This question is still asked by riders who board local buses in areas through which Express service is operated.
We realize that local riders must wonder about Express buses going by non-express stops without picking up passengers. We are convinced, however, that Express operation is in the best interests of those who board local buses in the Express area, as well as of those who travel beyond it on Express buses.
Before Express service was operated, several unsatisfactory conditions existed. People living in the outer area found the ride to downtown too long and too many were driving their automobiles. For every bus load of passengers lost, thirty to forty more automobiles joined the already heavy traffic on Portage Avenue, thus slowing down service more and more.
Operating all buses to the end of the line wasted service, since not all buses on the route were required to carry the people who travelled beyond Polo Park.
Riders living east of Polo Park complained that those west of Polo Park were getting the best of it since all seats were usually occupied by the time the buses reached that point on the way to downtown.
We reasoned, therefore, that if the buses required to carry the people who travelled beyond Polo Park ran Express, those people would spend a shorter time travelling and more would be encouraged to ride buses instead of driving autos.
Similarly, we reasoned that if those buses required to accommodate people living between Polo Park and downtown were to be turned back at Polo Park, they would start their inbound journey from that point empty to the benefit of that group of riders.
The number of buses operating locally to Polo Park, or Express to St. James or St. Charles, is determined by the number of riders in each area. It cannot be said, therefore, that either group is getting more service per capita than the other.
The number of people living between Polo Park and downtown remains fairly constant, while the number of new homes in St. James and Assiniboia is increasing rapidly. It is anticipated, therefore, that more service will be required on the Express portion of the route.
Express drivers leave the ends of the routes at a set time, but then operate as fast as traffic conditions permit over the Express portion of the route. It is possible, therefore, to see two or three running close together which tends to give a false impression of the frequency of the service.
Some riders say "all right then, turn some of the buses back at Polo Park, but run all service as locals". This method of operation would not produce the same benefits since each bus would carry riders to both areas. This would lead to a lot of unnecessary transferring and a slowing down, rather than a speeding up, of service to both groups.
Express service of this type is not peculiar to Metro Winnipeg but is operated in many cities throughout the continent. If the Express service could be operated on the "next street over" it would in all possibility, cease to annoy. However, there is no suitable next street over so the two services must continue to use the same street.
We only hope the above facts will remind our local riders, when Express buses pass them by, that the system does have advantages for both groups.