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WFP: West Kildonan Industrial residents call for speed bumps after child hit by truck (Aug15'26)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '26

15 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. West Kildonan Industrial residents call for speed bumps after child hit by truck https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/15/west-kildonan-ind… Residents in the West Kildonan Industrial neighbourhood are calling on the city to install speed bumps in their area after a child was hit and dragged by a vehicle Thursday. Katelyn Bemister lives near the area where the child — who was hospitalized as a result of the incident and has been upgraded to stable condition — was struck. She says people frequently speed in the area. “They’re going really fast, and they’re not really paying attention at all to the pedestrians in the area,” says Bemister. In video supplied to the Free Press by a resident, the child can be seen riding a bike down a sidewalk along the 500 block of North Point Boulevard. As the child crosses a back alley that intersects with the street, a truck hits them and drags them several feet. The truck stops briefly, but as bystanders approach it, the driver speeds off with its squealing tires captured in the video. North Point Boulevard, which was crawling with kids Friday, is close to a park and playground. Bemister, who is also a parent, says adding speed bumps would make her feel safer. Area resident Ailea Kathleen Palomar also says speeding is an issue in the neighbourhood, but noted the combination of tall fences and uncontrolled intersections are creating risks for pedestrians and motorists. “It’s not safe because you can’t see,” said Palomar. Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) said the city has been installing traffic-calming measures in the area and additional changes are coming. Sharma says the speed limit on Murray Avenue has already been reduced to 60 km/h from 70 km/h and a four-way stop sign at Mira Gate is now in place. A stop sign on Ferrier Street and Murray Avenue has recently been added. Other changes, like speed bumps and the implementation of additional stop signs are “on the table,” says Sharma, while a traffic-calming review is underway for North Point Boulevard between Lyra Gate and Mira Gate. “It’s a horrible incident that unfolded this week and when there’s issues that emerge around road safety, we need to find solutions.” Winnipeg police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection to the hit-and-run. He is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. He was released on an appearance notice with a court date. morgan.modjeski(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: Doug Ford wins big battle in his war against Toronto bike lanes (Aug15'26)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '26

15 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Yikes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJh3VeqNHvY

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WFP: Drunk driver who killed cycling couple, orphaned their infant daughter, sentenced to eight years (Aug4'26)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Aug '26

04 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Drunk driver who killed cycling couple, orphaned their infant daughter, sentenced to eight years https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/04/drunk-driver-who-… A Winnipeg man responsible for a drunk-driving crash that killed two cyclists last summer and left their infant child an orphan has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Kuldeep Singh Gill was arrested Sept. 13 after fleeing from a high-speed collision on Kenaston Boulevard that killed 31-year-old Egor Popov and his 25-year-old common-law partner Kerry Ashley Bonner. Gill, 46, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of a collision. [SUPPLIED A memorial was set up on Kenaston Boulevard, close to where Kerry Ashley Bonner and Egor Popov were killed by a drunk driver.]<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…> SUPPLIED A memorial was set up on Kenaston Boulevard, close to where Kerry Ashley Bonner and Egor Popov were killed by a drunk driver. Gill, who has a prior conviction for impaired driving, made a conscious decision to drive drunk, knowing it made him a danger on the road, provincial court Judge David Ireland said at a sentencing hearing Tuesday. “His behaviour was morally repugnant,” Ireland said. “(Gill’s) driving record reflects someone who has flouted the law…. This was not an accident. A family has been destroyed and their child has been orphaned.” Gill, who has permanent resident status in Canada, faces likely deportation upon completing his sentence, which was jointly recommended by lawyers for the Crown and defence. According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court, Gill had consumed an “unknown amount” of alcohol while driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck along Kenaston Boulevard. Witnesses had already called police to report the vehicle driving erratically when Gill veered around slower moving traffic and onto the paved shoulder at the intersection of Enterprise Drive. Gill was still driving on the paved shoulder when he crashed into Bonner and Popov on their bicycles at approximately 9:15 p.m. Popov was pronounced dead at the scene while Bonner died in hospital a short time later. Truck driving 131 km/h at impact Gill, who had abandoned his vehicle and ran away, was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. as he walked in the area of Kenaston Boulevard and Scurfield Boulevard. Gill provided a breath sample and his blood-alcohol level was estimated to be as high as .137 at the time of the collision. Criminal charges are triggered for drivers with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. Police analyzed location data on Gill’s phone, which showed he had been in the vicinity of a Keewatin Street Liquor Mart earlier that afternoon. A review of security video at the store confirmed Gill had bought a bottle of 5-Star whisky at the store. Police found a partially consumed bottle of the same whisky in the centre console of Gill’s truck. An analysis of the truck’s crash data revealed Gill had been driving 131 km/h at the point of impact, 51 kilometres over the posted speed limit. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…]<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…> Lifetime prohibition from driving In July 2016, Gill was driving a Jeep Wrangler at a high speed in a residential area when he drove onto a boulevard, struck a school zone sign and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop on a resident’s front lawn. He tried to run away, but was followed by witnesses until police arrived and arrested him. He later pleaded guilty to driving over .08 and was fined $1,500 and prohibited from driving for one year. In 2020, Gill was convicted of failing to comply with licence restrictions after driving without a licence and driving while suspended. Ireland on Tuesday prohibited Gill from driving in Canada for life. “He has not got the message in the past,” Ireland said. “The public deserves to be protected.” Orphaned daughter in foster care Popov’s death has been “soul crushing,” his sister Mariia Mirau wrote in a victim impact statement provided to court. Popov — who immigrated to Canada from Kyrgyzstan — and Bonner were parents to a nine-month-old girl at the time of their deaths. The girl is now in foster care. Popov’s mother, who lives in Montreal, quit her job following his death and has made repeated trips to Winnipeg seeking a court order granting her custody of his daughter. “The loss of her son is extremely painful for her… even more so having to go through a custody battle for her granddaughter while grieving,” Mirau wrote. dean.pritchard(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP OpEd: Keep free youth transit simple (Jul31'26)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '26

31 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Keep free youth transit simple CORDELLA FRIESEN AND NOËLLE DEPAPE https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/07/31/keep-free-you… FOR too many young Winnipeggers, the cost of a bus pass is a barrier. It can mean missing a class, turning down a job opportunity or staying home from a program that could change their future. Free transit for youth in Winnipeg is a transformational policy that will pay dividends for decades to come — advancing key environmental, educational and poverty reduction goals in our communities. As champions for young people across our city, BGC Winnipeg and the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg commend Premier Wab Kinew and Mayor Scott Gillingham for recognizing that investing in young people is investing in Winnipeg’s future. By uniting to make transit free for youth across Winnipeg, both levels of government are delivering a forward-thinking policy that has the potential to have generational impact. At a time when families are stretched to their limits by inflation, free transportation for youth offers real, immediate relief. Saving money on monthly bus passes means parents can reallocate hard-earned dollars toward non-negotiable basic needs — rent, groceries and utility bills. Beyond the immediate household savings, free youth transit is an investment in our city’s future. First, it fosters a lifelong habit of public transit use, which is essential to shrinking our collective carbon footprint and building a greener Winnipeg. Second, and just as critically, it removes a significant barrier for our most vulnerable young people. This past June, Winnipeg School Division reported that chronic absenteeism is a significant concern, affecting approximately nine per cent of its student population. The division identified systemic barriers including housing instability, food insecurity and transportation as key factors that require coordinated community and government action. Consider the impact of one in every 10 students regularly missing school because of circumstances beyond their control. These are not simply attendance challenges — they are barriers to learning, social connection and long-term success. Although not the only solution required, addressing transportation is one practical, tangible step that can help remove one of those barriers and ensure more young people have consistent access to education and opportunity. Transportation shouldn’t dictate whether a teenager can thrive. Manitoba’s 2023 Poverty & Education Task Force report recommended free transit for youth, recognizing the barriers for youth living in poverty. Free transit also gives youth the ability to travel to part-time jobs, medical appointments, community and youth programs, and stay active at the local gym. It gives young Winnipeggers autonomy and opportunity. And as we know in the youth-serving sector, opportunity changes everything. However, as those of us who have spent years working on social policy and community change know, the devil is always in the details. A program is only as good as its delivery. If the rollout is burdened with complicated application forms, endless administrative hurdles, or separate card distribution systems, youth who need this program most will be the ones left standing at the curb. We have already seen how low-income Winnipeggers struggle to navigate the onerous process required to access programs such as the WINNpass. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes here. We urge the province and the city: keep it simple. The most effective system is one that uses existing infrastructure. Every high school student in Winnipeg is already issued a student card. Rather than inventing a new registration process, managing separate distribution channels or adding administrative strain to schools and community organizations, let youth simply show their student IDs to board the bus. For the minority of youth not connected to a school setting, the city can partner with youth-serving agencies to ensure these young people don’t miss out. No extra paperwork. No unnecessary delays. No digital or physical barriers to entry. The city and province have taken a visionary step forward for Winnipeg’s youth. Now, we must ensure that vision becomes a frictionless reality for every young person who needs it. A free transit program should be easy to understand, easy to access and designed with young people and families in mind. The simpler and more accessible we make this rollout, the more successful, equitable and greater the impact will be. Cordella Friesen is CEO of YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, and Noëlle DePape is CEO of BGC Winnipeg.

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WFP: Rivers train station to become bicycle museum (Jul30'26)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '26

30 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Rivers train station restoration projects get funding boost https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2026/07/29/rivers-restoration-proje… RIVERS — The provincial government is providing $98,000 to help restore the Rivers train station, develop a bicycle museum on the site and expand bike trails in the community. The train station is an important part of the province’s history, said Municipal Relations Minister Glen Simard, who was in Rivers on Wednesday. “This project preserves a key piece of Manitoba’s heritage, and it creates new opportunities for tourism, culture and local economic and recreational development,” Simard, the MLA for Brandon East, told a gathering of about 25 people. The funding, which is coming from the provincial program From the Ground Up — Safe Healthy Communities for All, is also being used toward researching and producing the Sekine bicycle story with Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan, for the planned museum. Rivers hosted a Sekine bicycle factory for the Japanese company from 1973 to 1981, shipping parts by rail across North America via the town’s train station. Simard said the train station and former bicycle factory — which is still commemorated with a mural along Main Street — are symbols of the strength, resilience, culture and history of the municipality. He said the restoration of the station, which will include a virtual and physical museum and more amenities for riders, is an important way to honour the past. The station’s main building remained shuttered Wednesday, with concrete crumbling from its base. Donna Morken, chair of the Rivers train station restoration and heritage committee, couldn’t say how much the restoration of the facility will cost, or give a timeline for repairs. “You have no idea how excited we are,” Morken told Simard. “Our committee is absolutely thrilled to receive such good news for our community.” She said officials will now need to determine how to allocate the funds. Some of the money will go toward a research project to determine how best to develop rural communities in other parts of the province. The director of the Rural Development Institute at Brandon University, Wayne Kelly, who is leading the research project, said the funding will aid researchers on the ground in Rivers. “As we work with community groups that are doing this type of work on the ground, we’re going to be developing the training and some of those techniques to sort of train other community groups around research skills on the ground, so that they don’t necessarily need a PhD to come in and do community research,” Kelly said. Other Westman, Interlake and francophone communities could be part of the pilot project as it expands, he said. “What do they need both in terms of resources and supports from places like Brandon University, like the Rural Development Institute?” Kelly said. “And how we can all help our rural communities in Manitoba sort of continue to grow and develop as they want to direct it?” — Brandon Sun

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WFP: Ceremony heralds growth of active transportation network in city’s north (Jul29'26)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Jul '26

29 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Ceremony heralds growth of active transportation network in city’s north https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/07/28/ceremony-heralds-… NORTH Winnipeg’s active transportation network is set to grow, with construction planned for a nearly two-kilometre extension of the Northwest Hydro Corridor Multi-Use Path later this summer. A few community members, Mayor Scott Gillingham and other representatives from the city and province and Trails Manitoba gathered Tuesday at Daylan Marshall Gate Park for a groundbreaking ceremony. This marks the start of Phase 2 of the project, which will extend the existing multi-use pathway north and south. The original Northwest Hydro Corridor opened in 2023 and runs nearly three kilometres along the hydro right-of-way from Leila Avenue to Church Avenue, just west of McPhillips Street. Phase 2 will extend the corridor north from Leila Avenue to the greenspace behind Daylan Marshall Gate and south from Church Avenue to Selkirk Avenue. Once completed, the pathway will stretch approximately 4.2 kilometres in length. “This trail has become an important gathering place for the community,” said Old Kildonan city councillor Devi Sharma. “I see some of the residents out from the neighbourhood today, and I know how excited (they) are about this second phase.” Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, cycled to the ceremony and said the organization has long advocated for the expansion. Cohoe said he often takes groups out on the pathway. “When you’re out in the community on the pathway — maybe going to shop at the Superstore, maybe you’re going for a meal, or families are going to a park or a soccer game — that’s where you meet your neighbours. You’re out of that metal box shell and it’s face to face. That’s how we really knit our network together.” The $3-million project will add new features along the route, including lighting, benches, offshoot connections to the Wellness Institute and Simkin Drive and a new sidewalk on Admiral Avenue. “One thing Manitobans understand is that getting active doesn’t have to happen in the gym,” said JD Devgan, New Democrat MLA for McPhillips. “Sometimes it’s walking to school, sometimes it’s biking to work and sometimes it’s just taking out the family for an evening stroll in the neighbourhood or on a trail close to home. So good infrastructure makes those choices easier.” The expansion will also include new pedestrian crossings with rapid flashing beacons at Templeton Avenue, Mountain Avenue and Burrows Avenue, along with additional traffic-calming measures near the pathway. “It’s always good when Northwest Winnipeg gets a little bit of love from their governments,” Devgan said. “This is the kind of investment that pays dividends for generations.” The project is funded, in part, by a $330,000 contribution from Trails Manitoba and is expected to provide additional connections for pedestrians and cyclists in the area, including a future link to the path network in the growing Amber Gates area. Coun. Janice Lukes, chair of city council’s public works committee, said northwest Winnipeg has long been one of the city’s most underserved areas for active transportation. Lukes (Waverley West) said the city’s growing investment in active transportation has helped make projects such as the Northwest Hydro Corridor expansion possible. Winnipeg’s active transportation budget has grown from $1 million in 2015 to $12.2 million this year, with $50.1 million forecast over the next five years. “Not everyone has an option of getting in a vehicle and moving, whether it’s age, whether it’s choice, whether it’s health issues, and this provides options to people,” Cohoe said. zoe.pierce(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: Steinbach coalition looks to Winkler's wisdom on small-city transit service
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '26

23 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Group wants public transit to be election issue in Steinbach, while Winkler aims to extend on-demand pilot https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-winkler-on-demand-transit… A coalition of over 20 Steinbach-area service providers has been trying for over three years to convince council in the southeastern Manitoba city to give public transit a chance. The South East Equity Coalition has built a business plan and offered to run a transit service in Steinbach<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/steinbach-transit-system-9.7067253>, but was told by mayor and council they need to see a viable plan before putting the idea into gear. So the coalition took the trip to Winkler on July 14, where the city says a pilot on-demand transit system is now being extended to 2028. "It was amazing to actually see our dream, our vision for what could be in Steinbach, in reality in Winkler," said Gay Boese, the chair of the South East Equity Coalition. She hopes transit will be top of mind for voters during this October's municipal election. Boese said Steinbach's mayor and council were invited, but only Steinbach council candidates Mitesh Kumar and Greg Carlos were able to come along for the ride. Kumar, who grew up in India and moved to Steinbach 10 years ago, said he was surprised to find there was no public transit in Steinbach — Manitoba's third-largest city, with a population now estimated at around 22,000<https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710015501>. According to the most recent census data, a quarter of people in Steinbach <https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page…> are first-generation Canadians. "We have specific stories about immigrants who have come to Steinbach with the job in hand, assuming that a city this size would have public transit," said Boese. "When they got here, there was no public transit. They could not get to their job consistently, and they lost their job." Steinbach is one of 14 communities in Canada that participates in the federal rural community immigration pilot<https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrat…>, which offers permanent residence to skilled workers in rural and remote communities. There are 42 employers<https://steinbachedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/RCIP-Designated-Employe…> in the region using the program, according to the Southeast Manitoba Economic Development Corporation. Even the service providers that make up the equity coalition — providers that work with seniors, people with intellectual and physical disabilities, low-income residents and new Canadians, among others — have had trouble keeping some new employees who did not have access to their own vehicles. "You would be surprised to know how many people are economically marginalized in our community," said Valerie Hiebert, a member of the coalition's transit working group. Those are people "who can't get to medical appointments efficiently, or to the groceries, or to a job, who need affordable transit," she said. Winkler transit on demand Meanwhile, the City of Winkler, about 100 kilometres southwest of Steinbach, has been running a transit pilot project with an on-demand van since November 2024. The project "has been successful beyond expectation," said Mayor Henry Siemens, with the city recording an average of 900 trips per month in 2025<https://winkler2019.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&l…>. That's why he and Winkler city council voted earlier this month to seek federal funding to buy mini buses. "I don't know what the future looks like of it, but I suspect in some manner or fashion, Winkler is now in the business of transit," said Siemens. [People stand in front of transit van.] The South East Equity Coalition brought along Steinbach council candidates Mitesh Kumar, left, and Greg Carlos, second from left, to test out Winkler's on-demand transit project. (Submitted by South East Equity Coalition) Community service providers and voters in Winkler made it clear to him during the 2022 municipal elections that public transportation needed to be a priority, said Siemens. "It creates options, and those options create freedom.… It's literally a quality of life issue," he said. The system currently has one accessible eight-seater van, and rides can be ordered through<https://www.cityofwinkler.ca/p/winkler-on-demand-transit> a website, and app or by phone. The cost is $5 per trip. The route for the van is based on the location of the requested pickups and dropoffs. Winkler estimates the total cost of its pilot transit system to be $365,000 per year. The city will need to find a way to pay for the extra year of the transit pilot project it approved, after federal funding runs out next spring. Along with other communities on the cities caucus of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Winkler is lobbying the province<https://amm.mb.ca/download/news_releases/2026.04.28-AMM-News-Release.pdf> to return to 50-50 cost sharing for municipal transit, after that ended in 2017<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/transit-funding-poll-atu-1.4847068>. Siemens said the province has been receptive to a return to the funding formula but has made no guarantees. The provincial government has started funding free student bus passes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-transit-free-youth-fare-9.…> in Selkirk, and plans to do the same in Winkler, Winnipeg, Brandon and Flin Flon. Siemens said he hopes the Steinbach visitors who tried Winkler's service saw that even in a small city, an on-demand public transit system can work. "We recognized there was a need, but it was always so prohibitive to do it and so overwhelming to get there," he said. "But when we were able to get there, it is something that's made a difference in our community."

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WFP: Man hurt by e-scooter wants rules enacted (Jul23'26)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '26

23 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Man hurt by e-scooter wants rules enacted https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/07/22/e-scooter-knocks-… A WINNIPEG man was thrown onto the pavement and injured after being struck by an electric scooter after stepping off a Winnipeg Transit bus Monday afternoon, an incident he hopes will push the city to take a closer look at sidewalk safety. Mike McKenna, 69, said he was returning home from work at Health Sciences Centre when he stepped out of the rear doors of the bus at a stop on southbound Main Street at Broadway. “The second my foot hit the pavement, like in the corner of my eye, I saw something beating at me,” McKenna said. “Then kaboom.” McKenna said the impact sent him into the air and he landed hard on his left arm on the concrete sidewalk. He said the bus driver got out of the vehicle to check on him. “I went flying right in the air and smashed down on the sidewalk,” he said. “I (lay) there for a while because it was just so devastating, you know.” His arm was scraped and bruised from just above his elbow to his mid-forearm. McKenna, who regularly lifts weights, said the injury has forced him to put his workout routine on hold. “My left arm, I can’t use it,” he said, adding it could take a week to recover. McKenna said he did not go to the hospital, but was dizzy afterward and treated the injury himself at home. The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported hospitalizations linked to e-scooter injuries increased 32 per cent in 2023-24, rising to 498 from 375 the previous year. The scooter rider, who was not wearing a helmet, stopped after the collision and helped McKenna to his feet. McKenna said the rider appeared shaken and apologized. “He wouldn’t let go of my hand,” McKenna said. “He was genuinely scared and sorry.” McKenna said the rider told him he saw the bus doors open and tried to brake before the collision but was unable to due to the speed of the e-scooter, which left skid marks on the sidewalk before striking him. “A 24-inch skid mark and then the smash happened.” McKenna said his concern goes beyond his own injuries, pointing to the possibility of a similar crash involving someone more vulnerable. “I’m a fit guy, even though I’m old,” McKenna said. “But you know, these little old fragile ladies ride the bus and what if that was them? She would have never made it … that was just too big of a crash.” McKenna, who lives downtown, says he has noticed more electric scooters and e-bikes “zooming” through his neighbourhood in recent years and believes pedestrians are at risk because of the speed of motorized devices. “I thought somebody’s gonna get hit. I never thought it’d be me,” he said. Manitoba has moved toward new rules for personal electric vehicles, including e-scooters, e-skateboards and electric unicycles. The province passed legislation in June that imposes new requirements, including a minimum operating age of 16, mandatory helmets, a ban on sidewalk riding except where designated and a maximum operating speed of 25 km/h. The province has not announced when the changes will take effect or what penalties will apply to rule breakers. Coun. Janice Lukes, chair of city council’s public works committee, said that rules are needed to address safety concerns related to personal electric vehicles. “There are very few rules and that makes it very challenging.” She said creating regulations tailored to Winnipeg’s size and infrastructure presents challenges and that enforcement will be difficult given the city’s population. “It’s one of these environments that we’ve got to get under control and we’re working on it, but it doesn’t happen overnight,” Lukes said. “But the repercussions of the person driving the e-bike (who hit McKenna), they’ve driven off into the sunset. So it’s not a good scenario.” McKenna said he hopes his experience will prompt quick action to regulate e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles. “This is an example of just how brutal it’s going to be, not how it might be.” zoe.pierce(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: City tries to find the right balance in regulating personal e-vehicles (Jul18'26)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Jul '26

18 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. SHARING THE ROAD City tries to find the right balance in regulating personal e-vehicles https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/07/17/sharing-the-road PATTY Wiens was already a cycling enthusiast when she got an electric bicycle in early 2023, but she didn’t realize how much it would transform the way she got around Winnipeg. She started riding throughout winter and stopped relying on her vehicle. Eventually, she sold her car. “It’s not a replacement for a bike,” she said. “It’s a replacement for a car.” Wiens said her e-bike is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way to get around the city, especially as the cost of living mounts. Not everyone is as effusive about e-bikes as Wiens. Many Winnipeggers have stories of being startled by e-bike riders who silently whip by them on active transportation paths, or helmetless e-scooter riders, often with a passenger clinging to their backs, zipping down sidewalks. One municipal leader has said their popularity has led to a “Wild West” mentality on city streets. As more people turn to e-bikes and other personal electric vehicles, including e-scooters, e-skateboards and e-unicycles, there is consensus that regulations are needed for how they operate on Winnipeg streets and pathways. The province is preparing new rules that will introduce speed limits, helmet requirements and other restrictions after receiving complaints that the lack of regulation has created unsafe conditions. Coun. Janice Lukes, the chair of Winnipeg city council’s public works committee, said such changes are greatly needed to control the vehicles, which operate in a free-for-all. “There are serious hazards. I see, all of the time … two kids on an electric bike or electric scooters (with) no helmets. Head injuries have skyrocketed,” Lukes said. The Canadian Institute for Health Information has reported the number of hospitalizations linked to e-scooters in Canada has surged by 32 per cent, to 498 in 2023-24 from 375 in 2022-23 . Dr. Brian Rowe, an emergency physician and professor at the University of Alberta, said emergency departments in the Edmonton area have recorded a steady rise in e-scooter injuries since rental scooters arrived in 2019. Most injuries are orthopedic, including fractures and dislocations that can require surgery. About 15 per cent of patients admitted to hospital have significant head injuries. Rowe said he supports regulations such as mandatory helmets, age restrictions and speed limits, but believes legislation needs to be backed by enforcement. “Education can only do so much,” Rowe said. “Provincially, they should probably have wider, more detailed legislation, but also some teeth. Because as far as I know, there has been no surveillance or enforcement of any of the rules.” Some Winnipeg residents say they’ve witnessed unsafe riding firsthand. Bobi Stupack said her husband saw a teenager crash after taking one hand off the handlebars of his e-scooter. “He stopped to help, so did another witness,” Stupack said. “The other witness took him to a hospital due to head injury symptoms and a broken thumb. He didn’t have a helmet on, like so many others fail to do.” Others say the actions of some e-bike and e-scooter users should not define everyone who relies on them. Adam Borchert uses an e-bike because of a disability and said it has become an important part of his well-being. “It has made a massive improvement to my independence and quality of life,” he said. Robert Ryan said he loves what his e-bike offers. “For someone like me in my 50s, it’s much easier on my knees, and I can be out exploring places I wouldn’t normally ride,” Ryan said. “I’m a pretty cautious and safe rider and haven’t really had any close calls.” Demand has steadily increased for legal e-bikes — those that are limited to a maximum assisted speed of 32 kilometres an hour. Brett Zagozewski, the owner of Bikes and Beyond Winnipeg, said e-bike sales tripled at the store last year. Zagozewski said e-bikes were once more popular among older riders, but the customer base has expanded across all age groups. “We certainly remind people, like anything that you want to operate, whether it’s an e-bicycle or a pedal bicycle, you should operate it with proper etiquette.” ●●● UNDER Manitoba’s current Highway Traffic Act rules, e-bikes are treated similarly to traditional bicycles. To qualify as an e-bike, they must have working pedals, a motor no larger than 500 watts and they must not provide electric assistance above 32 km/h. The minimum age to operate one is 14. Like traditional bicycles, e-bikes are permitted on roads, bike lanes and designated multi-use paths. They are not allowed on sidewalks, and riders are required to wear helmets. The provincial fine schedule includes a $113 ticket when an e-bike rider is caught not wearing a helmet or riding underage or riding on a sidewalk with an oversized rear wheel. E-scooters and other personal electric vehicles are in a different position. The province passed legislation in June to bring devices such as e-scooters, e-skateboards, self-balancing scooters and electric unicycles under the Highway Traffic Act in a new category called “personal electric vehicles.” However, those rules have not yet taken effect. Riders will need to be at least 16 years old to operate electric vehicles such as scooters and skateboards. All riders of personal electric vehicles will be required to wear a helmet, stay off sidewalks (except where noted otherwise) and are restricted from carrying a passenger. Exceptions include sidewalks designated as multi-use paths for both cycling and walking. Riders will be capped at an operating speed of 25 km/h, and they won’t be allowed on highways with speed limits greater than 50 km/h. A provincial spokesperson said the penalties for breaking those rules are still being determined. The date when the changes will take effect was not provided. Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said in an interview that setting the minimum age at 16 aligns with most other communities and reflects an age when riders should be able to understand and follow the rules of the road. “My focus is always on keeping Manitobans … safe on our roadways … The kinds of things that we’ve been hearing across the provinces are (about) folks using these on walking paths or sidewalks, going at quite high speeds and sometimes creating a lot of risk for people using those pathways,” said Naylor. “At the same time, we know that a lack of helmet use for those types of vehicles does lead to a lot of health expenses and, of course, trauma for kids or adults who hit their heads when they fall off these things.” ●●● ONE cycling advocate supports capping the speed limit but isn’t convinced helmets should be made mandatory. “I think you’re better off promoting helmets rather than legislating helmets … The fear is that there’s a tendency when you legislate helmets … that you promote the fear side of things rather than the benefit,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. Cohoe said that could make the vehicles seem more dangerous and deter some people from using the environmentally friendly transportation option. He said head injuries from collisions with motor vehicles are still possible when a helmet is worn. Rowe, the emergency physician, said helmet laws should apply to all active transportation devices. “I’ve seen that dozens, hundreds of times — people not wearing a helmet … they can have a lifelong injury,” he said. “Most of the people who wear a helmet, yeah the helmet might crack and they might get an abrasion somewhere, but they’re not (left) disabled.” Cohoe also believes federal rules may be needed to regulate the power, size and weight of e-bikes that are allowed for use in Canada. Zagozewski said there are a lot of non-certified e-bikes on city streets that are going faster than 32 km/h. Those vehicles should be categorized as mopeds and not allowed on sidewalks, he said. Wiens is also concerned by the dangers the illegal bikes pose. “I still get passed by these illegal e-motorcycles,” Wiens said. “They’re not even e-bikes; they’re just throttling it and zooming past me. And it’s kind of concerning; it’s kind of scary.” ●●● THE City of Morden implemented its own bylaw on e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards in June, which makes helmets mandatory, allows just one rider (per single-person device), bans riding on sidewalks and boulevards and requires the vehicles to travel close to the right-hand curb of the road in the same direction as traffic. The regulations also require the vehicles to be equipped with a headlight and rear light or reflector when used during dusk or when it’s dark. Any infraction comes with a $50 fine, and in cases of flagrant repeated abuse, the vehicle may be impounded. Lukes said it would be more challenging for Winnipeg to carve out specific rules, since its population of more than 800,000 has so many trails, including bike routes that include both dedicated active transportation paths and roads shared with motor vehicles. “We have a lot more to look at than Morden does and we want to fall in line with provincial legislation … We’ve got thousands of vehicles on the roads,” the councillor said. Lukes supports the provincial rules and believes the city will find a way to adapt them to its environment and infrastructure. But because of the city’s size and population, enforcement will be a challenge, she said. Winnipeg’s public service is expected to make recommendations to city council on how best to regulate personal electric vehicles later this year or early next year, city public works spokesperson Julie Dooley said in an email. “There are some aspects of (the legislation) that need to be addressed in a Winnipeg context, which is a more complicated operating environment for e-bikes than smaller communities,” wrote Dooley. Wiens said the goal is to increase the number of people who use them safely and create a city in which all road users, including drivers, are mindful of each other. “We need education everywhere, because when we’re on a multi-use path, we need to prioritize pedestrian safety, right? Ring a bell, slow down.” — with files from The Canadian Press joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> zoe.pierce(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca>

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CTV: Alberta launches complaint line over bike lanes (Jul16'26)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jul '26

17 Jul '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nat5gZLAmog

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