Winnipeg Transit proposes test of safety barriers for bus drivers

Winnipeg Transit is proposing a pilot project to test safety barriers for bus drivers following the killing of one of its employees.

Driver Irvine Jubal Fraser was stabbed multiple times in February when he tried to remove a sleeping passenger from the bus. It had reached the end of the line late at night and Fraser was about to go off shift.

A city council committee is to consider the recommendation along with other ideas to improve safety, including some form of transit police and encouraging passengers to report bad behaviour on buses.

John Callahan, head of the union local that represents 1,120 Winnipeg bus drivers, on Friday called the recommendations a good start. He said Fraser’s violent death three months ago is still on their minds.

“There is not a day that has gone by where it hasn’t been a hot topic,” said Callahan. “This is long overdue. We aren’t done yet.” Winnipeg Transit said the recommendations are based on talks it held with its employees, the union and city police.

Greg Ewankiw, a Winnipeg Transit spokesman, said the city provides about 170,000 passenger rides a day, or about 48 million a year.

“I think our transit system is safe, but things do happen on transit systems throughout Canada,” he said.

The pilot project will see drivers test three kinds of safety barriers on six buses. If the pilot is successful and union members support the idea, a proposal to install barriers on the bus fleet would go to city council.

Callahan said he is disappointed the city is not proposing bus fare collection in which drivers would not be required to ensure that passengers have paid.

“That is key,” he said. “Most of the altercations and assaults are the result of fare disputes.”