Transit drivers fear ‘huge increase’ in assaults

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This article was published 19/10/2023 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After being hit, threatened and spat at on the job, a Winnipeg Transit driver says violence against bus operators has become so shockingly common it sparks fear amongst loved ones.

“It doesn’t just affect you, it affects your family, too. Definitely, there’s been a huge increase in assaults,” said the driver, who asked to remain anonymous.

“Things have gotten completely out of hand on the street.”

Another city bus driver, who also asked not to be named, said the rate of violence appears to have “exploded” since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every passenger that gets on my bus, I wonder (if they are) carrying something. It’s getting to a point where I don’t even want to don the uniform because it feels like a target.”

There were 104 reported assaults against bus drivers last year, according to Winnipeg Transit. It marks the highest number since 2000, the earliest year for which city statistics are available.

Ninety-one assaults against drivers have been reported in 2023, as of Oct. 13.

While the pandemic forced public transit ridership to plummet and has skewed bus data, there were 49 such incidents in 2018.

In 2019, there were 66 reports; 74 in 2020; and 61 in 2021.

Transit notes its data covers a wide range of assaults against operators in uniform both on and off the bus, which are based on the criminal code.

This includes actual or attempted physical force or threats, use of a weapon to cause bodily harm or a threat to do so, and aggravated assault by wounding, maiming, disfiguring or endangering life.

According to the union that represents drivers, the numbers surge higher when additional security threats are included.

There were 208 Transit security incidents so far this year, up from 130 recorded throughout 2022, based on Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 data.

The security incidents include all types of assault, attempted assault and verbal threats, as well as steering wheel grabs, shield punches, spitting, attempted robbery, theft, property damage, open liquor, drinks being poured on drivers and use of bear repellent spray.

The union fears the number of safety hazards will continue to climb in the coming weeks, since ridership tends to rise in winter.

“There’s the potential as the cold weather draws near for it to increase to the point that it’s doubling (last year’s incidents),” said Chris Scott, ATU 1505 president.

Recent incidents include a driver being followed off a bus and punched, riders hurling racial slurs and passengers throwing objects or spitting at driver safety shields, he added.

“We have many members that are off (work on leave) who just say, ‘I don’t know if I can ever come back and drive a bus again. I’m scared to come back to work.’”

Scott said the union now counts more types of safety incidents than in the past to better reflect the scope of the issue.

There appears to be a “shaky” optimism among drivers that plans to hire 24 new community safety officers to patrol buses could improve the situation soon, he said.

While Mayor Scott Gillingham had previously hoped to launch the community safety team before the end of this year, it’s now expected to happen “as early as possible in the new year,” Transit spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said in an email.

“Winnipeg Transit is committed to providing a safe transit service in Winnipeg, and a safe work environment for all our employees.”

The statement noted Transit implemented several new safety initiatives in recent years, which included extending driver training, adding partial driver safety shields and video surveillance, hiring more inspectors, and programming digital signs to share exterior “Emergency Call 911” messages, when needed.

A request to interview a Winnipeg Transit official was not granted.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the city’s public works committee, said an increase in bus driver assaults is not unique to Winnipeg but matches a disturbing trend across North America.

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“It’s disappointing but it’s reflective of society. I’m really glad to see that we’ve got our community safety team (coming). I think it will help physically make a difference, but also perception-wise,” said Lukes.

The councillor said post-pandemic stress, addictions, poverty and homelessness all contribute to the increased violence.

She noted Winnipeg Transit is also testing expanded driver safety shields, which could be added in the future.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.