A Winnipeg transit union is expressing concern about violence after a bus driver pointed a gun at him

The executive vice-president of the Winnipeg Transit Union is expressing concern about an increase in violent incidents on buses after the transit operator allegedly pointed a gun at him outside police headquarters Friday morning.

According to Derek Hanley, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505, at approximately 12:30 p.m., a bus driver picked up a group of passengers heading toward Graham Avenue downtown.

Hanley said that when the operator turned onto Graham Avenue, the group got into a fight. The driver told him that one person pulled out a gun and began pointing it at other passengers, then ran to the front of the bus and pointed it at the operator.

“He pointed the gun at the target and said, ‘Let me off this bus here.’ It was right in front of the police building,” Hanley recalled the driver telling him.

After being released from the bus, the operator said, the man ran toward Portage Avenue.

“He couldn’t believe how quickly it happened and what had just happened,” Hanley said.

“He just hoped, ‘Please don’t shoot me.'”

Hanley said the driver was shaken by the incident and would take time off from work.

While Hanley said the number of reported incidents is down this year compared to the same period last year, the severity of incidents is getting worse.

“The number of acts of violence in transport is increasing,” he said. “It’s like the Wild West out there. It looks like everyone is armed.

Hanley also said most people who commit crimes on public transport do not pay their fares.

“When they don’t pay tolls, they feel empowered,” he said.

Hanley also pointed to another incident that occurred earlier this week when an operator picked up a person in distress and then chased the driver out of the bus window.

“These are everyday incidents that happen on buses,” he said.

When it comes to solving the problem, Hanley said there needs to be better enforcement and the ability for passengers to report crimes in real time.

“There are a lot of different technologies that can be used for these types of crimes,” Hanley said, pointing to Toronto’s SafeTTC app, which passengers can use to anonymously report crimes. “We’re actually looking at bringing it here to Winnipeg, but like anything else, there’s a cost involved.”

Hanley also pointed to Winnipeg Transit’s fare education campaign, but said more needs to be done.

“This is not a free service. You have to pay to use this service. But with that comes law enforcement,” he said.

No arrests have been made in connection with Friday’s incident. Winnipeg police are investigating.