As a frequent TTC subway rider this just grinds my gears, especially now that TTC fares have increased to $3.00.

Is this what Toronto transit riders are paying for?

With the click of a camera and a tweet on the Internet, one sleeping TTC worker has unleashed a torrent of fresh anger over Toronto’s troubled transit system.

It all began when rider Jason Wieler was passing through McCowan LRT station and spotted a mustachioed ticket collector sprawled back in his chair, his mouth agape, apparently snoozing while on the job.

Believe it or not this isn’t the first time a TTC employee has been caught dozing while on the clock. Since Wieler’s photo began making the rounds, more pictures of sleepy TTC workers have come out of the woodwork.

And what does the TTC have to say about this? Shame on the photographer for not making sure the TTC worker was okay.

The president of the TTC workers' union says it is "disturbing" that a transit rider snapped a photo of what appears to be a sleeping ticket collector instead of checking to see whether the worker was okay.

However, despite the firestorm of comments from angry Torontonians, we won't know the outcome of this matter as the Toronto Transit Commission regards this as personal and as such, it will not be made public.

What are your thoughts? How have your experiences with TTC booth operators been?

[Source: The Globe and Mail and cnews]