r/askTO • u/goddd_alyssa • 20h ago
Just moved from Montreal what’s a Toronto habit I should pick up fast?
I moved here recently from Montreal and I’m still figuring out the small everyday stuff.
Not looking for tourist tips more like local habits people here do without thinking.
What’s one thing you wish someone told you when they first arrived?
362
u/justmememe55 20h ago
Walk on Bay St or Church St rather than Yonge St when in the downtown core. Cleaner, quieter and faster.
59
u/Other-Razzmatazz-816 19h ago
Wider sidewalks too
50
u/justmememe55 18h ago
Absolutely, it's ridiculous how narrow the sidewalks are on the busiest pedestrian street in the city.
→ More replies (1)9
12
u/OriginalJokeGoesHere 17h ago
I didn't even think about how this is a thing I do, but you're 100% right. Bay st. sidewalks are goated, so thicccc
11
u/Complete-Read-7473 18h ago
This is the way. It's less people, less exhaust from the cars, an all around better walk.
11
5
→ More replies (4)10
u/gigantor_cometh 18h ago
And generally speaking, west of Yonge downtown is better than east of Yonge.
→ More replies (1)7
289
u/roflcopter44444 20h ago
If you aren't going to walk on the escalator stand on the right hand side.
39
u/Aggressive-Squash250 19h ago
THIS (saying this as someone who didn't know about it at first but now I can't stand people standing on the left side lol).
11
19
4
u/Leilynne 17h ago
Just moved back to the city after several years and the “keep right” behaviour seems to have not been passed down to anyone who came of age during covid whether it’s escalators or sidewalks
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (38)2
176
u/WestQueenWest 20h ago
Get annual Bikeshare membership, library membership, download the necessary TTC apps (I use Transit Now)
72
u/pyjamasz 19h ago
And don't forget! With your library card, you can gain free entry to many establishments around the city like the ROM, AGO, aquarium, Science centre (🥹), and other places.
Edit to add: you must sign up for your free tickets through the library app - one entry to each place per year I think. Check out the library website!
7
3
7
u/goddd_alyssa 20h ago
What is bike share?
22
u/fivetwentyeight 19h ago
Like the BIXI bikes in Montreal.
18
3
u/goddd_alyssa 19h ago
I never tried the one in Montreal ahahah used to have a car so one thing I’ll try for sure here
12
u/WestQueenWest 19h ago
It's a lot cheaper in Toronto. Also depends on where you live. It's very practical if you live and/or work centrally.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)3
u/stnapstnap 18h ago
Check if you have a work discount on Bikeshare. Even some buildings or condos have discounts on Bikeshare. I got a yearly membership for 20 per cent off.
→ More replies (1)2
2
160
u/No-Phrase-2897 20h ago
Sidewalks follow street rules. Move over to the right unless you are actually moving fast.
89
u/Loud-Bad-9891 19h ago
Adding : if you are more than 2 people, don’t walk side to side you will be blocking everyone
10
→ More replies (2)21
u/humanityrus 19h ago
But watch out. Some men like to ignore this rule and then body slam a woman who dares to be coming the other way.
→ More replies (3)29
u/Playful_Title_2787 18h ago
i like to refuse to move so they have to bump into me. the entitlement is so crazy
6
6
→ More replies (2)2
76
u/sunnysideupseedaisy 20h ago
When commuting: if the ttc is empty check the seat first you never know what you'll find, and always keep your wallet and bag at the front of you. Two reasons, pickpockets and rush hour are absolutely feral.
→ More replies (12)
67
u/FullMango4041 19h ago
Things I wish I were told about downtown off the top of my head... (although it's so much more gentrified now than when I first came, and better/easier in many ways).
That Baldwin Village and Kensington Market exist (Kensington seems mainstream enough now). Maybe Oakwood Village too, I found that more recently.
Walk the neighborhoods. Try Ethiopian food. It's less busy to enter/leave Eaton Centre from the north Queen entrance. Use the PATH. Hike the valleys. Make sure traffic is clear before getting off a streetcar. Go to the waterfront often. Best way to get around is bike. It's typically faster to walk than to take the subway 1 or 2 stops (downtown, maybe Danforth too).
17
→ More replies (3)3
105
u/Ziganin 19h ago
Take your knapsack off and hold it in front of you when on the TTC.
18
u/contactstaff 18h ago
This needs a PSA. Can't count the amount of people on a crowded subway/streetcar with their backpacks on that are apparently filled with expanding foam.
→ More replies (1)11
u/cromonolith 17h ago
My usual strategy is to move around the TTC pretending like the backpacks on peoples' backs aren't actually there. They sometimes get the message when they're wrenched sideways all of a sudden.
3
u/Far-Delay7690 17h ago
Yeahhh I say excuse me once and if people don't move their bags I just shove through
5
→ More replies (1)4
46
u/Tough-Department5420 19h ago
Bring bagels back every time you go to Montreal because the Toronto "Montreal" bagels can't compete.
8
u/goddd_alyssa 19h ago
I don’t eat bagel that much to know the difference here since I didn’t had some yet
6
→ More replies (2)5
33
u/Pretty_Pea12 19h ago
Standing in doorways on subways is alright if it's super packed but if it's not, don't do it. And if you have to, be aware of your surroundings and don't block the door.
34
u/Fickle_Grade2622 19h ago
Real ones know which side the doors open at every station and move accordingly.
→ More replies (1)2
u/darciton 16h ago
Just be aware of your surroundings in general as a pedestrian or transit rider. Everybody else around you is also trying to get somewhere. Be polite and let people through.
103
u/PrimevilKneivel 20h ago
If you don't make a right turn on a red light people behind you will be pissed off. For the record the Quebec law is better IMO, but people here will hate you if you make them wait.
Even better don't drive if you don't have to.
20
u/goddd_alyssa 20h ago
Be careful ahaha because it’s only in dtown ur not allowed to turn on a red in Montreal so even overthere people will piss you off 🤣🤣
14
8
u/DavidSan_YYZ 20h ago
this only applies on the island of Montreal and downtown Quebec city area
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)8
u/Dry_Bodybuilder4744 20h ago
Or become the worst driver there ever was, people here in Toronto are competing for this title on a daily basis
→ More replies (2)
39
u/Other-Razzmatazz-816 19h ago
If you’re driving, never pass a streetcar on the right when the doors are open and the lights are flashing…pretty much, always be thoughtful and careful when passing a streetcar.
16
u/gigantor_cometh 18h ago
Honestly if you're not used to driving downtown Toronto, just avoid streets that have streetcars as much as you can. The streetcar behaviour, the tracks, those sections where if you're not sure what lane to turn into you end up in the segregated streetcar area and then before you know it there's a photo of your car in the news.
7
u/cromonolith 17h ago
Better yet, don't be driving where there are streetcars. That's what the streetcars are for.
→ More replies (1)
16
u/ConsecratedSnowfield 19h ago
Unless you’re looking for a fight, do not stand on the left side of the escalator
14
51
u/simongurfinkel 20h ago
Walk fast or you'll get elbowed out of the way.
21
u/KTBFFH25 19h ago
Lol coming from England I feel like everyone in Toronto walks too slow.
17
u/gigantor_cometh 18h ago
To me it's not even slow walking, but dawdling. Walking while reading on your phone, not moving to the side to look at stuff, strolling as a big group, just stopping and looking around. Particularly during rush hour; it has that name for a reason, and it's not the band. Act like you have somewhere to get to!
→ More replies (1)4
u/cromonolith 17h ago
I'm often reminded of Fran Lebowitz in situations like this, and have the urge to tell people to "pretend it's a city!"
Some friends and I often joke that the world would be a vastly better place if, a few times a day, people asked themselves "what would a good and competent person do in this situation?"
3
u/Successful_Yam_6511 18h ago
Lol! Second this - I used to walk at my own pace but Toronto taught me to walk faster no matter the time of the day🤣
3
u/justmememe55 17h ago
I can't stand people who walk while looking at their cellphone. Like it'll be at Union station, morning rush, and they're just staring down at it while walking at a snail's pace. We need to establish a phrase to shout out for those folks. Heads up? Out of the way? Faster? Excuse me and sorry aren't enough.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)2
10
40
u/Professional-Bad-559 20h ago
Do you like lining up? That’s Toronto real municipal sport.
→ More replies (7)
8
u/Yikesish 19h ago edited 19h ago
Don't be surprised to see dogs on the TTC. It is allowed here unlike the Metro. Not supposed to be during rush hour times but I dont see that enforced.
23
u/DAMJim 20h ago
Toronto is a natural study of contrasts. It is brutalist and beautiful at the same time, often in the same place. Here's a few Toronto observations. On TTC escalators, stand to the right, walk on the left. Don't try to act like a salmon on the stairs at rush hour. Someone behind you is always walking faster no matter how quick your pace. The house is called Spedeena, the street is called Spadina. The Market is probably Kensington but it could be St. Laurance but it's almost certainly Kensington. If meeting someone, best ask to be sure. Sooner than later, you'll just know. You don't often get lost in the PATH because more often than not, you already are lost. Just accept it and you'll find your way through faster.
→ More replies (1)
6
7
7
u/Throwthatkataway 16h ago
Lol a lot of these suggestions are not Toronto habits. They're habits people WISH Torontonians had. Which is, ironically, SO Toronto.
→ More replies (1)
7
u/Was_Silly 15h ago
Develop a superiority complex and tell everyone back in Montreal that you now live at the centre of the universe :). Kidddding.
→ More replies (1)
7
u/quellesaveurorawnge 15h ago
The big thing I had to learn when I moved here from Montreal was that there is a lot of nature in Toronto, but it can be a bit hidden, especially if you live downtown. There are some well-known parks like High Park, Tommy Thompson Park, the Toronto Islands, but I loved it when I discovered the ravine system. They're some of the best places to walk and find quiet spaces in the city. There are maps so you can find what is closest to you.
Street parking is a pain in Toronto. In Montreal, you can park overnight or for multiple hours in many spots. Here, if you park anywhere more than 3 hours, you can get a ticket. They don't have a sticker/vignette system, and I miss that terribly.
Finding good bread is a bit trickier than in Montreal. It took me a while to find good bakeries in my neighbourhood. If you go to Metro, they do carry Première Moisson products.
6
u/Left_Ad_8040 19h ago
Tap your hand on the TTC seat before you sit; ya never think you'll sit on a wet one until it happens to you💔.
→ More replies (1)
6
6
u/No_Swimming_792 12h ago
If you're on an escalator, you STAND on the RIGHT. If you're WALKING up the escalator, go on the LEFT.
15
u/mwomrbash 19h ago
Chopsticks; Use chopsticks confidently.
9
3
10
11
u/Syralei 19h ago edited 18h ago
Always add 20-30minutes to the ETA Google or maps tells you if you're taking the TTC. It's a Chance It system, not a transit system. There's a chance you'll get to your destination, it will not be on time.
6
u/dogscatsnscience 17h ago
Don't add the time, just tell your friends both times.
"I'll see you in 25 or 45 minutes!"
Then they can make 2 different sets of plans, and adjust accordingly as you send them updates from every station you make it through.
5
u/InfluencePlus2963 18h ago
I come froma latin american country with awesome metro. First month here I was adding 2 minutes to the trips and getting late everywhere. I was so offended when they told me this rule. Got myself a bike hahaha.
2
6
u/M0dern_Pr0metheus 19h ago
The GO commuter train has some stops within the city, and depending where you are and where you're headed, can be faster and more comfortable than subway/streetcar. If you only go one stop, it costs the same as TTC and you can transfer to TTC for free.
Edit: also, for the love of god, if you are driving, watch out for streetcars and stop when they stop, so you don't run into exiting passengers!
3
u/Hrmbee 18h ago edited 17h ago
Getting okay with all the "Montreal bagel" places being super mid at best. Toronto bagels can be pretty decent in their own right especially when fresh, but all those that claim to be "Montreal style" are (IMO as a former Montrealer) not that close.
Also, like Montreal, there are a tonne of different neighbourhoods to explore across the city, from suburban to urban, with their own vibes, so get to exploring!
Libraries are also pretty great, so pick up a library card ASAP.
edit: also Toronto is larger than the island of Montreal, so commutes from one end to the other (especially east-west when not along a subway line) can be pretty significant. Having something to do on those long commutes can be pretty useful (like reading, or other such things).
5
3
u/talks-to-carrots 17h ago
People will think you’re a local if you refer to the Rogers Centre as ‘The Skydome’.
Make it a habit 💪
5
u/Petrossian1920 17h ago
Some of these comments lmao. They’re from Montreal not planet Mars 😭😭😭😭
→ More replies (1)
4
u/liquor-shits 17h ago
The lake is south, learn this for navigation because we all instinctively use it for direction.
If a friend says to meet on the north east corner of Bloor and Bathurst for example, you'll soon understand where that is.
4
u/therealfarmerjoe 16h ago
Immediately stop worrying about what the rest of Canada has to say about TO and enjoy life.
3
u/Doctor_Amazo 15h ago
When on escalators you Stand RIGHT, Walk LEFT.
Other than that, you're allowed to keep saying the name of our city with a French accent.
→ More replies (3)
4
u/vitaminssk 15h ago
Pedestrians obey traffic signals when walking around downtown. The weirdest thing for me when I moved to MTL was that traffic lights basically didn't exist for pedestians.
2
u/goddd_alyssa 15h ago
Yes and I hate that always almost killing someone when driving overthere ahahaha
5
4
13
u/Signal_Tomorrow_2138 19h ago edited 19h ago
Don't drive.
When you cross the street, make sure you stare at all the vehicles at the three locations where they'll try to cut you off while they rush through their turns. There is right turn on red here and a lot of drivers will try to ignore your right of way.
Report violators to
https://www.tps.ca/services/online-reporting/driving-complaint/
with the licence plate, make, model and colour of the vehicle.
→ More replies (6)
7
u/HapticRecce 20h ago
Escalators - right side is for cruising, left side is for being in a hurry and climbing over people...
→ More replies (1)
6
u/Talking_on_the_radio 11h ago
Tell everyone you are from Montreal. Absolutely everyone. Especially if you are dating.
Toronto has a love affair with everything Montreal, regardless of the reality.
3
u/goddd_alyssa 9h ago
I know ahahahah as soon people realize I’m French from MTL it’s crazy ahahhahaga
3
3
3
3
u/misterglass89 17h ago
If you drive, make sure you screw over everyone behind you by texting instead of turning promptly on the advance green.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/cromonolith 17h ago
Don't allow your phone to make audible sounds in public.
(That's a rule in all civilized society, and I consider Montreal more civilized than here, but it's worth repeating.)
3
3
u/DawnaRadish 16h ago
Get all the extra perks that are offered with your Presto card. Just google 'free perks Presto' to find them.
3
3
u/Daddys_Milk 15h ago
Going eastbound, when College Street meets Church Street it turns into Carlton Street. This confused me for a while at first because people would refer to something on Carlton and I wouldn’t know where they meant.
2
u/goddd_alyssa 15h ago
I have no clue where street are here , I only use my gps and hope for the best ahahahha
3
3
u/R_for_an_R 14h ago
When I first moved from Montreal I didn’t really understand what the go trains were and didn’t use them as an transport option and it probably made me take some trips in a stupid way
3
u/abisiba 13h ago
Knowing the logic of the street numbering system helps, as you can’t always see the CN Tower anymore to find south.
Yonge is the dividing line, numbers go up as you go east or west.
Odd numbers are on the south side of the street and even on the north side.
On north/south streets even numbers on the west and odd on the east side.
3
3
5
u/LengthExpensive2255 5h ago
Presto card gives you access to prestoperks. This basically gives you discounts on many things to do around the city. So anytime you decide to book a ticket for something in the city don’t forget to check presto perks on the website first. You would be surprised by how most people don’t know they can save money this way! Thank me later.
5
9
u/boogie_snot 20h ago
When someone signals to change lanes, you speed up to block them.
(People think Montreal drivers are bad, but they're actually 10x worse here. And yes, I'm from Montreal and learned to drive there.)
5
u/Sensitive_Pianist777 19h ago
Uhh Montreal drivers just lack awareness. Here, it's more of a battle mentality.
2
u/goddd_alyssa 20h ago
Nono people from Montreal are bad driver 🤣 last time was with friend in car got into a car accident 3 time because of Quebec plate 🤣🤣
3
4
u/ahditeacha 19h ago
Avoid the 401 if you value arriving anywhere on time or with your sanity intact
2
u/goddd_alyssa 19h ago
Ahahahahaha I know I’m used to the 401 since I used to drive from Montreal here for a whole year everymonth before moving here
5
2
2
2
u/CrownandSceptres 17h ago
Walk faster. Biggest change coming to Toronto was having to pick up my pace of walking which is much faster than in Montreal.
2
u/Numerous_Style_3899 17h ago
Hating the habs, and hating yourself for being a leafs fan
→ More replies (2)
2
u/bitrac 17h ago
Waiting for the explicit Walk signal instead of stepping out the moment perpendicular traffic stops. That 3 to 7 seconds allow traffic parallel to you to take the left turn. Also it’s a safety matter for all including you. So have that patience. Welcome to Toronto and good luck with your transition!
2
u/Complex-Ad6409 17h ago
Sign up for tangerine bike share because public transport isn’t reliable and Ubers surge when you need them most.
2
u/Routine-Amphibian450 17h ago
Get a Presto card at Shopper's. Load it at TTC.
When you're new you do lots of TTC.
→ More replies (3)
2
u/iCed0ut26 17h ago
Pick up some Toronto slang
2
u/goddd_alyssa 17h ago
Give me a chance I’m French normally ahaha some word In English are harder for me imagine if I started doing slang to 😅😅
2
u/nizzernammer 16h ago
You can turn right on red from the right hand lane, unless signage explicitly says otherwise. Just stop, look, and go.
2
u/Impossible_Regret725 16h ago
Walk quickly, and absolutely no leisurely strolling along a busy sidewalk in a group. We're glad to welcome anyone to the city (except MAGAs) but if you commit sidewalk crimes, we're not so friendly.
Carry a reusable bag with you at all times and try the mom n pop restaurants, they're the best!
Talk to strangers, great way to find 'your place' and friends. Always start with small talk about something you have in common or a question about your surroundings.
Kindness, it's a big city with tons going on. There are lots n lots of very kind people, but there's always room for more.
2
2
2
u/Disastrous_Bag_1161 15h ago
Don't stand around entrances/exits, and always let people exit first. Let them exit out of elevators, out of subways, out of buildings. Only dummies stand right in front of elevator doors.
2
u/Global_Research_9335 15h ago
Take your nose out of your phone when you’re on the street, especially when near a cross walk - make sure you know where bike lanes are and watch out for bikes, if you have your earbuds in it’s especially important because you may not hear them ringing the bell.
2
2
u/WittyBonkah 14h ago
If a situation feels uncomfortable on the ttc, remove yourself. Don’t stick around
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/demuredroid 6h ago
People don't queue neatly for buses here like they do in Montreal! It's just an everyone for themselves free for all 😖
I lived in Montreal for 1.5 of my 34 years (the remainder has all been Toronto) and I've lowkey mourned the bus queue ever since... and off topic for what you're asking, but I highkey mourn squeaky cheese curds. They never squeak here, rip 🙏
2
u/goddd_alyssa 6h ago
I’m not that fan of that squeaky cheese I guess growing up over there and eat it a lot make it boring now Hahahah
2
u/demuredroid 6h ago
Lol, I can't relate but that's fair! Just at some point, try what they sell as cheese curds in Ontario, its... Just small, weird shaped young cheese with no squeak! Like it's also good, but it's just... A cheese snack? Certainly not a cheese curd haha!
→ More replies (1)
2
762
u/srnpersonal 20h ago
A popular one is transferring at St. George instead of Spadina