Take a Free Ride on Winnipeg Transit this New Year’s Eve

Released: December 21, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Public Insurance are helping ensure everyone gets home safely this New Year’s Eve by riding Winnipeg Transit for free.

“The Free Ride program provides a free and responsible way for Winnipeggers get home after ringing in the New Year,” said Councillor Jenny Gerbasi, Deputy Mayor and City Councillor for Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry. “Thank you to Manitoba Public Insurance and Winnipeg Transit for helping keep our roads safe and enabling residents to make the right choice to not drink and drive.”

The Free Ride program applies to all Regular and Handi-Transit service starting at 7 p.m. until end of service. This year, New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday, therefore Winnipeg Transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule, with the last buses scheduled to leave downtown at approximately 12:15 a.m. In order to accommodate New Year’s Eve celebrations, additional buses have been scheduled to depart downtown at approximately 1:30 a.m. As this is extra service beyond our scheduled service, these last trips will not be available using our online TransitTOOLS. A list of routes and printable pdf schedules for the 1:30 a.m. service can be found on Transit's What's New webpage.

“We all want to start 2018 on a safe and happy note ─ planning ahead before heading out is important,” said Ward Keith, vice-president, Business Development and Communications, CAO, Manitoba Public Insurance. “The New Year’s Eve bus is a safe option to get home. Our goal is to make 2018 the safest year on our roads.”

Manitoba Public Insurance has sponsored the Free Ride New Year’s Eve service since 2011. As a road safety leader in the province, Manitoba Public Insurance is committed to reducing alcohol-related collisions, deaths and injuries.

"The New Year's Eve Free Ride program is another example of our traffic safety partners providing options to make the right choice when it comes to driving while impaired," said Staff Sergeant Rob Riffel, Central Traffic Unit, Winnipeg Police Service.

Last year, more than 15,000 revelers used Winnipeg Transit’s Free Ride program as part of their plan to get home safely on New Year’s Eve.

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