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WFP: Cyclist dies after crashing into parked semi (Aug7'24)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Aug '24

07 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Man riding at high speed when collision occurred Cyclist dies after crashing into parked semi https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/08/06/cyclist-dies-afte… A 67-YEAR-OLD male cyclist died after crashing into the back of a parked tractor-trailer on the side of Kenaston Boulevard, near Waverley Street, on Friday. The cyclist was riding at high speed when he collided with the rear of the trailer, which had its hazard lights activated on the northbound shoulder, shortly before 2:30 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service said. “It’s always tragic. You feel for the family,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, which advocates for increased cycling awareness and safety in the city. “The bottom line is it’s just tragic,” said local Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West). The WPS provided limited information in a news release Tuesday. Police would not provide more details about the cause of the crash, which is being investigated by the traffic division. The cyclist’s name was not released. His family has been notified, police said. He is at least the second cyclist to be killed on Winnipeg’s roads in as many months. Police wouldn’t say if the man was wearing a helmet. The crash happened on a stretch of Kenaston that has one separated cycling route (on the west side) north of Waverley, and none to the south between Waverley and the Perimeter Highway. While details are limited, the incident points to a gap in Winnipeg’s active transportation network, and the importance of separated lanes for cyclists, said Cohoe. “You don’t have a pathway in that section,” he said. “It just showcases that we want to have a separation on those roadways.” There are plans to build a separated lane on the east side of Kenaston north of Waverley, said Lukes, chair of city hall’s public works committee. She said there are currently no plans for bike routes on Kenaston between Waverley and the Perimeter, given the province’s previously announced plans to build a bypass in the area. “When the St. Norbert bypass comes into play, then stuff like (bike lanes) will happen,” said Lukes. In 2015, the former NDP government said construction of a new $400-million route bypassing St. Norbert — by linking Kenaston and Highway 75 — would begin in five years and be completed within 10 years. The proposal included a cloverleaf interchange at Kenaston and the Perimeter. Almost 10 years later, no construction has taken place. The NDP lost the 2016 provincial election to the Progressive Conservatives, who ordered studies and held public information sessions while in government. The Tories lost last year’s election to the NDP. A provincial spokesperson said a 2020 design study proposed an interchange at Kenaston and the Perimeter as part of the long-term Winnipeg One Million Perimeter Freeway Initiative. Active transportation routes were considered in the study, the spokesperson said. Cyclists rallied in Winnipeg last month to call on the city to make streets safer for them, following a fatal collision in June and a separate crash that injured a teenage girl. Both collisions occurred on Wellington Crescent. Cohoe wants Winnipeg’s road-safety strategic action plan, passed by council in 2022, to be fully funded and implemented to help reduce fatal and serious injury collisions involving all road users. “The goal of the city really needs to be that we don’t see people dying in collisions,” he said. The plan comprises 67 actions for improved safety for all road users, and a goal of reducing fatal and serious collisions by 20 per cent over five years. Each year, Winnipeg averages 13 fatal collisions and 145 crashes resulting in serious injuries, according to city data. Across the province, an average of four cyclists are killed and 78 are injured in collisions per year, Manitoba Public Insurance’s website stated. A helmet was not worn in almost 90 per cent of cases in which a cyclist was killed in a collision with a vehicle, according to MPI. The WPS, meanwhile, is asking anyone with information about Friday’s crash or video from vehicle dashboard or home surveillance cameras to call investigators at 204-986-7085<tel:204-986-7085> or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477<tel:204-786-8477>. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Festival brings together active transportation and environmental performance art (Aug6'24)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Aug '24

06 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ROLLING CIRCUS Festival brings together active transportation and environmental performance art https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2024/08/06/rolling-circus IT’S an outdoor adventure that combines the thrill of live performance with the charm of nature. Bike and Circuses, returning for its second year from Aug. 7 to 11, promises a blend of theatre, music and dance set against the backdrop of Whittier Park. “Bike and Circuses is about combining physical adventure with being a participant in a theatrical event,” explains Daina Leitold, executive director of Green Kids Inc. and co-producer of Bike and Circuses. “We wanted to experiment with the way we tend to take in the arts — quietly and passively. We are talking about taking action for the health of this planet. This is no time to be passive.” “And also, just breaking down this kind of theatre convention where everyone’s inside and they’re watching a play,” adds co-producer Brenda Mc-Lean. “We want more engagement and more of a feeling of the audience being participants in the theatre spectacle.” The inspiration for Bike and Circuses came when McLean visited Quebec City and saw an outdoor circus event by Cirque du Soleil. “The energy was incredible, with so many people from the city and surrounding areas coming out to watch. I thought, ‘Why not bring that kind of vibrant outdoor circus festival to Winnipeg?’ We needed more of that festival atmosphere in Winnipeg and to bring these great events to our city,” she says. The event is carbon neutral, prioritizing eco-friendly materials and transportation. Costumes, sets and props will be made from mostly salvaged or second-hand items and travel will be by foot, bike or transit as much as possible. The show takes audiences on a tour of the park, stopping to take in various performances along the way. Green Kids has partnered with community organizations, environmental NGOs and local businesses to create an interactive outdoor lobby where audiences can learn about environmental advocacy and active transportation, says McLean. Circus performer Lil Borger is excited about the show. “I specialize in something called cyr wheel. It’s like a big metal hula hoop that I spin in, kind of like when a coin spins on the ground,” says Borger, who has been performing since the age of seven. “I’m working with an amazing accordionist from Winnipeg named Anne-Marie (Williot), who’s going to be doing live accompaniment. My act also involves some spoken word.” Borger and Williot have been co-ordinating via Zoom as Borger currently lives in Montreal, attending McGill University. The performance tackles the theme of economic growth and its impact on the environment. “It goes into themes of overconsumption tied to overproduction and overuse of our planet and natural resources,” says Borger. “It shows the tension between nature, which I play, and our human economic system of production, which is represented by the wheel and the accordionist.” ANOTHER performer featured is Charlene Van Buekenhout, a Métis/Belgian/Canadian theatre artist, who will use a crankie machine — a moving panorama — to create an immersive storytelling experience. “I’m doing something that I have not done before. My whole piece is based around the concept of an ultrasound, connecting people to what’s inside themselves and the world around them,” Buekenhout says. Luekenhout was inspired by an exercise she learned from an elder at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. “You sit in the environment, notice the things around you and connect those things to yourself. It’s all about personalizing our world and recognizing that we are made up of the world around us,” she says, adding she will invite audience participation in a gentle and engaging manner. “I will be the ultrasound wand, and you can place your hand on my head while I turn the crankie machine. You’ll see what’s inside yourself. It’ll be very pain-free and non-invasive, just a fun and sweet way to engage with the audience.” Other performances include butoh dancer Tanja Faylene Woloshen, theatre artist Loc Lu and musical theatre performers Brittany and Mario Lagassé. THIS year’s event aims to be more inclusive than the first, with different routes and accessibility options. The event offers three versions to accommodate various audience needs: one for those on bicycles, one for those walking or slow rolling and a more physically-accessible route. “Knowing right away we wanted to do a show that was on bikes, our first thought was ‘That’s awesome, but is that for everybody?’” Leitold says. “We’ve been working with accessibility consultants. We offer the show for people walking as well as for people on bikes, and we have a physical show with an accessible path for folks who prefer not to walk too much but still want to experience being in the park.” Despite some challenges, the team is committed to making Bike and Circuses a recurring event, she says. “There was no Bike and Circuses in 2023 due to funding issues but we hope to make it a yearly event with enough community support. We want to show that being out in your city and taking time away from your cell phone, computer and car to go to a park and walk or ride a bike is a good way to get in touch with nature. The closer you are to nature, the more you might care about being environmentally responsible.” Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-choose pricing model: $10, $20 or $30 plus fees, with children four and under free. thandi.vera(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Analysis: More bike lanes make for a better city (Aug6'24)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Aug '24

06 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. More bike lanes make for a better city https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/08/04/more-bike-lanes-m… A FEW weeks ago in Winnipeg, Rob Jenner was killed by a driver while riding his bike to work. On July 29, a few blocks away, a young girl out for a bike ride with her dad was hospitalized after a driver crashed into her. Every year, an average of 70 people riding a bike are hit by drivers so severely that an injury report is filed with the police. In a six-month cycling season, that’s every third day. Yet, when the city began public consultation for three new protected bike lanes, two downtown and one in the West-Alexander area, the usual public opposition was heard. The talking points are always predictable and can be addressed one-by-one. ● Winnipeg is a winter city. We don’t need bike lanes for six months a year. This is like saying, “I don’t need to wear a life jacket because I only go boating in the summertime.” Far fewer people cycle in winter but this shouldn’t diminish the need for safe streets in the seasons when people are riding bikes and fighting for road space with thousand-kilogram machines. We publicly invest in many things not used to their full capacity year-round. Would this same argument not apply to parks, sidewalks, arenas, pools and splash pads? ● We can’t afford bike lanes. Bike lanes are cheap. We spend $5 million per year on all active transportation projects. Most of this funding is used to build and maintain sidewalks, with a small percentage used for on-street bike lanes that are often rolled into larger road renewal projects. Spending on dedicated cycling infrastructure is a rounding error in our overall roads budget. We spend $170 million every year fixing existing roads and the Transportation Master Plan projects spending almost that amount building new roads. If we can’t afford bike infrastructure, we really can’t afford car infrastructure like the Kenaston Boulevard widening, pegged to cost the equivalent of the entire active transportation budget for 150 years. ● Winnipeg is a car city. It sure is but with 8,300 kilometers of public roads and less than 30 kilometres of on-street protected bike lanes, there’s lots of room for cars. ● Nobody rides a bike in Winnipeg anyway. The federal census shows between 5,000 and 7,000 people ride a bike to work daily between May and October. While this represents less than two per cent of commuters citywide, it varies significantly by neighbourhood. About two-thirds of bike commuters live less than five kilometres from Portage and Main. In suburban neighbourhoods like Bridgwater, Seven Oaks, Island Lakes, Linden Woods, Sage Creek, and North Kildonan, this percentage is close to zero. It’s understandable, if you live in this type of neighbourhood, you might believe nobody rides a bike. In mature neighbourhoods like River Heights, West Broadway, Osborne, and Earl Grey, cycling mode share is closer to six per cent of all commuters. Wolseley is ranked as a top 10 cycling neighbourhood in Canada with 12 per cent of commuters riding a bike. Many more people, including children, cycle for other reasons, such as recreation, exercise, or riding to school. The bike counter near The Forks regularly shows more than a thousand people biking past on a summer weekend day. A 2022 CAA survey found that 15 per cent of Winnipeggers ride a bike at least a few times per week, with a further 30 per cent riding occasionally. Forty per cent of respondents said they would bike more if they had safe, protected lanes to ride in. ● If cyclists want bike lanes, they should pay for it themselves. City streets, sidewalks and bike lanes are paidfor overwhelmingly through property taxes. Like drivers, people who ride bikes pay property taxes. Cyclists don’t pay fuel taxes that go into the government’s general revenues but the money they save is spent on other things that are similarly taxed. Most cyclists also drive a car. ● Bike lanes take parking away from downtown businesses. Planners are careful to design bike lanes to be as minimally disruptive as possible. When the Exchange District bike lanes were built, diagonal parking was implemented to increase the total number of stalls in the immediate area. The downtown lanes currently being proposed will remove 97 on street stalls, representing 0.3 percent of downtown’s 26,000 public parking stalls. Diversifying mobility options is a key step in the long-term process of creating a downtown residential neighbourhood to support local shops and businesses, so they don’t have to rely on the ever-dwindling number of people driving downtown to shop. ● Bike lanes make driving worse. Separating cyclists, drivers and pedestrians into their own lanes is better for everyone. If you get frustrated as a driver having to pass slow-moving cyclists on the street, you should support bike lanes that keep them separate from car traffic. Bike lanes often get blamed for narrowing car lanes but most often, as in the case of Goulet Street, this is done intentionally to slow vehicle speeds and calm traffic having nothing to do with bike lanes. Many people will read this angrily and think cyclists deserve their fate because they don’t follow the rules of the road. Undoubtedly, some percentage of the population is selfish and irresponsible but just as many of those people are drivers, or pedestrians. Cyclists aren’t protected by a thousand kilograms of steel with crumple zones, air bags and seat belts. Improving their safety comes from the built environment. When we create safe streets by narrowing lanes and intersections, slowing vehicle speeds, improving sight lines, widening sidewalks and building bike lanes, we build in a safety factor that allows for mistakes, distractions, careless behaviour and unexpected conditions to happen — without having someone pay for it with their life. Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.

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WFP: Gaping hole on city pathway remains ‘disgusting, a danger’ (Aug3'24)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Aug '24

03 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Gaping hole on city pathway remains ‘disgusting, a danger’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/08/02/gaping-hole-on-ci… A MASSIVE hole on a city pathway that has triggered safety complaints for more than a year has grown even larger, amid hope a permanent fix is on the way. Early Friday afternoon, the gaping depression surrounded by bright orange fencing appeared to stretch at least seven metres long, three metres wide and up to one metre deep. It previously triggered complaints when it was about six metres long in June 2023. “It’s ridiculous. I walk these trails at least twice a day… and this has been (very large for) a few years,” said Karen Stokes. “It’s an eyesore, I think it’s disgusting … Some of these (guard) rails are in that water. It attracts mosquitoes, there’s lots of reasons that it’s gross.” At least one barricade was spotted submerged in water, with weeds and algae in the hole on Friday. Most of the damage is located on the path that connects an Amarynth Crescent playground to the busy Sturgeon Creek active transportation route. Stokes noted the area is so well used by pedestrians and cyclists that their traffic has worn away grass on both sides of the path. During repeated downpours this June, those stretches became a wet, sticky “mud pit,” she said. “I’ve had to push a senior in a scooter out of the mud… She was literally stuck,” said Stokes. Even with the fencing and some metal barricades in place, she fears the massive gap still poses a risk to seniors and kids, noting it’s close to a playground. “For kids, it’s probably a bit of a danger,” Stokes said. “It’s disappointing because these trails are used a lot. Hundreds of people every day are out here and it’s disappointing that (it hasn’t been fixed).” Spring flooding and rain water appear to wash out the current section of the path in the low lying area at times, while storms fill it with water, residents said. Susan Cava-Salie said the gap looks “awful” but she believes the fencing is effective at reducing the risk of someone falling into it. St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson said the city has proposed a design to repair the path and expects to receive a cost estimate for it soon. The proposed fix would realign part of the path to the west and cover part of the area near the sinkhole with woven concrete to help prevent erosion, while a bank around the creek would also be cut back to reduce the velocity of the water, said Dobson. He said the hole has persisted for at least two years and poses safety risks, which led him to personally reinstall some barricades around the large depression this spring. “It is a hazard because there is a hole… This is unexpected because it’s on the pathway,” said Dobson. The councillor said the problem took time to study, but he supports the current proposal for a more permanent repair. “It was not the money (delaying repairs). It was figuring out (how to) fix it once versus fixing it every year,” he said. Dobson said he will push for the path to be fixed this year and would use ward funding to help pay for it, if needed. However, that work isn’t guaranteed at this stage, he noted. The Free Press reported on the hole in June 2023, when only a small barricade blocked off one of its sides. Fencing was added to surround the entire gap a day after the story was published. A request to interview a representative from the city’s public works department was not granted Friday. Dobson said the city previously filled the hole with limestone, followed by wood chips, both of which washed away. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Pedal Pub wheels out spirited new offering (Aug1'24)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Aug '24

01 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Coolers stocked with beer, vodka sodas to be available on Exchange District cycle tours Pedal Pub wheels out spirited new offering https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2024/08/01/pedal-pub-wheels-out-… BIKERS with beers will soon traverse Exchange District streets. Pedal Pub, a popular attraction where users cycle to local bars, is preparing to offer brews on its quadricycles. “The first question we get from people is whether they can consume alcohol on the bike,” said Miguel Gauthier, co-owner of Pedal Pub’s Winnipeg branch. “Now we’re very proud and happy to say that we can answer… with a big, firm ‘Yes.’” Starting Monday, employees will load coolers full of beer and vodka sodas onto the quadricycles, which are four-wheeled vehicles that riders pedal. It’s been a long time coming for Gauthier and his partners. They brought Pedal Pub to Winnipeg in 2022. In other Canadian cities, customers of the franchise could sip alcohol while pedalling to various bars. They’d get off, drink more and hop back on. It was the case for operations in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Winnipeg’s Pedal Pub couldn’t get a liquor licence from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba. The LGCA would only issue a liquor service licence if other government agency licences and permits regulated the entity in question, spokeswoman Lisa Hansen explained earlier this summer. And in 2022, Pedal Pub’s quadricycles — where 15 customers can pedal at a time — didn’t fit any vehicle registration class. It didn’t need a City of Winnipeg licence, either. Pedal Pub contacted the provincial government to create laws targeted at quadricycles, co-owner Brandon Guenther said. As of this Wednesday, Manitoba has launched a pilot project regulation for large quadricycles. It’s set to be revoked Jan. 31, 2029. Part of the legislation called for municipal approval. So in July, the Pedal Pub owners waited to see what the City of Winnipeg would say — and on July 3, councillors gave the green light. “The province is the one that’s regulating it, so I wish them the best,” Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) said while moving the motion. Now, Pedal Pub is preparing for an even boozier ride. “We’re really, really excited,” Gauthier said. The tour will continue the same: the two-hour Exchange District trek will have two bar stops and pre-paid drinks. However, customers can order a cooler stocked with cans to accompany them on the quadricycles. Packs range from 15 to 36 drinks, at $6 per Torque Brewing beer and Smirnoff vodka soda. People must place their orders online before the voyage, according to Gauthier. Pedal Pub isn’t required to change its safety features, such as adding seatbelts. Instead, it’s adding a second staff member to its rides, Gauthier detailed: one employee will drive and another will act as bartender, ensuring riders behave. “Nobody who is on the bike can just reach in and grab their own drink,” Gauthier emphasized. “If there’s instances of full intoxication, we’re in full control of that vehicle. We’re able to remove the person from the tour… if it’s becoming unsafe.” Each quadricycle has an electric motor, a backup if legs fail. Pedal Pub has 10 bar, restaurant and distillery partners in the Exchange District. Each tour elicits an average $1,200 in spending at local businesses, Guenther said earlier this summer. The company is currently restricted to operations downtown and in the Exchange District. It must get city approval before touring elsewhere, Gauthier said. gabrielle.piche(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com>

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CBC: 'Whose kid is next?' Winnipeg cyclists call for safer infrastructure after another collision (Jul31'24)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Cyclists demand safer riding conditions near the scene of two recent collisions https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bike-rally-cyclist-vehicle…

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WFP: Cyclists demand safety improvements (Jul31'24)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Teen on bike struck by vehicle at intersection of Wellington Crescent and Academy Road Cyclists demand safety improvements https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/30/teen-cyclist-inju… A TEENAGE cyclist was injured Monday after she was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Wellington Crescent and Academy Road, renewing calls for better active- transportation infrastructure. Winnipeg police said the crash happened at about 8:45 p.m. The teen, who was cycling with her father, was hospitalized but has since been released, Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said Tuesday. Her father was not injured. McKinnon said the driver, who remained at the scene, may have been experiencing a medical event at the time, and the investigation is continuing. Passerby Mark Hildahl blocked traffic with his vehicle immediately after the collision. He used his paramedic training to keep the teen’s spine stable. “My heart sunk,” he said Tuesday. “She wasn’t moving; at first I thought she might be dead.” He said he didn’t notice that the vehicle’s driver was in medical distress, but observed that she was “very distraught.” He was told the driver was later taken away by an ambulance. Hildahl described what happened Monday as “everybody’s worst nightmare” at a notoriously unsafe intersection. “I travel through this intersection multiple times a week and it’s just horrible,” he said. “The entire design of the intersection at Wellington and Academy is designed for cars, there’s nothing that’s designed for pedestrians or cyclists, so it’s extremely dangerous for everybody.” The crash happened a short distance from where Rob Jenner, 61, was killed June 6 in a hit-and-run on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street. Jenner had been cycling to his job at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. Last week, more than 100 cyclists calling for improved infrastructure gathered outside the museum to honour Jenner’s memory. Among them was Patty Wiens, a director of Bike Winnipeg, who blamed poor infrastructure for the crashes. “Do you think this kid will ever get on a bike again? This is not OK. Our roads need better design,” she said. “That’s what it’s going to actually take. It’s not about enforcement, it’s about design.” About 180 cyclists blocked cars at the intersection of Academy and Wellington as a protest on Tuesday evening. Wiens said she wonders how many pedestrians and cyclists need to be hurt or killed before bike infrastructure becomes a priority. “We are tired of protesting. I don’t want to be shutting down intersections once a week. It’s going to take some serious political will,” she said. Following Jenner’s death last month, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins called the stretch of Wellington Crescent a “known gap in the cycling plan for the city” and suggested her calls to install 30 km/h zones around the ward hadn’t been heard due to a lack of political will. Brent Bellamy, a Free Press columnist who writes on urban planning, was hit by a driver while cycling at the same intersection in 2019. He witnessed the aftermath of Monday’s collision. Both Wellington Crescent and Academy Road are designed for commuters but are in the middle of a pedestrian- dense residential area, and cars “fly by” the slip lanes on Wellington Crescent, he said. He noted that just across from where the crash happened, a piece of the fencing at St. Mary’s Academy is missing after being hit by a driver. “It doesn’t even have a stop sign for five kilometres, from Academy all the way to Assiniboine Park. It’s actually designed to be unsafe. It’s designed to prioritize speed and traffic volumes,” he said. Streets should be designed to account for medical emergencies, mistakes and freak accidents, Bellamy said, adding slower traffic, more narrow intersections and fewer lanes all reduce the amount of time cyclists and pedestrians are interacting with cars and give them more time to escape dangerous situations. “We have to design our streets to allow things that aren’t normal to happen, and provide as much safety as we can, as much room for error as possible on our streets,” he said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca> [https://us5-bcdn.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/ipad/html5.check.24030714/ajax-re…] Members of the cycling community blocked cars at the intersection of Academy Road and Wellington Crescent Tuesday in a protest to call for safer road infrastructure.

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WFP: Cycling community pays tribute to man killed in hit-and-run (Jul26'
by Beth McKechnie 26 Jul '24

26 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘We will not let Rob’s death be in vain’ Cycling community pays tribute to man killed in hit-and-run https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/25/we-will-not-let-r… MORE than 100 cyclists, who wore red to celebrate the life of Rob Jenner, gathered outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Thursday evening to honour the man killed in a hit-and-run collision. Jenner, who regularly biked to his job as a shipper and receiver at the museum, liked to wear red on Fridays to end the work week. He was travelling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street when he was hit by a vehicle going in the same direction on the morning of June 6, a day after his 61st birthday. “Since my retirement, I waited for him with the garage door open, knowing I’d see that big smile rolling toward me — full of pride and feeling on top of the world. He was so proud to be a bike commuter,” said widow Wendy Van Loon, her speech punctuated by applause and the chiming of bicycle bells. “He must have known deep inside that he was part of something bigger, but I don’t think he knew the reach and depth of this beautiful community.” Van Loon said Jenner knew riding a bike in the city could be dangerous and he always wore highly visible clothing, including a helmet with blinking lights. He left home early to avoid rush-hour traffic. He was looking forward to retiring. He was an artist and writer and loved cooking. He was “friendly, blunt and also very kind,” said a statement released by the family a week after his death. Travis Jenner, one of his sons, asked the crowd to fight for change. He said he wishes his dad could be there to help take the training wheels off his son’s bike one day. “One small gap in safety was enough to change my life forever, so I ask you not to stop and don’t take no for an answer,” he said. “Show up and don’t back down until you’re safe, or until we’re all safe.” Members of the bike community have chosen to honour Jenner by installing a “ghost bike” at the location of the crash. Van Loon wanted her old bike to be used. It’s been painted white. In addition to memorializing a life lost, ghost bikes serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be cautious of cyclists on the road, said Patty Wiens, the “bicycle mayor” of Winnipeg. Wiens said she hopes to normalize cycling for transportation in the city and wants to see the bike network completed. Another cyclist was injured Wednesday night at the same intersection where Jenner was hit, she said. “This moment right here is a direct consequence of a bike network that’s missing some very crucial connections. I know I speak for every person here when I say it could have been any of us or someone close to us,” Wiens said. “The moment he used his bike for transportation in this city, he became an activist. We will not let Rob’s death be in vain.” Rachael Alguire lives a block away from the intersection. She started riding her bike to work a year ago but said she’s never felt quite safe. She began taking her bike to work because it’s more convenient than taking the bus and for the positive impact on her mental health. Her partner is an avid cyclist so she felt more comfortable getting into biking with her partner’s guidance. “I experience aggression from drivers and very unsafe roads all the time,” Alquire said, just as the group was leaving to go to the site of the crash. “There’s not a day where it doesn’t happen, so it’s very close to my heart.” Alguire hopes to see the city add protected bike lanes and for the route at Wellington Crescent to be completed. The group of cyclists rode from the museum to the intersection where the ghost bike will remain. Jenner’s family is working with Gordon Bell High School to set up a fund in his memory that aims to teach kids how to fix their bikes and ride them safely. Van Loon wants others to grow up with the same joy her husband got from riding his bike. “My best friend and favourite chef is gone,” Van Loon said. “He may have been just one person, but he was my world. There’s nothing we can do to bring him back, but let’s make sure his death wasn’t in vain.” Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, is charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. jura.mcilraith(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Briefs: Snow clearing, Louise Bridge & quadricycles (Jul20'24)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '24

20 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. SNOW CLEARING FROM SIDEWALKS TO SPEED UP RESIDENTIAL sidewalks should be cleared of snow days sooner next winter. On Thursday, city council voted to require that crews “normally” complete plowing on residential sidewalks within 36 hours after the work begins, instead of the current target of five working days. The work will be funded through money approved during the 2024 to 2027 multi-year budget. LOUISE BRIDGE REHABILITATION PLAN APPROVED THE city will rehabilitate its 114-year-old Louise Bridge following age-related deterioration. “It requires annual closures for reactive repairs and will require significant work by 2030 to remain operational,” a staff report notes. On Thursday, city council approved a plan to design the project for construction no later than 2030. City officials estimate the work will cost $40 million and extend the life of the bridge by at least 30 years. NEW RULES FOR QUADRICYCLES NEW city rules for quadricycles — four-wheeled, pedal-powered vehicles — are on the way. On Thursday, Winnipeg city council voted to make bylaw changes for the vehicles, which would officially allow them to operate in downtown Winnipeg. Those operating a large quadricycle outside of downtown would be required to submit a planned route to seek approval from the city’s public works director. Additional rules would only permit the vehicles to cross multi-lane streets at intersections with traffic signals or those with “an all-way stop condition.” The companies would also be required to submit annual reports to the city.

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Winnipeg Sun: Political will, capital and public buy-in will be crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan
by Patman, David 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Political will, capital and public buy-in will be crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan Winnipeg Sun Author of the article: Cameron Eason Published Jul 16, 2024 * Last updated 2 days ago * 3 minute read Political will, capital crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan | Winnipeg Sun<https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-news/political-will-capital-and-public-b…> On Monday, Councillor Janice Lukes, Winnipeg's public works committee chair, presented Transportation 2050, quite literally a roadmap to how the city could reach its transportation goals within the next 26 years as Winnipeg approaches a population of one million. Many residents would probably agree that what we have now isn't working as well as it should, and as Winnipeg continues to grow, it needs the infrastructure to match. According to the plan, Transportation 2050 outlines its goals by prioritizing and maintaining existing infrastructure instead of building new; investing in our existing roads; developing communities where people can access their needs in a short distance; and empowering people to travel in their preferred mode of transportation. But what could this look like? As it stands today, our current roads are overused in many areas, less than seven per cent of Winnipeggers walk or cycle as a transport method, and public transit usage has declined by 14 per cent since the 1960s. The city laid out an ambitious goal of reaching a "50 per cent mode shift by 2050." Broken down, this would mean 21 per cent ridesharing, 15 percent using public transit, and the remaining 14 per cent cycling or walking. The issues with Winnipeg Transit are well documented, so improvements here come as no surprise. Ensuring that it becomes safer, more reliable and more convenient will be key to increasing ridership. The strategy mentions the need for more rapid transit, and acknowledges that Winnipeg may need to analyze the need for Light Rail Transit in the future. Interestingly, Transportation 2050 also focuses a lot on active and bicycle transport. Talk of more bike lanes can seem to either make people rejoice or roll their eyes, but the solutions may not be as complicated as they seem. If the city wants to encourage more people to use bicycles, they need to find solutions that don't impact the businesses and commuters already using existing roadways. Walking and cycling are grouped together in much of this master plan, and hopefully that is a sign of things to come. If you look around, many of Winnipeg's sidewalks are surrounded by boulevards: wasted space typically covered by grass, brick, concrete or asphalt. Widening the sidewalks, or paving the boulevards beside them for bicycle usage (this already exists in certain parts of the city) could be an affordable and practical way to get more bike lanes built without bottlenecking traffic and parking. Transportation 2050 also mentions changing zoning requirements for developments near key transit routes. Mayor Scott Gillingham pledged to get rid of parking minimum requirements for certain developments (a minimum parking spot per unit ratio) during the 2022 mayoral election, and this appears to be a move towards that. It would not only ensure that more developments are built with transit in mind, but it also lowers building costs, helping keep housing affordable. Other key points in the document are fixing the infrastructure we have before building more, changing the way goods are transported through the city, and focusing on safety and accessibility of our existing infrastructure. It also acknowledges the need for more transport options for low-income Winnipeggers who don't have access to private vehicles. If the city can deliver, these measures will surely be well-received. In the news release, Lukes said "This plan won't completely satisfy anyone, but absolutely has something for everyone." It's a safe bet that she's correct. The best way to encourage transportation mode shifts is to make different modes more convenient and accessible and attract people to make a switch on their own accord. If the city wants this to work, they need the public's buy-in over the long-term. With a large focus on improving existing roadways over building new ones, this hopefully means that it won't impact those who commute in a car in the meantime. After all, with four out of five trips in Winnipeg being taken in a private vehicle, current trends won't change overnight. Transportation 2050 will be presented to the city council for consideration in the fall of this year. Lukes encourages residents to learn more, with six pop-up events around the city between now and July 26. The entire document can be found on the City of Winnipeg's website. Ultimately, the city needs a master plan to pave the way for the future, and this is a step in that direction. But a master plan is, after all, just a plan. Transportation 2050 is a good start, but it will require political will - and, most importantly, capital - to turn plans into action.

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