Video of attack on Winnipeg bus driver underlines public transit concerns

Police in Winnipeg have released video of a bus driver being attacked by a passenger in what can only be described as a violent and infuriating unprovoked attack on an unsuspecting public employee.

Police say the 50-year-old driver was attacked in September after a young man entered the bus and refused to pay the fare. He then demanded a bus transfer and, when the request was denied, he began throwing haymakers at the driver.

So far the suspect has not been identified, but hopefully with more details of the attack being released someone will step forward with information. Because the longer we allow fools to act like criminals on public transit, the more reasonable people will abandon the system.

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On Tuesday, we posted a video of a Toronto transit rider taking things into his own hands when an obtuse, potentially drunk, passenger held up traffic by refusing to clear the doorway.

Toronto transit officials said such situations should be handled by employees, and this is a distressing example of why they would feel that way. Confrontations can turn violent without warning.

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According to Winnipeg police, the suspect was unprovoked and attacked without notice. He had not paid a fare and demanded a transfer. When things didn't go his way, he started swinging.

The attack only ended after two unidentified men entered the bus and attempted to intervene. Watching the full video, the suspect can be seen stumbling at times. Was he inebriated? Until he is caught, there is no way to know for sure.

But here is another example of the trouble with public transit. Or public anything, for that matter. To make it work, society has to rely on people working together. And for every person willing to come to the aid of a driver being attacked, there is a person willing to attack.

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