TTC's annual free New Year's Eve rides cancelled this year

The Toronto Transit Commission’s annual free New Year’s Eve rides are cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In discussion with our sponsors and given current gathering restrictions, we did not feel it was a responsible or appropriate thing to promote,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told Daily Hive in a statement on Wednesday.

He added on social media that “partying is not an appropriate thing to encourage. We hope everyone safely celebrates the end of 2020 by NOT gathering! Regular service will run.”

The #TTC won’t offer free New Year’s Eve service. In discussion with our great sponsors, @CorbySW, and given current restrictions, partying is not an appropriate thing to encourage.
We hope everyone safely celebrates the end of 2020 by NOT gathering! Regular service will run. pic.twitter.com/2VFJA8x0MT

— TTCStuart 🚈🗣️ (@TTCStuart) December 9, 2020

For seven years in a row, Corby Spirit and Wine partnered with the TTC to host its annual free rides initiative on New Year’s Eve, to promote safety on the roads.

Toronto and Peel Region entered their second lockdown on November 23 with it possibly ending on December 21, depending on the rate of cases.

From December 1 to December 7 Toronto’s top doctor Eileen de Villa said over 4,100 cases and 68 deaths were reported in the city.

“The case counts are so high that I can only call this a very, very serious situation. There’s no way to argue otherwise. COVID-19 is spreading aggressively in Toronto,” she said on Monday during a press conference.

She emphasized that holidays, celebrations and festivities must be altered this year noting  that if people congregate from December 24 to New Years Day, it could “easily amplify” the number of infections.

De Villa repeated that the safest way to spend the holiday is with one household, and if someone lives alone, they can join one other family.