Most Winnipeg adults don’t want to be downtown after dark, according to a new poll.
In a CTV Winnipeg/Winnipeg Free Press survey conducted by Probe Research 58 per cent of citizens asked said they don’t feel comfortable walking in the city’s core after sunset. Of those respondents 38 per cent said they would be afraid in downtown Winnipeg after dark, while 20 per cent were less fearful.
Women were among those most likely to feel unsafe, with 49 per cent of women surveyed strongly disagreeing that they would feel safe after dark downtown, and 16 per cent moderately disagreeing, while only 26 per cent of men said they strongly disagreed and 25 per cent said they moderately disagreed with that statement.
“I don’t like my partner coming down her by herself late at night,” said Winnipeger Mark Heath, as he waited for a bus Monday.
Those over age 55 also felt more vulnerable with 47 per cent reporting low perceived safety in the city’s core at night versus 36 per cent among those aged 18-34 and 33 per cent among those aged 35-54 years.
Income was also a factor with 50 per cent of people earning less than $30,000 a year feeling unsafe downtown come nightfall while only 28 per cent of those earning over $100,000 a year felt the same.
Those most likely to strongly agree that it’s safe to walk through the city centre at night were core residents (23 per cent), those aged 18-34 (22 per cent), and those who rent (23 per cent).
In response to the poll, the Downtown Biz said positive progress has been made recently when it comes to making downtown a safe place.
“We’ve added 18 foot patrols to the downtown over the last three years and that has directly impacted the positive safety perceptions.”
The poll also delved into Winnipeggers’ feelings on panhandlers with 43 per cent of respondents agreeing panhandlers keep them from coming downtown.
Of those polled 50 per cent disagreed that removing panhandlers would encourage them to come downtown.
“Honestly, I have not had a bad experience,” said Elaine Hofer who works in the area, “I am downtown a lot.”
Polling firm Probe Research Inc. surveyed 602 people about their perceived safety downtown. The results are considered accurate 95 per cent of the time, within plus or minus four percentage points.
