Winnipeg Transit’s crackdown on fare evasion has denied nearly 5,000 rides in just over two months, according to new figures released Wednesday that the city says shows progress on curbing revenue loss and safety concerns.
Since expanded enforcement began in September, transit inspectors have completed more than 6,800 fare checks while community safety officers have logged more than 1,400 hours on buses and at transit stops.
The city says those efforts have resulted in 4,944 denied rides, another 2,670 people walking away before being prompted to pay, 931 warnings and 359 riders paying after being asked.
In a city that has an estimated 92,000+ citizens living in poverty – and regularly sees temperatures ranging from +35C to -35C – it is an absolute embarrassment that city hall chooses to deny people transportation instead of taxing the rich to pay for that service.
Unless you are rich enough to buy Grey Cup tickets, then it’s free rides for all! Make it make sense.
What happened was that for years there was a no fare enforcement policy. It was designed specifically to help low-income people.
Unfortunately what happened was a cadre of extremely volatile characters started to “take over”. It got to the point where you literally could not ride a bus without somebody having a meth freak out and threatening others, etc. I’m not exaggerating, every single bus ride.
I don’t think we’re much better off now, but there’s a major problem that needs solving, and transit policy isn’t involved.
edit: Think about it before you snap downvote. As a resident of Winnipeg I’m trying to help explain the situation. Many people who’re incredibly intoxicated were creating issues that put riders and drivers at risk. It was turning into the kind of thing where entire busses had to stop and unload so police could intervene. People were getting robbed, drivers getting attacked, sexual assaults and bodily fluids. Anybody that lives here knows that it is the primarily unhoused population suffering addiction. I’m very compassionate, I choose to work in social services as a recovery mentor and I love addicts. But the situation has reached a breaking point. When people are standing outside and waiting for a bus that doesn’t come due to a preventable incident, it harms too many people trying to go about their day or go to work or appointments. It was a good idea to stop making drivers enforce fee collection, but it turned into this.
Especially considering that if those transit trips replace car trips, even having the fare be free is a net financial positive in the reduction of road maintenance, traffic enforcement, lane widening, and emergency services costs.