‘Worried and scared’: Riders feeling unsafe on Winnipeg buses after alleged assault on child

Transit union leaders say drastic action is needed to improve safety on what they are calling a crumbling transit system.

This comes after a violent incident on a Winnipeg bus where two people – including a 10-year-old child – were allegedly assaulted and punched in the head numerous times.

BACKGROUND: Two charged after 10-year-old and father were allegedly assaulted on Winnipeg bus

“My members and the riding public need to see action put in place that produces a safer transit system,” said Chris Scott, the president of Winnipeg’s Amalgamated Transit Union 1505.

“The primary issue is that it’s unsafe.”

Scott says the Thursday night incident is just one of many instances of passenger-on-passenger violence and passenger-on-worker violence.

Police say two people were charged after officers responded to a report of an assault on a bus involving a man and his 10-year-old son.

The alleged incident began when a man and a woman, unknown to the alleged victims, started swearing at them.

The situation escalated to the point where the two victims were reportedly hit in the head numerous times. The two suspects are said to have fled the bus, with the man returning briefly to slap the father before leaving.

Police stopped the bus on Main Street near James Avenue – near city hall. Both the child and his father were taken to hospital in stable condition.

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The Winnipeg Police Service says the two accused were standing nearby and were taken into custody.

A 31-year-old man from Winnipeg was charged with two counts of assault, failing to comply with an undertaking, and for having two outstanding warrants for breaking and entering.

The woman, a 37-year-old from Winnipeg, was charged with assault.

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130 assaults on transit workers in 2022

Scott says safety issues are the main thing driving people away from the bus, with 2022 seeing 130 assaults on transit workers.

There have been eight assaults reported this year.

“The perspective of my members and the public is the department and the service is crumbling,” said the ATU president.

Scott says there needs to be a multi-tier approach to the issue. He believes a larger security presence – or dedicated police presence – on buses may be a needed step.

“If we can address these safety issues it will assist in the department in bringing back ridership and improving revenue so they’re not talking about losses every year,” he said.

He says all levels of government need to invest in larger issues behind the violence like mental health and addictions.

Scott says he requested a meeting with the city’s director of transit to discuss solutions but says he’s yet to get a response.

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‘People are quite terrified’ 

Rider Jason Petrie says people are scared.

“People are always intoxicated. There’s a drug problem in the city. It’s just the way she goes. It’s a fact of life,” said Petrie.

“Quite a few people are quite terrified to get on transit, especially older people.”

Amanda Zhang, whose husband drives a bus in the city, says she regularly feels unsafe on the bus.

“Some people, their behaviour make me worried and scared, especially if I’m with my boy,” said the Winnipeg mom.

Zhang also expressed worry for her husband, saying more needs to be done to support transit workers by their employer – the City of Winnipeg – and the province.

She says people should feel comfortable on the bus, and believes those in charge need to take action.

“It’s public transportation, it’s for everyone,” said Zhang. “If a mother doesn’t feel safe on the bus, it’s not good.

“People like us, we use the bus every day and we want to feel safe.”