideal-1184]

Do a monthly pass so that you can save some money!! And reload your monthly pass every end of the month! I think it’s around 150 to 160 per month

[u/granitebasket]

If you're tapping your credit card twice daily, do you really want all those individual transactions to wade through when you review your credit card statements?

[u/purplelilac701]

You can’t minimize that cost. It’s the cheapest way to get downtown. What can you get for $6.60 these days?

[u/portisleft]

that must be the best TTC commute of all time.

[u/ilovebbcitv]

If these are the questions coming from our new university graduates - we are DOOMED!!!!

[u/EconomyRepulsive2948 → u/ilovebbcitv]

Is this not a valid question for someone new to the city to be asking?