Business owners, city clash over bus stop

REGINA – A fight is brewing between some downtown business owners and the City of Regina over a transit stop.

There’s a bus shelter on 11th Avenue outside Old City Hall Mall, but in cold weather, many transit users choose to wait inside the mall doors.

Businesses inside argue they’re now feeling the chill – through lost customers.

“As soon as the weather is cold, we become the bus stop,” said Greg Hanwell, a partner at Beer Bros. Gastropub & Deli.

At the busiest, Hanwell says over a dozen people will be standing in the foyer, blocking access to stores.

Talking to Regina Transit has been fruitless, he says.

“Their answer was contact our property manager and have them deal with the problem. What does that mean? Does that mean my property manager hiring security? Does that mean my rent is going up?”

It’s a bigger problem at Boutique Nico, which is directly beside the entrance.

“We don’t want to be put in a position where we need to kick people out in the cold,” said Nicolette Yeung, the shop’s owner. “At the same time, it’s not our responsibility to house them here. That’s not our role in this building.”

Director of Transit, Brad Bells says he’s well aware of the complaints, but there isn’t anything the department can do about it.

According to Bells, nearby businesses like Cornwall Centre haven’t had an issue.

Regina Transit wouldn’t commit to making any changes, or even adding a sign discouraging transit riders from standing inside.

“Some of them may be our customers, some may not be. If owners want to refer loitering to the Regina Police Service, they can go for that avenue,” Bells said.

A better solution may be on the table.

Shelters with a heat option on 11th Avenue will be recommended to city council, but that won’t be until the new year.

Not soon enough, say business owners.

“This isn’t a problem we created, it’s a problem they created,” said Hanwell. “They should take responsibility for it.”