‘No real options for getting home safely’: Concerns raised as changes coming to chartered transit buses for schools

Sweeping changes coming to Winnipeg Transit’s network also include ending chartered bus service for schools. Michelle Gerwing explains.

Sweeping changes are coming to Winnipeg’s transit system this summer as the city switches to a new model.

Along with the mass rerouting of buses in June, there will no longer be chartered city buses coming to take kids home from school.

The city said the new network would mean those chartered buses aren’t needed, but one parent said they are concerned about their daughter taking public transit to school next year.

Ben Poggemiller has two daughters and he is wondering if a city bus is safe enough for his 11-year-old to be taking next school year.

“They’re either not supposed to be home alone, or barely be able to be left home alone. And now they’re expected to just take the regular city transit in some dangerous areas of the city, with no real options for getting home safely,” he said.

Before spring break, he learned the Seven Oaks School Division was going to change from K to 8 busing to K to 6 for next year.

This, on top of the city’s decision to remove chartered buses across the city.

“This is what raised concerns. There were two options, now there’s none.”

The network overhaul will be taking place on June 29.

“There will be some growing pains and there will probably be a couple changes right up front,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty. “Trying to bring back the school charter service, as it was, is probably going to be very difficult and not possible.”

A Winnipeg Transit spokesperson told CTV News Winnipeg there are 28 charters being cut. They described the outgoing service as confusing and not consistent, as there are different rules for different charters.

“The upcoming Primary Transit Network and its feeder routes is designed to provide service to schools without need for supplementary charters,” the spokesperson said.

Poggemiller doesn’t buy it.

“Yes, there will be buses going by some of these places, but it doesn’t change the fact that some of these students are having to transfer alone,” said Poggemiller.

The union that represents transit drivers, ATU-1505, doesn’t buy it either.

“I would have concerns,” said Chris Scott, the president of ATU-1505. “My son is 20, and I worry about him riding the bus, but he chooses not to have a licence. So the younger the child, the greater the concern is.”

Security incidents on buses were down last year, going from 257 in 2023 to 220 in 2024, according to data from Winnipeg Transit shared with ATU-1505. So far in 2025 there have been 69 incidents.

However, Scott said while numbers have gone down, the severity of those incidents has gone up.

Browaty said when he learned of the gap for younger kids, he wanted to look into keeping charter service for junior high students.

“Grade 7, Grade 8, when you’re 10, 11 years old, I do see the problem and we do need to address it,” said Browaty.

Since then, Seven Oaks School Division found $600,000 in its budget to keep the K to 8 busing, a cost that will be passed onto parents.

Poggemiller said he will pay for that, no problem.

“Just because my situation is fine doesn’t mean I’m satisfied that they’ve thought this through for kids all over the city.”

Browaty said transit will have educators come to schools to help students navigate the new system and some will also have access to the new on-demand service that is coming to 12 areas of the city.