Bus ridership rises to pre-pandemic heights By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 6:31 PM CDT Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023

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This article was published 24/10/2023 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The demand for bus service has jumped to its highest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid Winnipeg Transit driver shortages and route cancellations.

Since the beginning of August, the average number of weekday bus boardings has been about 91 per cent of ridership levels during the same period of 2019, according to Transit. It marks the highest point since the novel coronavirus sent usage plummeting in 2020.

Meanwhile, Transit is operating with a five per cent service reduction, due to a driver shortage, as well as an increase in the number and length of operator absences.

Transit officials warned last month routes could face an increased number of sudden disruptions. While it schedules spare drivers, some buses have routes cancelled for a short time when the number of drivers who call in absent exceeds the number available to fill in for them.

According to Transit, that happened to 49 individual buses over nine days between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20, up from eight buses over two days during the same period of 2022.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of city council’s public works committee, said increased absences and a widespread labour shortage are combining to create a “perfect storm” that makes it tough meet rider demand.

“It’s a compounding nightmare… (Drivers) can go to any city and get a job… People want to take the bus, (but) we can’t find bus drivers,” said Lukes.

A few riders waiting at bus stops near city hall Tuesday said they have noticed routes being particularly busy, while some coped with missed pickups, as well.

“It’s a compounding nightmare… (Drivers) can go to any city and get a job… People want to take the bus, (but) we can’t find bus drivers”–Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of city council’s public works committee

“I think it’s quite busy… Sometimes, I get in late for my school (and) for work also,” said Jagmeet Kaur.

Kaur noted she recently waited more than 20 minutes past the scheduled pickup time for a bus. “I feel that there should be more buses because (I am) a student and cannot afford a car.”

Husan Singh said he’s often unable to find a seat on packed buses and has also seen some pickup times appear to be missed.

However, another passenger stressed he’s very pleased with the service.

“Sometimes, it’s pretty full, but it’s good, it’s fast, it’s comfortable,” said Alex Ivanov.

Winnipeg Transit director Greg Ewankiw said the service strives to avoid “did not operate” cancellations (its term for when absences exceed staff available to fill in), though he initially expected an even higher number this fall due to the persistent staff shortage.

“I would say that it’s better than what I was expecting… I think (that’s) really due to the efforts of our timekeepers and our bus operators, who have done enough overtime to keep us out of the higher numbers of DNO buses,” he said.

Ewankiw stressed the portion of lost daily service hours due to “did not operate” buses ranged from just .04 per cent to .84 per cent from Sept. 1 to Oct. 20.

DNOs were also intermittent and limited to rush-hour periods, according to Transit.

Ewankiw said other service data also appears comparable to past years. “Our passing-up reports (when buses are too full to pickup waiting riders) are still less than what we would have seen in 2019, so we’re managing.”

For several months, Transit has noted labour shortages are making it much tougher to hire new drivers, raising the risk of sudden disruptions.

The City of Winnipeg has 897 active bus drivers now, falling about 95 short to operate a full fall schedule, spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said in an emailed statement.

Winnipeg Transit hired 118 drivers this year so far, but about 100 also quit or retired, making it difficult to chip away at the shortage, Ewankiw said.

He suspects concerns about split-shift schedules and safety and the need to work with the public at all times can prevent some potential candidates from applying.

“Being a bus operator, although it’s a rewarding job, it can be a difficult job,” said Ewankiw.

At this point, it’s not clear when full transit service could finally return to pre-pandemic levels, he added.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga