Winnipeg Transit’s fare enforcement is paying off

Did you know we lose between $7 million and $10 million annually through Transit fare evasion? 

It’s everyone’s responsibility to pay their fair share. Fare payments help cover the costs of delivering an important service residents rely on. Fare evasion challenges our ability to continue providing scheduled and expanded services in the future.

In September, with the help of the Community Safety Team, we expanded our fare enforcement efforts. Since the launch of this campaign, Inspectors have made more than 6,800 fare checks and Safety Officers have spent more than 1,400 hours enforcing issues on our vehicles. This has resulted in:

• 4,944 denied rides
• More than 2,670 people who chose to walk away before being prompted to pay
• 931 warnings
• 359 riders who paid after being asked

Fare education 

To support our ongoing joint fare enforcement program, we're launching a fare education campaign in the coming weeks. This campaign will include ads on:

• Buses 
• Benches 
• Shelters
• Digital billboards

These ads will make passengers aware of our fares and encourage them to have it ready when boarding buses.

We are also adding new audio to our buses. As buses approach stops, riders will hear a message reminding them to have their fare ready before boarding. 

Ongoing safety improvements

Inspectors and Safety Officers are also supporting our bus operators by providing a general on-street presence on buses to deter undesirable behaviour. 

This is part of the Violent Crime Intervention Strategy, which is a collaborative effort between the City of Winnipeg and Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). In addition to Inspectors and Safety Officers, WPS members are on our buses and conducting foot and cruiser car patrols at shelters, stops, and hubs.

Since the start of this strategy, WPS has:

• Conducted 278 WPS enforcement operations
• Made nine Criminal Code arrests
• Engaged in 41 officer interventions related to fare evasion enforcement

What’s next? 

We’re planning to make big changes to our fare-paying system in the coming years.

To make this process easier for riders, the 2025 Budget included funds for a new payment system that will let riders tap their phone, debit, or credit card in addition to existing fare options. This will also help us better track fare evasion.