It doesn't take long to find a Winnipeg bus rider on the street who has a story about a bus driver having to deal with unruly passengers.

"They tend to say obscene things to the bus driver,” said rider Peter Bird.

Drivers have been spit on and attacked. In February Irvine Fraser was stabbed to death. In the wake of that tragedy, the city is moving forward to better protect drivers. Mayor Brian Bowman and transit officials showed off one of six safety shields to be placed on buses at the driver seat for a six-month trial period.

"We share the same vision for a safe and secure public transit system,” said Bowman.

Following the testing phase, drivers will provide feedback to transit. If all goes well, all 637 city buses could have them down the road. Transit says the cost to install each one could be as high as $5,000.

"With our budgeting everything is ultimately subject to council approval, having said that it's going to ultimately depend on what the operators say," said Public Works chair Marty Morantz.

Three of the test devices will be a slide shield from Arow Global that can be adjusted. The other three are an L-shaped device from New Flyer. Winnipeg Transit says depending on the results, the preferred shield could even be modified.

"We might determine that the glass needs to come more forward, we may determine that the L-shape that you describe needs to be reconfigured in some way," said Acting Transit Director Greg Ewankiw.

The transit union was a no show for the shield show off. It says the city is moving too slow on bus safety, and didn't want to be part of what it called a photo op.

"They’re making it out to be a big deal and make a big show out of it, and as far as we’re concerned it's a very small baby step towards what has to be done,” said ATU local president Aleem Chaudhrey.

Back on the street, bus rider Peter Bird is on board with the safety shields.

"The bus driver would feel safer, instead of getting into an altercation with someone who's being disruptive to the bus driver or getting spit on,” said Bird.