Diversity and seasonal messaging face elimination from Mississauga MiWay buses

You are likely to no longer see messages on Mississauga transit buses that wish you a Happy New Year, Happy Pride Month, Happy Hanukkah or Happy National Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

In fact, all signage on the front of MiWay buses that acknowledge special occasions could soon be done away with.

This follows a recommendation from a City of Mississauga sub-committee that only transit information such as route number and destinations be flashed on the electronic signs above the front windshield.

A report that was presented to city councillors this week says the constant messaging has become too confusing to passengers who just want to find out if they are getting on the right bus.

“Displaying route information only reduces confusion for transit riders, especially at bus stops serviced by multiple routes,” the report reads.

What started with a few seasonal messages such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Canada Day” has steadily grown over the years as the city scrambled to use the buses to implement inclusionary practices. There are 13 acknowledgements now, with some councillors hinting that more should be added.

However, members of the transit advisory committee (TAC) have been adamant that the intended uses of the signs — to let passengers know where the bus was headed — were being lost within the well-intended scrolling acknowledgments.

Ward 6 Councillor Joe Horneck, who chairs TAC, said the citizens members of the sub-committee have pressed for this change on several occasions.

“As users of transit, they would see these messages distracting,” Horneck explained to fellow councillors. “They said it would often interrupt people, especially those with sight issues, to have these signs continually flipping between messages. Somebody could miss what bus is coming.”

Mayor Carolyn Parrish agreed.

“(If you keep adding messages) it becomes a dog’s breakfast,” said the mayor. “You end up having groups that you have left off, so you just keep on adding. I support the recommendation. It’s a transit system, a business-like service, we shouldn’t try to use it to enhance multiculturalism, we have enough of that in the city,” said the mayor, adding Mississauga has many other ways to honour cultures and causes.

Parrish also said that if the city seeks the partnership of citizens on committees, then their recommendations should be followed.

The recommendation to eliminate non-transit information from the buses was approved by councillors who sit on the city’s general committee. Final approval must be given by city council before the changes can be made.

Here is the list of messages that will be removed from buses if the recommendation is approved:

• Happy New Year
• Happy Orthodox Christmas
• Black History Month
• International Women’s Day
• Pride Month
• Indigenous History Month
• National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Happy Canada Day
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Remembrance Day (Lest We Forget)
• Happy Hanukkah
• Merry ChristmasHappy Kwanza