02-07-2025
Your thoughts on Winnipeg's new transit network: Free Press readers share their good and bad experiences, suggestions for improvement
Winnipeg Transit riders have flooded our online feedback form with their experiences using the new network. Here's a selection of what we heard. Comments have been edited for length, clarity and to remove identifying personal information.
Beefs and bouquets for the new transit network came from readers across the city.
Effie, St. Boniface: I take buses everywhere, and I understand the confusion and frustration of some who utilize transit; however, my experience is a pleasant one so far. In the couple of minutes it took me to walk to the bus stop, which is less than a block away from my home, two buses passed me.
The improved frequency and faster arrival times feel like relief. My only worry is to see how it will keep up when I am in need of a less direct route, or how the new system will run once winter hits and inclement weather causes traffic issues.
Pat, Riverbend: My husband and I decided to try the #31 bus to The Forks. It was a great experience. We have never taken a bus to The Forks with the old routes (too convoluted a trip).
We are amazed that we can take the #31 bus to connect to the FX2, which would take us all the way to St. Vital Centre. There are destinations that might be more difficult for us by bus, but our first experience was very positive.
Khushpreet, The Maples: My experience with the new network is very good. I am happy as now only one bus will go to my work in less time as compared to the old system. Previously I had to take two buses and it took more time. Moreover, my work is on weekends; in the old network, no bus ran on weekends to my work but now there is one. Overall, I am happy with new network.
Barbara, Burrows Central: I took the #28 southbound to downtown this morning at 6:30 a.m.. I then transferred to a bus on Portage Avenue to go to the Radisson Starbucks for my morning brew — route was quicker than the old #15! And with a new view — always good for my old brain cells!
I called 311 to plan my unique morning, which required me to go to Red River Polytechnic's Notre Dame campus. The lovely 311 operator, gave me prompt and accurate information on how to get there from downtown. I got to the campus with time to spare. The route back allowed me to go to Kildonan Place mall in one swell swoop! Amazing!
Please tell (manager of Winnipeg Transit service development) Bjorn Radstrom I am impressed! As a daily transit user, I look forward to seeing more of this progress!
Biya, Downtown: I used my very first bus by new network. I went to my work at airport. The new network is faster and felt easy for me.
Jay, Downtown: I was going from the airport to downtown. I was surprised at how often the buses came: I just missed the first one, but the next came in about 10 minutes. Before the change, the buses could take the better part of an hour.
I wish there were a primary line between the airport and Polo Park, since the #224 Sherwin-Valour doesn't run there on evenings or weekends and the airport is not in an on-request zone.
Rob, Westwood: I travelled the first Blue express out of Unicity. Way better and more efficient/quicker. Other riders should know their route or have transit map available. The only issue was: I was the only one on a 60-foot bus past Polo Park. But hey, it was early Sunday morning. Thanks for the new system
Charlene, Wolseley: I caught the D11 at on Maryland and got off at Corydon as I previously would on the #29, and then caught the D11 up to Sargent on the way back and got off at the same stop. Fairly straightforward.
Marcie, Polo Park: I work an evening shift till 11 p.m., now this new system is going to get me home almost twice as late as the old system. The bus doesn't stop at the stops closes to my house anymore — they are still active stops, but the bus I need to take doesn't stop there, so I have to walk twice as far to get home.
Double the walking time in –40, trudging through the snow and freezing cold late at night and getting home much later, how is that more efficient? Maybe more efficient for places that don't get the winters that we do.
Helen, Crestview: The bus stop closest to my home is being eliminated. I have to walk more than twice the distance to go to Unicity or Grace Hospital. I am old and have health issues making walking a problem.
Tim, Niakwa Park: Under the old system it took me 40 minutes on one bus to get to work: 32 minutes on the bus, eight minutes walk time and no wait time). New system: 50 mins total with 21 mins on two buses, 23 minutes of walking time and six minutes of wait time. I expect residents in my neighborhood will not like this decreased level of service.
Muriel, Riverbend: I am a senior who lives near Chief Pegius Trail on Main Street. It is not an out-of-the-way location. I have medical appointments at the Winnipeg Clinic, located downtown on St. Mary Avenue. For many years, I have been able to catch one bus on Main Street that has taken me right opposite the Winnipeg Clinic in 20 to 25 minutes.
I have an appointment later this week at the Winnipeg Clinic and therefore was using the Navigo app to plan my trip to the Winnipeg Clinic. What a shock! It will now take me anywhere from 45 to 55 minutes and as many as three buses to reach my destination, with walking and waiting in between.
Getting on and off buses isn't easy for seniors with mobility issues. Some transfers involve waiting in some sketchy areas of the city. The mayor has said he doesn't want to make this new transit schedule worse for anyone. Well, as I have described here, I would like to know how this new system is better for me.
Spish, Corydon: I thought these new buses were supposed to come closer together? Mine came 30 minutes apart and the one I chose to take this morning was late. I ended up being 15 minutes late to work this morning.
And for some reason I can't take the same route back home. I have to take two buses now. It's faster for me to walk to work than it is to take the bus.
Jimmy, Island Lakes: It takes the same amount of time for me to get to and from work as before, but now I have to take two buses instead of one — and I have to wait for my second bus in a part of town I would rather avoid. I don't see this as a positive.
Bradley, Polo Park: I have been using transit, either daily or weekly, for decades, going from the Polo Park area to downtown, the University of Winnipeg or Exchange District or one of the Red River Polytechnic campuses.
I am one of those whose commute is now longer. I could always get one bus to where I needed to go… now, I have to get off, walk a block, cross major intersections, and transfer to a new bus.
Plus, my new stop downtown has no shelter or even a wind break, and it is right next to Portage and Main, the windiest spot in Winnipeg! Even today in the summer, the breeze was whipping by. What will it be like in winter at –30 with a windchill, having to wait 10 minutes for a transfer with no shelter?! I can tell, it will be horrible.
While I understand that for many this may improve their commute, for me, it has made it longer, more work and less safe.
Lee, Elmwood: My commute used to only take 25-30 minutes by bus, but the routes themselves now appear to average about 45 minutes and are contingent on at least one transfer.
I only take the bus to go to and from work but as this is significantly lengthening my time I will be cycling throughout the summer as it only takes me 25 minutes.
In winter I will likely carpool instead of busing; as a parent of a young child it's too much extra time from the evenings to be spending waiting for buses. I do not plan on spending nearly two hours on a bus each day, nearly doubling my commute time.
Tuva, Windsor Park: Do not get stuck downtown after 11 p.m. I was trying to bus home from a friend's place and realized that there are no buses running at all to take me to my part of town. The only route i could find involved 57 minutes of walking. Ended up stranded downtown last night. Most of the buses used to run so much later.
Adair, Wolseley: I used to be able to get to the University of Manitoba from Wolseley on one bus, a super express (#36). In the mornings it ran every 10 minutes. If I missed it, there were multiple other options with a transfer that came regularly — I'd just jump on the #29 or #635 to a rapid transit station and catch a blue line from there.
Now? No direct route to the university. Bus only runs every 30 minutes. Not express. With my transfer this has added an extra 20+ minutes to my commute. I had to walk 2,000 steps before I was on my bus to my final destination. Time between transfers also wasn't aligned and I missed my transfer as well.
I'm really concerned how this will be once fall starts and traffic to the university on transit increases.
Marianne, Windsor Park: I work evenings, and now I can't take a bus home at my stop in Norwood that would have been the #19. The new bus is finished at 11:30 p.m. when I'm done work, so I end up in St. Vital waiting there and who knows what can happen with all the crime. I will not get back home to Windsor Park until 1 a.m. That's not good in the winter; not happy at all.
Jashanpreet, The Maples: I used to take any bus #33, #34, #35 or #36 from The Maples and it took me only 25 minutes to reach to reach my work in the Pacific Industrial Park area.
But now I take two connecting buses, early at 7 a.m., and then have to wait 14 minutes for F5 to reach the Logan and McPhillips bus stop and 15 minutes walking from the bus stop to my workplace. It takes almost an hour now. It's not convenient.
Harkanwal, The Maples: I could reach my destination within 20 minutes using the old bus system. Now, with the new system, I have to take two buses and wait around 15 minutes between them, which makes the trip longer and more difficult.
In the evenings, the F5 buses are extremely crowded, often with no seats available, which makes commuting even more uncomfortable. Additionally, if I miss one bus, I have to wait up to 30 minutes for the next one. With the upcoming winter, this new system is simply not convenient at all.
Giday, West Broadway: I had to walk to work on Monday. Not sure how I will survive in the winter. I used to take #17 to work, or take #20 or #10, then catch #33 at The Bay. Now they're all gone, without any replacement to those previous lines.
Ron, Meadowood: I previously used the #55 bus to go from my residence to Canada Life Centre for Jets hockey games during the long, cold winter months. Short walk from my residence to a bus shelter, one-bus service to Canada Life Centre, same route coming home. Save on parking, take a car off the road and support transit ridership.
Well, thank you to city planners, all that is gone, replaced by a nice, cold 15-to 20-minute walk to St. Anne's Road to catch a bus and then another long walk to go home. They replaced the #55 with the #552 Aldgate-Meadowood: limited hours of service, no Saturday or Sunday service. You want to encourage ridership on transit, I think not!
Graeson, West Kildonan: I used transit to get to work. What used to be a 20-minute bus ride has turned into an hour-long fiasco of transfers. The wait times are shorter, yes, but it shouldn't take me an hour to get from northern McPhillips Street back to my area.
Martin, Downtown: I used the new network on Monday. I used to walk three minutes to bus stop on Portage Avenue, then catch bus #55 to St. Vital for work. Now I have to walk 10 minutes and take two buses to get to the same destination. My commute has increased in time and now I have to change buses.
I hear everyone is unhappy. Everyone has to walk longer and take at least two buses to get to their destinations. Why would anyone think this new network is better?
JD, Chalmers neighbourhood: I used to take bus #43 right in front of my office from Provencher Avenue to Ottawa Avenue. Now I have to walk for five minutes to take FX4, which drops me off (eight blocks away) at Chalmers Avenue and walk for 18 minutes to get home.
This is horrible. I hate the new bus system. What happens in winter? Are people expected to walk 18 minutes in the brutal cold? This was not thought out properly at all.
Halie, Polson: I used the network on June 29. I was going to my place of work. This system isn't as good. I have to take two buses just to get to work.
The second one I need to get is the #28 Arlington-Stafford and one area is under construction so it doesn't go in that area yet. Which is stupid to continue with the bus changes when there is still construction going on.
Ako, Pembina Strip: I used to take bus #95 from Fort Rouge station to Riverview Health Centre, which is no longer available. Now I have to take #895 Morley from Jubilee station, but there is no coordination between the Winnipeg Transit app schedule and the time the bus arrives.
Also, the last bus in the morning leaves Jubilee at 8:20 a.m., and many other passengers and I need a bus after that time. Another option for me was the 16, which is not available now.
Before, I could get to work by taking just two buses, but now I have to take four, and they don't arrive at the scheduled time. There is a higher risk of missing a bus when I have to take four instead of two.
Harpreet, The Maples: I live in north end of the city and I have to bus to University of Manitoba. There was an express bus (#36) that I used to take in the morning and would take 45-50 minutes to reach there and there was no hassle to go to downtown and switch any buses. And it was easy to come back home, too, with the #36.
Since it changed, now I have to drive in order to save time. The new route and bus stops are complicated. I have to get into three buses to reach school. And now it will take 1 hour and 30-40 minutes, which doesn't make sense. It's not convenient at all, especially for students like me!
Mili, The Maples: Very bad experience. The previous route was much better as I was taking one bus. The new (network), I have to take two buses and one of them doesn't have much service. Bring back the #33!
Nikki, Elmwood: I am a a health care worker and this new route is crazy. Instead of walking one minute to the hospital, now I need to walk 11 minutes, lucky, on weekends from City Hall to William. Thank you, Winnipeg Transit, for making my life harder.
Noah, Osborne Village: I think the system has potential. But the neighborhood feeder routes and direct routes need more frequency for the transfers to work. They also need to run buses later, especially for healthcare workers.
Denai, North Kildonan: Not Enough F8 Henderson buses at all. This used to be the most reliable bus in the city, as the #11 Kildonan/Polo Park. Now it only runs during the day every 16 minutes and every 28 minutes on the weekends. Terrible. A lot of people that take that bus are on summer holidays now. Those buses are gonna be packed come September.
And what happened to the express buses? Where's our FX express bus? Something to consider in the near future for sure.
Noah, Old Kildonan: This network was made for big cities, Winnipeg is not one. We need more busses within our own communities, not feeder systems that don't run the normal transit schedule. How are folks supposed to leave their neighbourhoods and get to the transfers they need when the routes they need end earlier?
Want to share your experience using Winnipeg Transit's new system? Fill out our online feedback form.
