*Input sought for proposed Exchange District bike lane project *
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/public-gets-chance-to-preview-propo…
WINNIPEGGERS will get their chance today to weigh in on a proposed bike
lane project in the Exchange District.
The project, if approved, will result in a new protected bike lane on
Princess Street, stretching from Higgins Avenue (near Siloam Mission) to
William Avenue near (Red River College’s Roblin Centre).
The information session at Roblin Centre is scheduled for today at 4 p.m.
The public will have a chance to see the proposed designs, learn how
feedback from consultations with stakeholders — including the Siloam
Mission, RRC, Chinatown Development Corp. and Centre Venture — was
incorporated and voice their opinions on the project.
“It’s really important to get the public’s input,” project manager Mark
Doucet said.
“(We want to) make sure we’re balancing the needs of business owners and
the traffic going through there.”
Claire Li, who manages the Princess Street furniture store HUT K, said she
thinks because that stretch of road isn’t connected to other nearby
protected bike lanes in the neighbourhood, fewer people are using it.
While Princess Street has painted bike lanes, the lack of concrete barriers
between cars and bikes means cyclists may feel less safe — especially as
the roads get slippery, Li said.
For the past few months, HUT K employees have been tracking how many
cyclists use the bike rack in front of the store, she said. Lately, those
numbers are dropping.
“There just aren’t bike lanes,” Li said. “Anything that supports other
forms of transportation, and making it easier for bikers to feel safe and
willing to bike the full Exchange, would be great.”
Mark Cohoe, executive director of the advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, said
getting more people cycling as a way to get around is a good approach to
reducing greenhouse-gas
emissions and decreasing traffic congestion downtown.
Cohoe also pointed to a recent Probe Research survey, jointly commissioned
by CAA Manitoba and Bike Winnipeg, in which more than one-third of
respondents said they would cycle more if adequate infrastructure were in
place. The survey also found nearly half of respondents felt Winnipeg
should add more separated bike lanes along major routes.
“We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re definitely making progress,” Cohoe said.
“People really want to see (cycling) as something that’s a viable option
for them. A lot of people — given the right opportunity, and the right
infrastructure — would choose to bike to their destinations.”
The city’s consultation and study on the proposed Princess Street bike lane
project are just preliminary steps in the process, Doucet said. A final
report — which will make adjustments based on feedback and include a cost
estimate— should be completed in early 2019.
“Once we see what the costs are, we will take that to (city) council,”
Doucet said. “We’re hopeful that it’s a high priority.”
caitlyn.gowriluk(a)freepress.mb.ca
Still time to fill out the survey!
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Wolseley Downtown <WolseleyDowntown(a)intergroup.ca>
Date: Tue, Dec 4, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Subject: Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project - Survey deadline
To: Wolseley Downtown <WolseleyDowntown(a)intergroup.ca>
Good Morning,
Last chance to provide feedback during phase 1!
The survey to provide your input on the Wolseley to Downtown Corridor
Project will close on *December 6, 2018*. During phase 1 we are collecting
input that will contribute to identifying the values and issues that are
important to you when working on improvements to active transportation
within the study area corridor. View background information about the
project at the project webpage
<https://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkbikeprojects/wol…>,
and fill out the survey <https://wolseley-walkbike.metroquest.ca/>.
Thank you to everyone who has already provided input! The project team will
enter phase 2 of the public engagement program in late winter 2019 to
review and discuss design options and alternatives.
For more information visit winnipeg.ca/walkbikeprojects
<https://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkBikeProjects/def…>
.
