Bus rider stabs Winnipeg Transit operator after fare dispute

Winnipeg police are investigating an assault after a Winnipeg Transit operator was stabbed by a passenger. The incident happened shortly before 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday near Isabel Street and William Avenue. Officers learned that the rider became disruptive when asked to pay the bus fare.

The suspect then stabbed the driver in the lower body before exiting the bus. The driver's injuries are described as minor by police. The bus was operating on Route F6 at the time of the attack.

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No one should have to wonder if they are going to make it home safely after a shift. Being stabbed by a suspected syringe is every operator’s nightmare.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505, which represents transit employees, stated the driver was stabbed twice in the leg with a syringe after the passenger reached around the driver's safety shield. The union added that the assailant attempted to stab the operator multiple times before fleeing.

ATU Local 1505 President James Van Gerwen emphasized the need for increased protection for operators. "No one should have to wonder if they are going to make it home safely after a shift," he said in a news release. "Being stabbed by a suspected syringe is every operator’s nightmare." The union is urging the city to install full enclosure operator shields to replace the current partial barriers, demanding action beyond words and promises.

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Every assault is another reminder that words and promises are no longer enough. We need action, and we need it now.