**Ford Calls Toronto’s Traffic a ‘Serious Problem’ After NHL Team Walks to Game**
Toronto’s worsening traffic congestion has caught the attention of Ontario Premier Doug Ford after an unusual incident involving the NHL’s Florida Panthers. On their way to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers were forced to abandon their team bus due to gridlocked downtown traffic and walk the remaining distance to Scotiabank Arena. Ford has since labeled Toronto’s traffic woes a “serious problem” and called for immediate action to address the issue.
### **The Incident: NHL Team on Foot**
The incident occurred during rush hour when the Florida Panthers’ team bus was stuck in heavy congestion near the arena. Realizing they were at risk of arriving late, players and staff decided to exit the bus and walk to the venue. Clad in their suits and carrying their equipment, the players made their way through busy city sidewalks, turning heads and sparking discussions about the state of Toronto’s traffic infrastructure.
“It’s not something you see every day,” said one passerby who witnessed the scene. “Professional athletes walking to their own game because traffic is that bad—it really says something about how bad things have gotten.”
### **Ford’s Reaction**
Premier Ford wasted no time in commenting on the situation, using it as a platform to highlight Toronto’s broader traffic challenges. “This is a serious problem,” Ford said during a press conference. “If an NHL team can’t get to their game on time because of gridlock, imagine what regular people go through every single day trying to get to work or school. It’s unacceptable.”
Ford expressed frustration over what he called a lack of effective traffic management and long-term planning in Toronto. He pointed to the need for improved public transportation, better road infrastructure, and more efficient traffic flow systems as key solutions.
### **Toronto’s Traffic Challenges**
Toronto consistently ranks as one of the most congested cities in North America. A recent report found that commuters in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) spend an average of 118 hours a year stuck in traffic, costing the city billions of dollars in lost productivity. Downtown Toronto is particularly notorious for its gridlock, with narrow streets, construction zones, and increasing vehicle usage compounding the problem.
Critics argue that years of underinvestment in public transit and urban planning have left the city ill-equipped to handle its growing population, now exceeding three million residents.
### **Calls for Action**
Ford suggested that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for city officials. “We need to stop talking and start building,” he said, reiterating his government’s commitment to expanding transit options, including the Ontario Line subway project and other infrastructure initiatives.
However, some urban planners and city officials argue that simply building more roads and transit lines isn’t enough. They call for a holistic approach that includes congestion pricing, better cycling infrastructure, and incentives for using public transit.
### **Public Reaction**
The story of the Panthers’ walk quickly went viral on social media, with many Torontonians sharing their own frustrations with the city’s traffic. Some criticized Ford for politicizing the incident, while others saw it as an opportunity to bring much-needed attention to a long-standing issue.
“It’s crazy that it took an NHL team walking to their game for people to start talking about this,” said one Twitter user. “We’ve been dealing with this for years.”
### **Looking Ahead**
As Toronto continues to grapple with rapid urbanization, addressing its traffic congestion will require coordinated efforts between provincial and municipal governments. While Ford’s remarks have reignited the conversation, it remains to be seen whether the incident involving the Florida Panthers will lead to tangible changes or remain another anecdote in Toronto’s long history of traffic woes.
For now, the image of NHL players strolling to their game may serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to tackle Toronto’s gridlock problem head-on.
