Commuters say route redesign means longer walks, more transfers, and tougher winters
By: Maryrose Villena
Many Winnippegers stare down the road before retreating back to their phones to check where their bus is.
The new spine-feeder system will have stops coming from outside the city, which will carry people toward the main bus routes – called ‘spine’ – allowing them to transfer, according to the City of Winnipeg’s website. The system was said to be quicker, simpler, and reliable due to fewer stops. The change took effect on June 29.
“I find it irritating,” said William (BJ) Canard, who is blind.
Canard, 49, said he only needed to take one bus to go to school, but now it takes him two to three.
The new straighter routes make it easier to get to destinations and are more efficient, according to the city’s website.
He is worried about the upcoming winter because he might slip on ice as he is transferring from one bus to another, he told The Projector.
“I hate it, but I’m getting used to it,” said Mike Okrainec, 57.
He has been taking the bus since he was six-years-old. Before the routes changed, he took one bus to get to work, now he transfers to another bus.
Meanwhile, Lydia Zhou used to have a bus stop in front of her house.
The 20-year-old said she has to wake up earlier than her usual time from last semester so she can catch a ride at the nearest stop, which is a 15-minute walk from her place.
“There are so many people on the bus now,” said Zhou.
She said it’s often difficult to find a seat on the bus to RRC Polytech’s Exchange District Campus.
Analee Santiago waits outside for the D16, one out of two buses she needs to take to go home.
Santiago, an employee at RRC Polytech, said sometimes buses vanish mid-route on the Winnipeg Bus Live app which means she has to wait longer for the next bus to arrive after a long day at work.
The stops were reduced to 3,500 – previously 5,200 stops.
“It could be better,” said Benjamin Jared, 25, a scaffolder at the North End.
Jared said his commute takes longer. He relies on transit to get to and from work, and is bracing himself when the weather gets cold because his previous bus stop was only one minute away, but is now a 15-minute walk away and a bus transfer.
“It’ll probably be pretty cold,” Jared adds.
Winnipeg is a car-centric city and most people rely on transit as their main transportation, according to city’s 2050 masterplan.
“The only good thing about it is that it’s more frequent, but other than that I hate it,” says Nolan Mcfarlane, 17.
Nolan was able to get to school in 30 minutes before the transit redesign.
He did find a solution however, by driving to a parking spot near the transfer so he only has to ride one bus to school, he told The Projector.
Nolan said he plans to drive to school when winter rolls in.
