Going to the island this weekend? The city may ask you to reschedule

Ah, summer in the city. As the weather gets warmer, a lot of us start making plans to head to the Toronto Islands. With trails, beaches and green space, the islands are like a piece of cottage country for people without cottages an escape from the city within the city.

- MATT ELLIOTT

Except, well, these days city hall seems to be sending a message to those thinking about an island escape: don't come.

Or at least think seriously about whether you really want to come, given that the experience of getting there and back might be terrible.

I don't know how else to take the notice the city posted on the website hosting the ferry schedule before last weekend. "We are anticipating a very busy weekend on Toronto Island. Expect long wait times returning to the city from the island and ferry schedule changes," it reads. "For a less busy experience, consider travelling back to the city before 4 p.m., using a water taxi, or choosing another time to visit Toronto Island."

Another time like... when exactly? A Tuesday morning? Most people have a little thing called work. Next November? Might be a little cold for the beach.

Maybe they mean another time like the 1970s, when the city was more capable, I'm told, of delivering frequent and reliable ferry service? A sensible strategy, but time travel technology eludes us.

The messaging makes for one heck of an example of how public services have been allowed to deteriorate over the last few years. It's also another sad example of a city that often seems reluctant to embrace change.

Let's start with the public service problem.