Plan to better shield Winnipeg bus drivers moving ahead

Jeff Keele reports on the city’s search for a manufacturer to build an improved shield to protect bus drivers.

The City of Winnipeg has released an expression of interest to see if someone can make an extension or full shield to completely surround drivers on transit buses.

Shields were installed on all city buses in 2019, following the 2017 stabbing death of a driver.

Right now they cover most of the area around the driver’s seat.

Amalgamated Transit Union President Chris Scott said it protects drivers from getting sucker punched from behind but still leaves them vulnerable.

“Now assailants have become more brazen and they’re now reaching around the shield to get at the operator to the point where they’re even grabbing the steering wheel, which puts everybody on the bus and outside the bus in jeopardy,” said Scott.

Public Works Committee Chair, Coun. Janice Lukes, agrees.

“It’s a different world now, unfortunately, it is a different world now, it’s a crazy world,” said Lukes.

Both Lukes and Scott say the option to replace the current ones with a full shield might make the most sense for both safety and cost.

“I’m hoping it comes back and we get a reasonable price on a full wrap-around (shield). That’s what I’m hoping for,” said Lukes.

“If an extension is going to cost $10,000 to $15,000 and we can find a full enclosure for that price from a provider, then why not put the smart money on the full enclosure?” said Scott.

Lukes said there is around $2.4 million in the budget for the shield upgrades. She said that might not be enough to retrofit all 600 buses but suggested the province could help foot the bill.