Regarding the Express bus service in Winnipeg.

The current service tries to be all things to all people, and as a result, is basically of no value to anyone.

For myself, the 35 Express cuts about five minutes off my travel time, compared with the regular 33; not a significant saving.

If Winnipeg Transit is to increase ridership, it must address the concerns of people like myself, who use it for commuting and have the option of driving if the bus becomes too inconvenient. Winnipeggers will never use the bus to go shopping, and people without cars are forced to ride the bus, no matter how awful the service is.

So target the Express buses to improve service to this group. Make it a true express service, from the suburbs to downtown, with no stops in between. Follow the fastest route to get from point A to point B, with no intermediate stops, this could vary depending on traffic congestion, construction, etc.

You can never please all of the people all of the time; the best you can hope for is to please most people most of the time. Since most commuters live in the suburbs, improving this service will provide more net benefit than will be lost by reducing service to the few who get on the Express bus in between.

Another comment regarding the buses Transit uses. Recently we had a low-floor bus on the 35 route, while the 33 just ahead was a conventional bus.

This is pointless; I have never seen the easy-access feature actually used on this route. These buses have fewer seats, meaning less chance of having your own seat, or a seat at all. They are also rougher on the potholes and the hard unpadded seats are a throwback to the days when third-class train passengers sat on benches. Keep the conventional buses with soft seats on the Express routes.