Calls for taxi alternatives spike after driver charged with assaulting Winnipeg woman

The demand for a safe-ride alternative to taxis has soared since an Indigenous woman said last week that she was assaulted by a cabbie, whom Winnipeg police have now charged.

"We're already receiving more ride requests than we're able to meet, so it's concerning," said ChristineBrouzes, co-director of Ikwe Safe Ride,which was created in 2016 in response to reports of abusive and inappropriate taxi drivers.

"Since this incident has come out, I've had three different non-profit organizations reach out to me saying 'We no longer want to have our contracts with any taxi company, but particularly the company that was involved.Can you instead provide our transportation?'

"And I have to say, no, we don't have the capacity."

Ikwewhich means woman in the Anishinaabemowin language isoperated by and for Indigenous women through a Facebook group, with volunteer drivers.

Police this week charged a 44-year-old man with assault and forcible confinementafter a First Nations woman said she was attacked and then dragged by his taxi before escaping.

Serenity Morrisseau, 19, said a Unicity Taxidriver punched her multiple times and locked her inside the cab, speedingoff in the early hours on Sept. 26whileleaving two of her friends standing in the middle ofthe road.

Unicity has said it was their driver who was attacked byMorrisseauand her two friends.The company has declined to comment further since the driver was charged.

Brouzes'reaction, when she heard about Morrisseau's encounter,was a mash of emotions.

"Not again, not again, not another one," she said was her first thought.

"I wasn't shocked. I was so sad for her. I absolutely believed her. I felt so proud and glad that somebody was speaking up and sharing their story because it takes such bravery," she said.

"We hear stories like this all the time. Maybe not quite as physical as this story came to, but constantly we hear stories about abuse and mistreatment from taxi drivers to women, Indigenous women and all women, actually."

Brouzeslisted off the complaints asverbal abuse,racist comments, sexualised comments, inappropriate questions andinappropriate statements "things that make women feel very afraid."

"One of the common phrases that we hear our passengers tell us is that taxi drivers will ask, 'Do you want to pay another way?'" she said.

"There are good taxi drivers, but it's not one or two bad apples that are spoiling the cart. It's a lot."

Ikwe urges their volunteer drivers to encourage women to report their experiences to police or the taxi company itself, but Brouzessaid very few ever do.

"They feel often that they won't be believed or that they just don't want to have to relive and restate what they went through," she said.

"They feel it'll just be a he said-she said, or that the things that they felt frightened about were not something that was illegal, just something they have to put up with as a person taking a taxi."

Ikweis just starting back up, though not fully, after a hiatus due to pandemic-related restrictions.The servicetypically has about 50 drivers but only four at the moment.

Brouzes is notsure when it will be at full capacity again but expects calls to increase more ascooler weather pushes in and winter approaches.

"I wish it could be right now, but we're just being very cautious of restarting slowly," she said, and COVID-19 has not gone away.

"We always honour our volunteer drivers on safety decisions. Being in a car is such a close,small environment."'

Brouzes said it "just breaks my heart" to not be able to offer more rides at this time, particularly in themiddle of the night.

"The young woman [Morrisseau] who shared that incident hasand every other woman of any age has every right to go out with their friends, have a few drinks and choose to get home responsibly and not drive or walk down the sidewalk and take some sort of safe transportation,"Brouzessaid.

Until Ikwe can be there for every ride, she encourages women to take a few simple steps to protect themselves.

"Make sure that before you get into any sort of transportation, you know the company name and the vehicle number. And if something does happen,you can always have your cellphone on you and record the incidents," she said.

"And if something does happen, please share it, even if it's something you think is not illegal, it's just something that made you feel uncomfortable.Call 311. It doesn't have to be right away. It can be the next day, but call 311."

Calls for taxi alternatives spike after driver charged with assaulting Winnipeg woman

3 years ago

Duration 1:50

The demand for a safe-ride alternative to taxis has soared since an Indigenous woman said last week that she was assaulted by a cabbie, whom Winnipeg police have now charged.