How to get your ass home

By Matthew Braga

A commuter’s life is not easy. You’re awake at least an hour before anybody else. Public transit becomes your second bed. Don’t even try and count the number of hours you lose commuting each day. It will only depress you further.

For a large number of Ryerson students, commuting is the norm and the only way with which to travel to school.

But for all it’s shortcomings, there is one perk — you get to live at home and save a ridiculous amount of money doing it.

That being said, there comes a point each day where, yes, you must go home. And that can be a challenge. Missed busses, delayed trains, and even simple forgetfulness can ruin that ritualistic commute home. But even when disaster strikes, we’ve got a few suggestions for keeping your cool and finding a way home.

Know your transit schedule.

This is important, especially if you’re drunk and out on the town. Subway service ends at 1:20 a.m. each morning, as do many other busses and streetcars in the city.

24-hour routes are the exception, with popular streets like Yonge, Bathurst, and Queen offering non-stop service. Just remember, wait times can be lengthy early morning, so try to plan departures in advance.

GO Transit service out of the city follows a similar schedule. All trains and busses cease service shortly after 1 a.m., and sometimes earlier on weekends or holidays, depending on the route.

Know where to sleep.

There will be times when you miss your bus. There will be others when you pass out drunk and can’t make your way home.

Having a friend who lives nearby — or better, in residence — is indispensable. Not only can a friend’s room be great in a pinch, but if you plan ahead, you might even have some decent sleeping arrangements.

Know where to stay.

Just because everyone’s gone home doesn’t mean the school closes too. There are more than enough places to take refuge across campus, assuming you have access.

Many programs have lounges or buildings that can be accessed with your OneCard after hours, though we can’t guarantee sleeping arrangements will be ideal.

Commuting can be tough. But it isn’t impossible. You can still be social and enjoy the university lifestyle while living from home — assuming you know how to get back there when the day is done. And if all else fails, you still have the quad.