A recent study out of the University of Toronto has found that nearly three-quarters of TTC riders have reservations about hopping on a bus, subway or streetcar amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We don’t know if that will hold true because the same survey respondents also mostly said they can’t envision themselves avoiding TTC for 18 months,” said Matthew Palm, a postdoctoral fellow and adjunct lecturer at the U of T. “We know there’s been a huge drop-off of riders and we know those riders are apprehensive of coming back.” Of the more than 2,700 people polled, 87 per cent of respondents say they will not return to the service until they’re vaccinated and a COVID-19 vaccine is made available.