Winnipeg, MB – Get home safely on New Year’s Eve with Winnipeg Transit.
The City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) have teamed up again to offer the Free Ride Program. All Regular and Transit Plus service is free on Tuesday, December 31, starting at 7 p.m. until the end of service.
The last buses will leave downtown at approximately 1:30 a.m. Remember to plan your trip using Navigo. It is available on our website and through the Winnipeg Transit app.
“The Free Ride Program is an important tradition that ensures Winnipeggers can celebrate New Year’s Eve safely and responsibly,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “The results from this year’s Winnipeg Police Service Checkstop Program show that too many people are still driving while impaired. By providing free transit service, the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Public Insurance are offering a safe and convenient way to get home after a night out.”
"Alcohol-related driving deaths are 100 percent preventable,” said Councillor Janice Lukes, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works. “We are proud to partner with MPI to give Winnipeggers a safe and dependable way home. Since 2011, the Free Ride Program has helped thousands ring in the New Year.”
In 2024, there have been 13 people killed on Manitoba’s roadways due to impaired driving. Another 86 people have suffered injuries. This year, 2,164 drivers have been found to be driving impaired, putting their lives and the lives of everyone on the road at risk.
“The best amount of alcohol to consume before getting behind the wheel is none. Collisions involving impairment by alcohol or drugs are responsible for killing far too many Manitobans, and it does not have to be that way,” said Maria Campos, MPI’s Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer.
“Partnering with the City of Winnipeg through Winnipeg Transit to ensure people have a free ride home on New Year’s Eve is vital for MPI, as our top priority is to have every Manitoban get home safely. Please make a plan to get home if you plan to drink or consume cannabis, so the New Year can be a time of celebration, not mourning.”
Manitoba continues to have among the toughest penalties in Canada for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Driving impaired by either drugs or alcohol comes with severe consequences. This can include an impounded vehicle, suspended license, mandatory ignition lock, large fines, increased premiums, and, in some cases, criminal charges.
Plan a safe ride home.