There are only two days left in 2012, which means Winnipeg’s public transportation system, cab companies and police are gearing up for a busy night.
Throngs of Winnipeggers will be attending holiday parties and festivities on New Year's Eve, and police want to make sure those who are drinking get home safely.
The Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP are continuing with their holiday check-stop programs until Jan. 1 and are reminding people not to drink and drive.
That means finding an alternate mode of transportation.
Sharra Hinton of Operation Red Nose said all it takes is a call to make sure you’ve got a quick, affordable and safe ride home.
“People need to plan ahead a little bit,” said Hinton. “Be aware that we’re not going to be able to get to them in the five to 10 minutes. New Year's Eve will probably be an hour and a half to maybe a two hour wait.”
Other options that will be ready when you are include city taxi services.
Gurmail Mangat, the president of Unicity Taxi, said New Year's Eve is the busiest night of the year.
“We have 270 cabs on the road,” said Mangat. He says the company has added 35 cabs to the road to accommodate the increase in business but to avoid wait times, people should book ahead.
“When customers would like to go to places of celebration, they could book in advance – the night before, maybe two days before,” said Mangat.
Those looking for a cheaper solution can take Winnipeg Transit for free. Starting at 7 p.m. Monday night Winnipeg Transit buses will be free until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Last year, more than 12,000 people rode the bus for free on New Year's Eve.
