21 Brimley

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 Hey pals! Today's route is the 21 Brimley. This route operates with three branches:

  • 21A Brimley: Kennedy Stn to Scarborough Centre
  • 21B Brimley: Scarborough Centre to Steeles
  • 21C Brimley: Kennedy Stn to Steeles via Scarborough Centre
The 21 Brimley used to be two routes, and this is evidence in current scheduling for the route.

The Route

The 21 Brimley bus leaves Kennedy, like other routes, via the North Service Road. This stretch is shared by the 21A and 21C branches. Buses travel east on Eglinton, passing some commercial areas before turning north onto Brimley. The entirety of Brimley until Ellesmere is single-family homes, save Thomson Memorial Park, located north of Lawrence. At Ellesmere, there are high-density towers to the east, but these are within walking distance to Scarborough Centre Station, so most people just walk to the RT. 

North of Scarborough Centre is shared by the 21B and 21C branches. Big box commercial and industrial flanks both sides for the short stretch before crossing the 401. Like the route south of Scarborough Centre, Brimley is entirely single-family homes. There is some industry on the east side north of Sheppard, but, due to the East Highland Creek, it is inaccessible from Brimley.

Sights to See
  • Knob Hill Park
  • Thomson Memorial Park
  • the Meadoway
  • Scarborough Museum
  • Birkdale Ravine and Trail
  • Scarborough Town Centre
  • Scarborough Civic Centre
  • East Highland Creek Trail
  • Brimley Woods
  • Finch Hydro Corridor Trail 
Subway Connections
  • Kennedy
  • Scarborough Centre
Commuter Rail Connections
  • Kennedy
Frequency and Ridership

Service operates on the 21A and 21B during weekday daytimes. This split is to compensate for the fact that, generally speaking, there is higher demand north of Scarborough Centre than south of it. This was more apparent in older schedules that currently, to be honest. During morning peak, 21A buses operate every 11' while 21B buses operate every 10'30. During the midday, 21A service is every 26', whereas 21B service is every 17'. Afternoon peak service on the 21A is every 11'30, with 21B service every 12'.

During evenings and on weekends, the 21C operates exclusively, as demand on either side of Scarborough Centre is similar. Early evening service is every 13'30, and weekend service is every 30'. Saturday service ranges from every 15' to every 30', with Sunday service ranging from every 18' to every 30'.

The ridership statistics due not separate the 21A and 21B branches. Weekday ridership is 9,200, Saturday ridership is 5,900, and Sunday ridership is 5,000. Note that during weekday peak, the 903 operates the same route as the 21A, stopping only at Lawrence. This may take some ridership away from the 21, but the number is definitely less than 500.

Thoughts

Despite the route being entirely low-density, ridership is actually pretty good for the most part. Nevertheless, I have a few comments about the route.

Until 1999, service north of Brimley was covered by the 128 Brimley North route, when all service was rebranded as the 21 Brimley. I have no idea why this was necessary. I think keeping the 128 numbering would make wayfinding easier at Scarborough Centre (the 21 is the only route to travel both directions from the station). 

The schedule to me is insane. I get that demand north of Scarborough Centre is higher, but 26' service south of the station during the midday is way too wide for a mainline service, especially when Saturday service gets as frequent as every 15'. 20' to me would be the acceptable maximum. In addition, the headway difference from early evening to late evening on weekdays is quite the jump: 13'30 to 30'. I guess if ridership demands that, what can be done...

There was a period when the 128 ran that service travelled north of Steeles to 14th Avenue, contracted out by Markham Transit (one of the predecessors to YRT). It was cut in 1993. I'm kind of surprised that YRT has not requested service north of Steeles since. Although Brimley doesn't reach Highway 7, which limits ridership and routing opportunities, there is a large gap in north-south service between Kennedy and McCowan. Middlefield also lacks service and ends at 14th. No wonder no one takes YRT...

Future

This route will have a new connection to Line 5 at Kennedy when that line opens in 2021. 

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