See below – it’s a great volunteer experience.
From: Amanda San Filippo [mailto:bvwcoordinator@bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca]
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 10:53 PM
To: Volunteers; Board(a)bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca
Subject: June 26th, Blue Bombers Home Opener
** IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE THESE EMAILS, PLEASE RESPOND WITH THE HEADLINE "UNSUBSCRIBE" **
Hello all,
Last email for the day!
The Blue Bombers Home Opener should be busy! We will be setting up for a full 800 bike capacity, with 4 separate locations all between gates 3 and 4.
The racks will be provided for us, so we will only be responsible for setting up the signage and tables. I anticipate this to be busy and want to be over prepared. Please feel free to have friends volunteer as well, but please have them fill out the doodle and email me with their email address/phone number.
As always, if you sign up and can no longer make your shift, please email me, or call as soon as possible. If you anticipate being late for a shift, please add the details and estimated arrival time in the comments section of the Doodle.
Additional details are found on the doodle and I hope to see many of you there! You can sign up here: http://doodle.com/wrwhsfzps7ckvy36
Amanda
--
Coordinator
Bicycle Valet Winnipeg
http://bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca/
*Join Us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bicycle-Valet-Winnipeg/118463088183043> and Twitter <https://twitter.com/#%21/bicyclevaletwpg>
Safer cycling possible
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/safer-cycling-possible-…
The death of an elderly cyclist on his way to a football game last week
has renewed the discussion about what needs to be done to make it safer for
two-wheelers to travel safely within a city dominated by motor vehicles and
unfriendly roads.
As with most cities in North America, Winnipeg has made great strides in
the last decade in recognizing the benefits of encouraging people to leave
their cars at home and get on a bicycle or walk. Thousands of Winnipeggers,
in fact, have joined the worldwide boom in bicycle traffic.
According to a survey by the lobby group Bike Winnipeg, 10 per cent of
respondents said the bicycle is their main form of transportation, while 46
per cent said they would like to cycle more often. Some 36 per cent said
they are interested in bicycling more but are concerned about cycling on
busy roads next to traffic.
The city has built or dedicated hundreds of kilometres of bike lanes, paths
and corridors, but of course it's not enough to meet the need or demand.
There are still too many high-risk streets, intersections and underpasses
that are not bike-friendly. Many motorists still act as if they own the
road, while some cyclists ignore the rules of the road.
It will be another 20 or 30 years before the city begins to achieve the
level of service demanded by cyclists. That's the bottom line, but it
doesn't mean nothing else can be done immediately to improve safety for
everyone.
The province, for example, said last year it was considering an amendment
to the Highway Traffic Act that would require motorists to provide more
room to cyclists, while also allowing them to ride further from the curb.
The law currently says motorists must pass "at a safe distance," which is
difficult to enforce because it is subject to interpretation.
Some provinces require motorists to move into the other lane on narrow
roads or if it is the only way to pass safely.
Police also need to be more aggressive in enforcing the existing law, even
if it is vague. There are too many examples of cars and trucks whizzing by
cyclists at distances that are too close for comfort.
Obviously, a legislative amendment that forced motorists to give at least
one metre in separation would be easier to enforce.
In terms of bike routes, the city and Bike Winnipeg have published maps
that are also available online, but many cyclists are still not familiar
with them. There is a designated bike path close to where the man was
killed last week, for example, that allows cyclists to avoid the
horrendously dangerous intersection of Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin.
The city can do a better job of posting signs. Currently, the bike route on
Pembina disappears without a trace and without warning near the scene of
the accident.
The real issue, however, isn't about how to get to football games without
risking life and limb, but about creating an alternative-transportation
culture.
People who have cycled in some European cities, for example, report the
same problems with inadequate cycling infrastructure, but say motorists and
cyclists display a civility that is not as evident here. They seem to be
looking out for one another.
The ongoing debate over the years in Winnipeg seems to have increased
awareness and caution, but there is still a deficiency in respectful
behaviour. Manitoba Public Insurance and other government agencies could
help change that through public-awareness campaigns.
Winnipeg is on its way to becoming a cycling city, winter and summer, but
it will require a sustained commitment to the principle that alternative
transportation is the new mantra.
Editorials are the consensus view of the Winnipeg Free Press’ editorial
board, comprising Catherine Mitchell, David O’Brien and Paul Samyn.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 16, 2014 A8
Spinning their wheels on safetyCyclists on back burner with stadium:
advocate
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
By: Geoff Kirbyson
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/spinning-their-wheels-on-safety-2631…
A member of the event-day advisory committee at Investors Group Field said
the death of a Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan on Tuesday was tragic but not
surprising.
Janice Lukes, the active-transportation representative on EDAC and a
longtime cycling advocate, said with so many other issues to deal with at
the stadium over the past 12 months -- parking, buses and construction
problems -- cyclists have been on the back burner.
Cyclist hurt in collision
A man was transported to hospital in unstable condition Friday after a
car-bike collision in East Kildonan.
Police couldn't say exactly what happened, but confirmed they responded to
a call around 1:15 p.m, where they located the man.
Munroe Avenue between Gateway and Grey was closed after the incident, but
has since reopened.
Friday afternoon, police officers were interviewing a female driver of a
sedan parked just in front of the mangled bike. The police let the woman
leave the scene shortly after.
The incident is the second in a week where a cyclist has been involved in a
vehicle collision. On Monday night, 69-year-old Dick Stevenson died after
he was struck by a vehicle while travelling on Pembina Highway on the way
to a football game at Investors Group Field.
"In the big picture, active transportation is never front and centre. We
need leadership on this file," she said.
The risks for cyclists were brought up at every EDAC meeting over the past
year, she said, and while other members -- including representatives of the
city, the University of Manitoba, the Bombers, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic
department, Winnipeg Transit and residents who live near the football
stadium -- agreed the risks were a problem, nobody seemed to know who had
the ultimate responsibility for fixing them, she said.
To prove stakeholders could act when they wanted to, Lukes cited the
"million dollars worth of buses" that were activated to correct the many
problems fans had getting to the Fort Garry stadium after the first game
last year.
The only thing that caught Lukes slightly off guard was that Dick
Stevenson's cycling accident prior to Monday's exhibition game happened
during daylight hours.
Most of the committee's concerns surrounded what would happen after the
final whistle had blown and cyclists, many of them inexperienced, headed
home.
"Some fans (who are driving) have had a few drinks. Many of these cyclists
don't know to wear reflective colours or put lights on their bikes," she
said.
Bombers CEO Wade Miller said nothing is more important to the football club
than fan safety. He left no doubt, however, about who should be driving the
bus.
"Which is why we have an official request into the City of Winnipeg to
immediately address outstanding pedestrian and cycling concerns. We look
forward to their leadership on this issue," he said.
A spokeswoman for the city said active transportation is a top priority. To
prove her point, she pointed to the $85 million the city has spent on it
since 2008.
A spokesman for the province said the Selinger government is also committed
to providing opportunities for safe and convenient cycling in Winnipeg and
across the province. Since 2000, he said, it has invested more than $40
million in active-transportation infrastructure and programs including
developing the Trans-Canada Trail in communities throughout the province,
developing trails along the floodway, supporting rapid transit as well as
providing funding for more than 65 active-transportation projects in
Winnipeg and 34 more in other communities.
Other major projects to come in the government's five-year plan include an
active-transportation overpass at the Perimeter Highway and Highway 59 and
the redevelopment of the Pembina-Jubilee Underpass, which will include
additional vehicle and bike lanes.
Lukes said the city has been delinquent in reinstalling "bollards," which
are 1.2-metre-high plastic posts with reflectors that delineate the bike
lane between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive.
"The city put them up last year, but they haven't put them up this year. We
need leadership on the city's active-transportation file," she said.
geoff.kirbyson(a)freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 14, 2014 A4
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 13, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Subject: Prevent Further Cycling Deaths
To: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com>
Hi Friends,
As a part of Bike Winnipeg week, this coming Monday evening (June 16th),
cyclists across Winnipeg are encouraged to come together at MTYP (The
Forks) to identify the most critical areas for cycling improvement needed
in Winnipeg. Let's try to prevent further cycling deaths in our city.
Please spread the word amongst other cyclists and those who care about them.
Thanks,
Laura Donatelli
--
*Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School
Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living.
Support our work by becoming a member
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local
viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
(3rd
floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local
applications. A particularly timely topic for Winnipeg plus it's during
Bike Week!
RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then.
cheers,
Beth
(204) 925-3772
** * * * **
*Calming Arterial Streets for Safer Walking and Cycling*
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
*Wednesday, June 18th, 2014 | 2:00-3:00 pm Central*
High-volume, high-speed arterials present special challenges for taming
traffic. Conventional transportation thinking about arterials prioritizes
moving large numbers of vehicles at high speed over long distances, even if
those roadways run through the heart of a city. This thinking ignores the
historical purpose of cities—to minimize distance and provide productive
venues for economic and social exchange. Join this webinar to learn how
cities are beginning to rethink their priorities for arterial streets, and
what this means for planning for safer roads that also contribute to a
city’s economic vitality.
Ian Lockwood, Livable Transportation Engineer at Toole Design Group and a
2011 Harvard School of Design Loeb Fellow, challenges attendees to
reconsider the connections between the economic role of cities,
place-making, mobility and great city streets. His presentation describes
the evolution of arterial streets, discusses the concept of mobility as
improving population movement for economic and social exchange, and
suggests an alternative, context-sensitive framework for measuring arterial
performance. Specific projects highlight cities that are rethinking their
arterials and the role of traffic calming measures used as strategies to
improve mobility.
*Presenter*: Ian Lockwood, Livable Transportation Engineer, Toole Design
Group
Bicycle safety on the road is a two-way street
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bicycle-safety-on-the-road-is-a-two-…
Bicycles and vehicles share the road, so Manitoba Public Insurance wants to
remind everyone a little care and concern from both goes a long way.
MPI spokeswoman MaryAnn Kempe said cyclists can be proactive by
understanding the dangers of vehicle blind spots and how they can avoid a
collision.
"Turning and side-swipe collisions are two of the most common collisions
involving cyclists, according to claims data," Kempe, the vice-president of
business development and communications and chief product officer for MPI,
said in a press release.
"Maintaining visibility is vital to preventing these types of collisions --
especially when it comes to large vehicles. If cyclists and motorists can
see each other, then these types of collisions could be avoided. From a
cyclist's perspective, if you cannot see the driver from where you are on
the road, then you also need to assume that they cannot see you."
In the statement, Sgt. Rob Riffel of the Winnipeg Police Service encouraged
cyclists to ride defensively and recognize potentially dangerous situations.
"Motorists and cyclists are both entitled to be on the roadways. There
should be a mutual respect for both groups," Riffel stated.
Claims data released by MPI show three Manitobans are killed and 250 others
are injured each year in bicycle collisions.
There was also an average of 269 bicycle-motor vehicle collisions reported
from 2007-2011, with the majority (98.4 per cent) occurring in urban
centres.
Dave Elmore, CAN-Bike master instructor and former director of safety and
education for Bike Winnipeg, said a defensive strategy for cyclists when
approaching an intersection is to always shoulder check and signal before
moving into the centre of the lane.
Under no circumstance should a bike rider pass motor vehicles on the right
or position themselves to the right of vehicles at an intersection, Elmore
said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A5
Cycling to Bombers field takes a Hail Mary or two
By: Geoff Kirbyson
See accompanying video at:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cycling-to-bombers-field-takes-a-hai…
Riding your bicycle down Pembina Highway to Investors Group Field is a bit
of a Hail Mary.
Traffic congestion in south Winnipeg before and after Winnipeg Blue Bombers
games has been a bone of contention even before the new stadium opened last
year.
The issue reached a critical stage after 69-year-old Dick Stevenson was hit
by a vehicle while riding his bike to Monday's exhibition game against the
Toronto Argonauts and died the next morning.
But if the city and the football club want fans to seriously consider
two-wheeled transportation to the University of Manitoba campus, some
changes must be made as soon as possible so cyclists can make the commute
safely, particularly after games when it's dark.
To get an idea of what the trip is like, I strapped a Go-Pro camera to my
bike helmet and set off down Pembina from McGillivray Boulevard early
Thursday afternoon.
I'm an experienced cyclist, but I purposely avoid roadways such as this.
The traffic is constant, even when it's not rush hour, and there's not a
lot of room out there.
For the first kilometre or two, I'm sharing the curb lane with SUVs, pickup
trucks and the odd compact car.
I relax a little when I hit Chevrier Boulevard and the road opens up to a
dedicated bike lane. There are a few mini-detours where the path takes me
up on to the sidewalk -- usually around bus stops -- for a few metres at a
time, and at this point, I think the ride isn't too bad.
But then I hit Plaza Drive, just north of Bishop Grandin, and everything
stopped. The bike lane ends abruptly, and there's no signage or arrows
directing me where to go. I think of Mr. Stevenson as I hug the curb once
again with vehicles whizzing past me because this is where he was struck.
But the route gets even more treacherous as I reach the westbound Bishop
Grandin turnoff. Even if I wanted to keep going straight, I'd have to
battle for position with vehicles making the turn. Instead, I opt for the
sidewalk crossing and make my way across the bridge via the pedestrian
overpass. There was only one woman walking ahead of me, but I can imagine
it would jammed before Bomber games.
Making my way on to University Crescent, there is, again, no dedicated bike
lane, but there's a decent shoulder to ride on, although there's still a
fair amount of sand and grime I would have expected to have been picked up
by street cleaners in the spring.
Finally, I arrive at my destination. Would it be worth it to ride to a
football game? Probably. I'd make sure to leave super early to avoid the
worst of the crush. I'd probably say a Hail Mary once or twice, too.
geoff.kirbyson(a)freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A5
Area's hazard won't change soonSafer path at site of tragedy years away
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
By: Mary Agnes Welch
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/areas-hazard-wont-change-soon-262987…
It's one of the most intimidating stretches for cyclists, and it could be a
decade or more before any significant bike infrastructure is built there.
Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin, where a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan was
killed while cycling to Monday night's exhibition game, is about to be
bracketed by a buffered bike path local cyclists love. The Pembina bike
lane north of Bishop Grandin was built last summer, and crews are working
now on a short stretch south of the eight-lane overpass.
But the overpass itself is widely seen as among the worst spots for
cyclists, thanks largely to many merge lanes, several driveways and the
sheer speed and volume of cars.
But a truly separated bike path next to the proposed bus rapid transit line
along the nearby Letellier rail line is still at least six years away from
completion, assuming federal infrastructure cash can be secured for the
southwest rapid transit corridor that city council debates endlessly.
And the construction of a buffered bike lane along the full length of
Pembina Highway is part of the city's draft cycling master plan. But that's
a 20-year project, and city transportation staff could offer no word
Thursday when capital funding might be available or where Pembina Highway
might fall on the spending priority list.
The active transportation master plan goes to council for approval later
this year.
To avoid the Bishop Grandin-Pembina intersection and get to the University
of Manitoba, the city recommends a bike detour east along Plaza Drive and
following the Red River through the back campus. But that route is not
well-known to cyclists.
The intersection is under the cycling spotlight, but Bike Winnipeg's Mark
Cohoe says there are many others in the city that are no-go areas for many
bikers. Those include Main Street at the Higgins underpass, Confusion
Corner and the Osborne Street underpass, and Main Street at Broadway, where
long left-turn lanes see cars stacked up and often in conflict with
pedestrians and cyclists.
Winnipeg bike enthusiasts have many tales of crashes and close calls along
Pembina, but collision experts with the Winnipeg police have investigated
at least two serious ones in recent years. In June of 2011, a 52-year-old
woman died when her bike was struck by a 23-year-old driving a Lexus on
Pembina near Dalhousie Drive. A couple of weeks later, a 24-year-old man
cycling on Pembina near Chancellor Matheson Drive was also badly hurt when
he was struck by a vehicle.
[Note: See graph of cyclist fatalities 2004-2013 at
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/areas-hazard-wont-change-soon-262987…
]
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A4
Bike woes clear long before deathShortcomings on Pembina serious due to
high university traffic
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
By: Bartley Kives
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/bike-woes-clear-long-be…
In politics, broadcasting or any other realm of public life, using a
tragedy to make a point is a dangerous game.
On Monday evening, a Blue Bomber fan was riding his bike to Investors Group
Field to watch a CFL pre-season game when he was involved in a
motor-vehicle collision. Sixty-nine-year-old Dick Stevenson was taken to
hospital in unstable condition and later died of his injuries.
The police are investigating the collision. Unless you witnessed the event
-- or happen to be a traffic-unit investigator -- it'd be irresponsible to
assign responsibility to any party.
If you're a pundit or a politician, you don't blame the victim, you don't
blame the motorist and you certainly don't blame the Winnipeg Football Club
or the City of Winnipeg until you know darn well what happened.
This is why it was cringe-inducing to observe a public exchange between the
city and the Bombers that came uncomfortably close to a blame-storming
session.
Early Thursday, at the start of the morning news cycle, the football club
released a statement from Bomber president and CEO Wade Miller, urging the
city to "immediately review and assess all active-transportation routes and
infrastructure leading to Investors Group Field."
The city responded in the afternoon by making acting chief operating
officer Michael Jack and transportation manager Luis Escobar available to
reporters. They said they know there's a demand for a protected bike route
along Pembina Highway but there are no imminent construction plans.
Jack and Escobar also noted they didn't hear a peep from the Bombers about
cyclist safety when the two parties met last week. Miller responded he has
always raised cyclist safety in meetings with the city.
To be fair to both parties, neither actually assigned blame for the
fatality. The city officials made the standard refusal to comment while a
police investigation is underway.
Miller, meanwhile, said the motivation for his Thursday-morning press
release was a Wednesday-evening query from Free Press reporter Mary Agnes
Welch.
"When a fan dies from something like this, I think it's important everyone
takes a step back and reviews what's going on," Miller said in an
interview. "It's a bigger discussion about the active-transportation plan
and moving it forward. I cycle in the city and it's tough."
A decade ago, Winnipeg had a truly pathetic network of bike-and-pedestrian
paths. But the situation improved, thanks to a policy that ensures all
significant road-construction projects include an active-transportation
component -- and an influx of cash into commuter-cycling routes, including
an unprecedented $21 million allotted in 2010 alone.
Of course, not all of Winnipeg's new cycling infrastructure is ideal. Many
cyclists shy away from using "sharrows," the extra-wide lanes intended to
be used by both bikes and motor vehicles, and aren't big fans of painted-on
"dedicated lanes," either.
Cyclists prefer routes that are physically separated from motor-vehicle
traffic. But that sort of infrastructure is difficult to create in existing
neighbourhoods, where a shortage of space requires either the expensive
expropriation of private land or the politically unpopular appropriation of
a motor-vehicle lane.
The city is slowly but surely improving its commuter-cycling
infrastructure. As both the Bombers and the city pointed out Thursday,
there are ways to travel to Investors Group Field that do not involve
traversing the intersection of Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin Boulevard.
But even if Investors Group Field didn't exist, it's worth noting the city
has so far failed to create a more direct cycling route from downtown to
the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus, the second-busiest commuter
destination in Winnipeg.
The notion such a route has been delayed merely by the failure to complete
the Southwest Transitway is a red herring, as that bus corridor is now
supposed to jog 1.6 kilometres to the west Pembina Highway at its furthest
point.
The somewhat-separated bike lanes created along Pembina north of Plaza
Drive form the start of a more direct route. But the absence of a complete
and more or less protected route to the U of M is annoying for university
students and staff, who have to ride out of their way to get there.
The city should continue to develop this route, using whatever meagre
resources it has. Unlike the football stadium, the university is busy
nearly every day.
In other words, the need for a Pembina bike route was evident well before
this week's fatality, which should not be used by anyone for any purpose
other than to express condolences.
bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A4
Blue want safe streets for fansCity won't act until probe into fatal
accident is complete
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>
By: Aldo Santin
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/blue-want-safe-streets-for-fans-2629…
A protected bike route along Pembina Highway that might have saved the life
of cyclist Dick Stevenson was under consideration by the city's
active-transportation planners.
Despite the outcry over Stevenson's death while en route to Monday's
Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, city hall is holding off on any talk of safety
improvements until the police finish the investigation into his fatal
accident.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES FAVOUR SAFETY REVIEW
Several mayoral candidates said city hall should review the safety of bike
routes following the death of Dick Stevenson earlier this week.
Paula Havixbeck, city councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo, said city hall is
responsible for ensuring bike routes are properly signed and safe, adding
she doesn't know whether the bike route had anything to do with Stevenson's
death.
"We should be working collaboratively with groups like the Bombers to
identify and correct any and all particularly unsafe conditions and to
continually work towards improving safety and positive citizen
experiences," Havixbeck said.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she supports Miller's request to review the city's
policy.
"I was at that game -- it was a glorious night and learned after the fact
that an avid Blue Bomber fan was killed in a cycling accident on the way to
that game," Wasylycia-Leis said. "I think (Bombers president Wade Miller's)
request is an important one and should be acted upon immediately."
Wasylycia-Leis said the city needs to know whether it's taken all needed
measures to ensure cycling can be done safely anywhere in Winnipeg, adding
everyone knows there are transportation problems with Investors Group Field.
"We want to make that stadium work. We want to make sure people get there
safely and we want this to be an attraction."
Brian Bowman cautioned about rushing to judgment on the circumstances
surrounding Stevenson's death, but added it is appropriate to question the
city's policy as a result of the tragedy.
"Ideally, I'd expect the city would be working with partners like the
Bombers to review the safety of our transportation plans," Bowman said,
adding he'd welcome public input into how improvements can be made to the
cycling network.
*-- Aldo Santin*
RELATED ITEMS
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Should the City of Winnipeg invest in more separated bike lanes?
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"We will wait to see what the Winnipeg Police Service (investigation) finds
and we'll go from there," said Luis Escobar, the city's manager of
transportation.
Escobar said the city recognizes cyclists want a protected route along
Pembina Highway, adding it is under consideration, but there are no plans
as to when that would occur.
In the meantime, Escobar said, the city is encouraging cyclists and
pedestrians to use the designated active- transportation routes to the
stadium.
"Everybody has to use the rules of the road," Escobar said.
Escobar, who was joined at a news conference Thursday by Michael Jack,
acting chief operating officer, said an active transportation policy for
Investors Group Field was thoroughly researched before the stadium opened
last year. Escobar and Jack were responding to a call from Blue Bombers
president Wade Miller Thursday to review the city's active-transportation
policy as it relates to the stadium in the light of Stevenson's death.
Winnipeg police said Stevenson, 69, was involved in a vehicle collision on
Pembina Highway near Bishop Grandin Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. He was taken
to hospital in unstable condition and died from his injuries.
"On multiple occasions, we have expressed concerns about active
transportation," Miller said. "Unfortunately, limited progress has been
made in addressing some of the concerns. As a result of this week's tragic
death, I think it is the responsibility of all involved to make their
voices heard to ensure fan safety is paramount."
Miller said the team is also concerned about the lack of street lighting
along Chancellor Matheson Drive and the safety threat that poses to
pedestrians.
"My concerns are about fan safety for those who choose to cycle or walk to
the stadium," Miller said, adding he's looking forward to resolving the
issues as soon as possible.
The bike route to the new stadium was singled out as a success story last
year. Thousands of fans -- adults and children -- rode their bikes safely
to Bomber games last year without incident.
Detailed active-transportation routes to the stadium are available on the
stadium website (investorsgroupfield.ca), including a route to bypass the
Bishop Grandin-Pembina intersection from both the west and the north.
But that has renewed concerns from the cycling community about safety on
one of the city's busiest thoroughfares.
Jack said civic officials met with the Bombers last week and the team had
not raised the issue of cyclist safety, but admitted the team now wants it
discussed when the two sides meet again.
Miller said his call for a review is not connected to the recent dispute
with city hall over the transit issue, adding the team has had
long-standing concerns about both cyclist and pedestrian safety.
Escobar said the city is committed to active transportation, adding more
than $85 million has been spent since 2008 in the establishment of 300
kilometres of active-transportation routes across the city.
Escobar said any changes or upgrades to the bike route will be considered
only after the conclusion of the police investigation and a report calling
for such modifications.
aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A3