A map of 26 BAYVIEW NORTH operations.

Compiled by Peter Coulman

March 30, 1974

Coincident with the opening of the YONGE SUBWAY extension to Finch, service on BAYVIEW 11 is split at Sheppard Avenue. Buses operating on 26 BAYVIEW NORTH run from the new Sheppard station via east on Sheppard and north on Bayview to loop at the existing off-street loop at the northwest corner of Bayview and Steeles, returning via the reverse route. Service operates seven days a week, eighteen hours a day.

May 28, 1982

Jenny Isford, a 19-year-old cheerleader of the Toronto Argonauts, was murdered after departing the 26 BAYVIEW NORTH bus late at night by William Henson, who was convicted of murder in 1997. This incident would eventually lead to the launch of the Request Stop Program, which became available to women traveling alone at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Mid-1980s

Tri-colour rollsigns were replaced with all-black versions, buses on 26 BAYVIEW NORTH received the following:

For the majority of this route’s service life, buses operated every 14 minutes during rush hours using two vehicles, every 20 minutes during the midday on weekdays using two vehicles, every 18 minutes on Saturdays using two vehicles and every 35 minutes on Sunday using a single vehicle. Buses operate out of Eglinton garage. In addition, during weekday afternoon rush periods, from September to June, an additional school run started from Steeles Avenue southbound at 3:38 p.m.

Ridership was never very strong on this route, given the low density neighbourhoods it served. As with other services operated by the TTC in the mid 1980s, the route encountered a steady decline of ridership into the 1990s, when the following took place:

July 21, 1991

Route discontinued, replaced with an extension of 11 BAYVIEW, operating from Davisville station to Steeles Avenue via Davisville, Bayview and Sunnybrook Hospital.

Ridership Levels

YEAR  DAILY RIDERSHIP  
1978    3450 (rank 85/117)
1979    3706
1980    3608 (rank 90/118)
1981    3608
1982    3421 (rank 103/123)
1983    3013
1984    3000
1985    2929 (rank 101/137)
1986    2834 (rank 106/138)
1987    2948 (rank 104/137)
1988    2948 (system average subsidy-21 cents; route 26-39 cents)
1989    2533 (system average subsidy-22 cents; route 26-44 cents)
1990    2533

26 Bayview North Image Archive

	An issue of TTC's "Headlights", describing changes to bus services coincident with the extension of the YONGE SUBWAY to Finch on March 30, 1974.
	The front of the TTC's official timetable of 26 BAYVIEW NORTH operations, effective February 7, 1983.
	The inside of an official TTC timetable of 26 BAYVIEW NORTH, effective February 7, 1983.
	Dave Morgan caught this image of TTC GM TDH-5105 "Old Look" bus #1543 at Sheppard station, on its retirement charter on August 30, 1976. This bus is showing a 26 BAYVIEW NORTH rollsign. Photo courtesy the Pete Coulman collection.
	A portion of the March 31, 1974 ride guide showing the 26 BAYVIEW NORTH route.
	A TTC bus rollsign showing off the 26 BAYVIEW NORTH exposure. This rollsign was used up to the mid 1980s. Image courtesy Joseph Chemerys of the Rollsign Gallery.