Winnipeg Residents Report Declining Transit Access and Safety Concerns

UPDATE: A newly released survey reveals alarming trends in Winnipeg’s transit access and downtown safety, prompting urgent discussions among residents. The City of Winnipeg just announced findings from the 2025 Resident Satisfaction Survey, conducted from May 7 to May 18, highlighting a significant decline in public confidence regarding transportation and safety in the city.

The survey indicates that only 48 percent of residents find the city easy to navigate by transit, a sharp drop from 62 percent in 2021. This decline underscores growing frustrations among Winnipeggers about the accessibility of public transportation, making it clear that immediate improvements are needed.

Compounding these concerns, the survey found that a mere 12 percent of respondents feel safe walking alone downtown at night. While this figure represents a slight increase of 4 percent since the previous year, it remains alarmingly low. The data suggests that residents who frequent downtown areas are more likely to report feeling safe, indicating a complex relationship between community presence and personal safety perceptions.

The survey also uncovered that 90 percent of residents believe it is easy to travel by car, contrasting sharply with transit and biking accessibility, which has seen a 10 percent decrease in perceived ease over the past year. This disparity raises questions about the city’s commitment to developing alternative transit options.

In terms of overall satisfaction with city services, 57 percent of Winnipeggers feel they receive good value for their property taxes. Services like snow clearing and garbage collection are viewed favorably, but dissatisfaction is palpable regarding road conditions, city spending, and crime rates. Notably, older residents tend to rate the value for their tax dollars higher than younger demographics, while Indigenous respondents report the lowest satisfaction levels.

Despite the challenges, 86 percent of residents express satisfaction with their quality of life in Winnipeg, reflecting a 4 percent increase from last year. This statistic provides a glimmer of hope amid the pressing issues raised by the survey.

As discussions unfold, city officials are urged to address these growing concerns. The survey, based on responses from 600 Winnipeggers aged 18 and over, offers a critical snapshot of public sentiment, though it bears noting that the non-probability sample means no formal error rate can be calculated. However, a random survey of this size would typically yield an error margin of plus-minus 4 percent.

Residents and city leaders alike are now looking for actionable solutions to enhance safety and improve public transit access. The full survey results are available on the City of Winnipeg’s official website, where ongoing discussions about these urgent issues are anticipated.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and share your thoughts on how Winnipeg can improve its transit and safety measures.