- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Winnipeg’s ‘Bicycle Mayor’ to give city the gears on lack of infrastructure (May10'24)
by Beth McKechnie 10 May '24

10 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Pedal plans Winnipeg’s ‘Bicycle Mayor’ to give city the gears on lack of infrastructure https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/05/09/pedal-plans PATTY Wiens refuses to tread lightly in her new role as Winnipeg’s top cyclist. Wiens has been bestowed with the title Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg by an international organization that advocates for more active transportation and encourages drivers to take up cycling for daily trips. “When you start riding your bike to work, you really start noticing what kind of infrastructure is around bikes for safety, you start noticing how people behave on the road,” she said Thursday afternoon. The year-round cyclist applied for the role to be more involved in advocacy and petition for more, and safer, cycling infrastructure. Wiens, 50, favoured cycling over driving to work in 2021 when she began a new job at the University of Winnipeg to save some cash on parking. After seeing what it did for her mental and physical health, she sold her car and took up the commute full-time. Winter driving made her take notice of the city’s infrastructure she called lopsided towards drivers. “That’s what sent me on a real advocacy journey,” she said. The mayoral title is given to successful applicants by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based non-governmental organization with an international network of bike enthusiasts. Mayors are selected for a period of two years during which they focus on addressing the main barriers to increasing cycling in their cities. Wiens is one of five bicycle mayors in Canada and 147 worldwide. She also serves on the board of directors for advocacy group Bike Winnipeg. The Brazilian transplant speculates the number of cyclists is increasing due to an increased cost of living and price of fuel, but she welcomes the trend and, using her new role, plans to petition the city for slower speeds on side streets where fewer cars tend to drive and active transportation is favoured. “If we would have more of that, we wouldn’t need to worry so much about protected bike infrastructure,” she said. She also wants to raise the profile of cyclists who use bikes for any type of transportation, whether it be for work, grocery shopping, sport or leisure. “That’s who I want to represent … the less cars you have on the road, the better it is for everyone. Cars get around faster and cyclists are safer.” City council’s public works committee recently approved a project that will eliminate vehicle right turns from Assiniboine Avenue onto Main Street and divert eastbound vehicles north on Fort Street, which Wiens calls a win for bike safety. “We have this mentality here that people who drive pay for roads and it’s not true. Everyone pays for roads … yet cars get the priority,” she said. Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, lauded Wiens’ new designation as an important step in the organization’s multi-pronged approach to advocating for a bike-safe city. “It’s important that the bike mayor is able to tell the stories of people on bikes to help people overcome barriers to biking,” Cohoe said. The executive director says connectivity between Winnipeg neighbourhoods is a hurdle to getting more bums in bike seats and is top of mind for the non-profit, which has been working with the city on bike infrastructure projects since 2015. Theft is also a deterrent, Wiens and Cohoe say. Although Winnipeg Police Service statistics show an overall decrease in the number of reported stolen bicycles in recent years, 1,452 were still reported pilfered in 2023. That’s compared to 2,098 in 2018. To combat the theft, council announced a new program in which Winnipeggers can register their bikes for free using the city’s cloud-based Garage 529 service. Bikes registered in the database can be used by police when attempting to return recovered bikes. “The next step is to advocate for secure bike parking, especially in the downtown area. If we have more secure parking, more people are likely to ride their bikes instead of their cars,” Wiens said. Wiens will be calling on the city to install secure bike parking in the Exchange District and look for areas to incorporate bikes in the design for the Portage Place overhaul. nicole.buffie(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: Drivers wanting to turn at Main and Assiniboine will get new traffic signal in 1 direction, detour in another (May7'24)
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '24

08 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Pilot project OK'd after pedestrians, cyclists raised concerns about close calls with cars https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/assiniboine-main-traffic-safety-pro…

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CentrePlan 2050 and Re-imagining Graham Avenue | Open House Millennium Library May 15 11am-6pm
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '24

08 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. We are excited to share the draft CentrePlan 2050 and draft design of Graham Avenue<https://engage.winnipeg.ca/36008/widgets/148212/documents/129629>. To learn more: * Attend the open house May 15 * View the open house boards<https://engage.winnipeg.ca/36008/widgets/148212/documents/129627> Join us May 15 at the open house to ask questions about the project and share your thoughts. Open house Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Location: Carol Shields Auditorium, Millennium Library, 251 Donald St(External link)<https://www.google.com/maps/place/Millennium+Library+(Winnipeg+Public+Libra…>. Format: Come and go (drop-in) You can also share your feedback online: * Share your comments<https://engage.winnipeg.ca/centreplan2050?tool=guest_book#tool_tab> on the draft CentrePlan 2050 * Take the re-imagining Graham Avenue survey(External link)<https://winnipeg.surveymonkey.com/r/grahamphase3> Feedback will be accepted until May 23, 2024. https://engage.winnipeg.ca/centreplan2050

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Job Posting: City of Winnipeg Road Safety Outreach Coordinator
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '24

08 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. The City of Winnipeg is hiring a Road Safety Outreach Coordinator who will be responsible for developing and implementing road safety educational programming and improving road safety culture in Winnipeg. The position includes strong components of research, program development and evaluation, education, partnerships and outreaching, and community engagement/mobilization. Please see the attached posting for more details. Online applications can be submitted at www.winnipeg.ca/hr<http://www.winnipeg.ca/hr> and the posting closes on May 22, 2024.

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WFP: Seeing how the other half rides in Amsterdam (May4'24)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '24

04 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Seeing how the other half rides in Amsterdam OPINION https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2024/05/04/seeing-how-the-o… A CONFESSION: I haven’t been on my bike in two summers. This isn’t my first long breakup with a bicycle. From the ages of 13 to 31, I didn’t go anywhere near a bike following a pretty significant wipeout that left me with an arm studded with bloody pebbles and a contusion at the top of my pelvis. Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what this recent avoidance has been about because here’s the thing: I love riding my bike. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that cycling is one of my preferred methods of both physical activity and transportation. And then, last month, I went to Amsterdam. The capital of the Netherlands isn’t just one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world; cycling is woven into Dutch culture. I was in awe of not only the sheer number of people out cycling — even in terribly windy, rainy, sleety weather, I will add — but the number of parked bikes crowding every available public space. Most Dutch cyclists I witnessed weren’t clad in spandex or athleisure (or helmets, for that matter); they were dressed for their destinations. Others had clearly taken their bikes to run errands, balancing groceries and, on more than one occasion, bouquets of flowers. I was in awe of how smooth and well-maintained the bike lanes looked. (I was too intimidated to try for myself.) I had never been anywhere like that, a place where cyclists, not motorists, seemed to be the ruling class. A place that’s the diametric opposite of Winnipeg, basically. Of course, this fact doesn’t always make for an idyll. “Watch out for the bikes,” the friend I was travelling with cautioned me and this proved to be good advice. As a pedestrian, it’s not enough to “look both ways” in Amsterdam; you have to look left-right-left again, otherwise you will almost certainly be mowed over by a cyclist. Or at the very least yelled at. But still, I was jealous. I would love to be the kind of person who could ride to the bakery to pick up a loaf of bread and then meet a friend for a coffee. I’d love to be a commuter cyclist, riding to and from work to build some fresh air and fitness into my day. I would love to do all these things without the threat of being run off the road by a car that could injure me or worse. And that’s when I had an epiphany. I love riding my bike. I don’t love riding my bike in Winnipeg. Honestly? I’m scared to ride my bike in Winnipeg. Whenever I do ride my bike — which is never, these days — I stick to paths that do not share the road with vehicles. I can’t bear to be yelled at, again, for turning left from the correct lane because motorists think I shouldn’t even be there. (I only make right-hand turns if I can help it, which is, uh, limiting.) Being a cyclist in Winnipeg feels a bit like being a pedestrian in Amsterdam, except a cyclist probably won’t kill you if they hit you. It’s very hard to adopt any kind of lifestyle when there is no systemic support for that lifestyle. It’s hard to “eat healthy” if you live in a food desert. It’s hard to have work-life balance if your workplace culture punishes you for taking vacation and rewards being the “last to leave.” It’s hard to balance career goals with having a family if childcare is inaccessible. It’s hard to leave your car at home if you don’t live in a walkable neighbourhood. So, I can express a desire, as an individual, to adopt a Dutch attitude towards cycling, but it’s hard to actually live out that desire in a place not built for it. Still, being around all those bikes in Amsterdam has inspired me to get back on mine. One person on one bicycle does not a bicycle-friendly city make, but hey — it’s one more bike out on the road. jen.zoratti(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP: City urges switch to new bike-registry system (Apr30'24)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '24

30 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City urges switch to new bike-registry system https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/04/29/switch-to-new-bik… THE city is urging cyclists to sign up for a free bike-registry system. Bike data registered with 529 Garage can be accessed by jurisdictions across the world. The City of Winnipeg will use the supplied contact information when a stolen bicycle has been recovered. “I’m proud to have championed this change, and I encourage every cyclist in Winnipeg to register their bike with 529 Garage,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release Monday. If a bike registered through the app or website has been stolen, the owner is advised to set an alert on 529 Garage and report the theft to Winnipeg police. “The shift to 529 Garage as Winnipeg’s bicycle registration system makes it easier than ever to register a bike,” Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said. “Just as important, the bicycle registry is now linked globally, meaning registry information is available worldwide. Best of all, people purchasing bikes online have a way to check the serial number of a bike against the registry of stolen bikes.” The city previously said 1,452 bicycles were reported stolen in 2023. The City of Winnipeg’s existing registry comes with a $7.35 registration fee and, at times, requires police to email a request to city officials to find the owner of a stolen bike. New registrations under the existing registry will not be accepted after Tuesday. Registrations made before then will be kept on file until May 1, 2026. Bike owners can update their information under the existing registry until that date.

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WFP analysis: Time to talk about River and Osborne (Apr29'24)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '24

29 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City should scramble to transform important Village intersection Time to talk about River and Osborne https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/2024/04/29/city-should-scramble-t… NOW that there seems to be some resolution for the future of Portage and Main, there is another important urban intersection we should talk about. The corner of River and Osborne is the gateway to Osborne Village, Winnipeg’s highest-density neighbourhood and a rare walkable, complete community in the city. In our collective imagination, the Village strip is a street with bustling sidewalks and vibrant public spaces, set around a series of eclectic shops and restaurants. The reality of Osborne, however, is a street that has become a vehicle canyon, with pedestrians anxiously clinging to the edges along narrow and treeless sidewalks. We have intentionally made design choices that prioritize driving through the neighbourhood over creating a place that invites people to walk, shop and linger. Those choices begin with the intersection. Instead of being the anchor that draws people to the heart of the strip, the River and Osborne intersection has become one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the city — typically ranking second or third for most pedestrian/vehicle collisions each year. Recognizing that a prosperous future for the Village requires a change in priorities, last year, the Osborne Village BIZ created the Blueprint for a Healthy Neighbourhood. The action plan outlines ways to begin making the Osborne strip a true neighbourhood high street, creating a renewed sense of place and prioritizing the human experience. It proposes to make the River and Osborne intersection safer by adding a pedestrian scramble crossing and closing the right-turn vehicle slip lane. In late 2023, Couns. Janice Lukes and Sherri Rollins introduced a committee motion directing the public service to study these two ideas and develop a pedestrian prioritized pilot project for the intersection. Scramble crossings are becoming popular interventions across the country, where high numbers of pedestrians and vehicles mix. They have been implemented on other urban shopping streets such as Whyte Avenue in Edmonton, Robson Street in Vancouver, and Yonge Street in Toronto. Scramble crossings make intersections safer by creating an exclusive pedestrian crossing phase where vehicles are stopped at every corner and pedestrians cross all at once in all directions, including diagonally. This strategy was felt to be appropriate for River and Osborne because it would mean vehicles and pedestrians never cross the street at the same time, increasing pedestrian comfort, and significantly reducing interactions that result in collisions. Removing slip lanes is something that is happening across North America as cities accept how unsafe and uncomfortable they are for pedestrians and cyclists. Slip lanes are the unsignalized and dedicated lanes at intersections that allow drivers to turn right without stopping, typically creating a small island between it and the corner. Like at River and Osborne, we often locate transit stops on these islands, forcing people to huddle uncomfortably in a whirlpool of vehicles cycling around them. Slip lanes are the physical manifestation of street design that prioritizes vehicle speed over the safety of all other road users. They are highway infrastructure that has no place in urban neighbourhoods. Eliminating slip lanes is not only an important consideration at River and Osborne, but wherever they exist in residential neighbourhoods across the city. As a driver, consider where your eyes are when you move through a slip lane. As you turn right, you are most likely looking left down the street to find an opening in traffic that you can accelerate into. Now, as a pedestrian, consider where you want a driver’s eyes to be as you step into the street and cross in front of their vehicle. You want the driver to look forward and directly at you, but slip lanes are designed to allow cars to maintain their speed while diverting the driver’s attention away from their direction of travel. This is why they are so dangerous. An intersection is where all road users — cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers — are occupying the same space. It is vital at that moment each person is acutely aware of what’s happening directly in front of them. When you cross a street with a slip lane, you are forced to cross through two intersections, and one of them is uncontrolled. You are simply hoping drivers see you in time to stop. Consider a child walking to school across the slip lane at River and Osborne. Is hope enough? If you wouldn’t feel good about letting your kid cross the street in your neighbourhood, we didn’t prioritize the right things when we designed it. That child could instead be a senior with mobility issues or a person in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, the city’s public works committee recently recommended against both initiatives for River and Osborne and no pilot project was put forward. The study suggested a scramble crossing might cause traffic delays at the peak evening rush hour of about half a minute, and removing the slip lane would make the priority transit signal less effective, possibly requiring the bus stop to be relocated. The committee did direct staff to report back with a “scope of work” for options for a scramble pilot in 2025. This disappointing result is yet another instance demonstrating that residents and businesses of the inner city have little control over the design of the streets in their own neighbourhoods. The priorities of commuter traffic have again superseded the wishes of local residents for a safe, livable, and commercially prosperous community. Osborne may be a commuter route to many, but to others, it’s a street in their neighbourhood that their kids cross to go to school, or their grandmother crosses to get groceries. It’s a street of shop owners hoping for more customers. Sometimes saving an extra minute in an evening commute shouldn’t be our priority. Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.

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WFP: Incoming registry expected to curb bike theft, reunite owners with wheels (Apr24'24)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '24

25 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Breaking the cycle Incoming registry expected to curb bike theft, reunite owners with wheels https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/04/23/breaking-the-cycl… KEVIN Glasier and his family were fast asleep in their Wolseley house last week when a blaring home security alarm jolted him awake at 6:26 a.m. “I just jump out of bed, in my underwear, and all you think is: Is somebody in the house? And you’re concerned with the safety of your family at that point,” the 49-year-old father of three said Tuesday. Running past his kid’s rooms and through the house, he made his way to the door to his garage and spotted a man inside dressed in black with his hood up. “He wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Glasier. “I yelled at the top of my lungs, ‘Get the f--- out of my garage’ to try to scare him off and he turned and ran.” Glasier made his way to the exterior door of the garage to make sure the man left. “I guess he was scared, so he was caught in a bit of a loop — he had that screwdriver, that nine-inch screwdriver, and he was waving that around to keep me back,” he said. “I came out of the door … and I didn’t think anything was stolen at that point, so I yelled ‘Get out of here, get out of here,’ and he was frozen, so I said ‘I’m not going to hurt you, get out of here.’ So he biked away.” Upon reviewing footage from his home surveillance cameras — video he has since posted online to try to identify the thieves, scored with wacky music — he realized another scofflaw had made off with a bicycle, which he had bought for his wife’s birthday days before. Glasier isn’t the only Winnipegger to fall victim to bike theft. Although Winnipeg Police Service statistics show an overall decrease in the number of reported stolen bicycles in recent years, 1,452 were still reported pilfered in 2023. That’s compared to 2,098 reported thefts in 2018. Mark Cohoe, executive director of advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, believes many bike thefts go unreported, but is optimistic efforts, such as increased secured park biking, have been successful in reducing thefts. “I would like to think that that’s a part of it as well, that people are getting better access to good storage and that’s holding back the number of thefts,” said Cohoe. He added that the increase in people out and about post-COVID-19 restrictions may have reduced theft opportunities. A new bicycle registry system approved by city council last year is expected to arrive online in the coming weeks. Cohoe is optimistic this will reduce thefts and help police return recovered bikes to owners. Currently, if a stolen bike is found by officers but is not registered by the owner and no proof of ownership is provided, it is held and later auctioned off by police. Council approved a move to 529 Garage, a free, cloud-based system to replace the city-run bike registry last year. The system is shared by many police agencies. Cohoe said if a registered bike is stolen in Winnipeg but recovered in another city, the system allows the owner to be tracked down. It is also accessible to the public, allowing people purchasing bikes online, for example, to run serial numbers themselves to determine if it had been reported stolen. City of Winnipeg spokesman Adam Campbell said officials would be sharing more about the new system soon. Cohoe says addressing social and health issues could help reduce theft in the long term. “I think we all recognize that a part of this, the bike theft, is driven by poverty and addictions, so certainly getting a grasp on that is a critical part to this,” he said. “There’s people taking advantage of others, to drive that theft and get the bikes sold, and that’s part of what we need to see really addressed.” He added he would like to see police dedicate a detective, like police in Vancouver, to focus on bicycle theft. Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said it would be difficult to gauge whether the drop in statistics is due to fewer thefts or fewer people reporting the thefts. “We’re always hopeful that people are securing their property at all times, making it difficult for these thefts to occur, but the reality is, they’re going to occur,” said Michalyshen. “We take them all seriously, we know the value of bikes — nothing’s cheap these days — and we want to resolve these matters as much as anyone else.” He said it is paramount for any victim of crime, including bicycle theft, to report it, so police can investigate, hold people to account and ensure data is accurate so officials can focus resources on problems. Property crimes investigators are actively probing the break-in and theft at Glasier’s home, but have not yet made any arrests, said Michalyshen. Glasier said he hopes the video helps others learn how brazen those committing break-ins and thefts can be. He added that last year, his family’s vehicle was stolen from their driveway, but they managed to locate it with a tracking device. “Part of the thing here, too, is just how as a community, and individuals, how much you have to take things into your own hands. We had to find our own car, the police were overwhelmed, there’s a thousand thefts a month, they can’t keep up… it’s rampant,” said Glasier. After posting the video, he received tips about the suspects in the break-in. He gave the information to police. erik.pindera(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca>

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Project update - Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '24

04 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Provide your input now. [City of Winnipeg | Ville de Winnipeg]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project – Phase 4<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Project updates Help us make Wolseley Avenue work for you [https://communications.winnipeg.ca/web_files/5642/wolsely%20walk%20bike.jpg…] The Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project began in 2018. It set out to improve east-west travel through three sections of the neighbourhood: 1. Wolseley Avenue and Westminster Avenue 2. Balmoral Street 3. Granite Way Over the course of a few years, we developed, refined, and sought public feedback on a series of designs. In 2019, we presented what we thought was a final design for the neighbourhood as a whole. in 2019. We learned what we proposed for the eastern section of the area worked for the community. What we proposed for the western section didn't. As a result, we installed protected bike lanes on Balmoral Street and Granite Way. We also added them on Westminster Avenue from Sherbrook Street to Walnut Street. Now we need your help to make sure Wolseley Avenue works for people of all ages and abilities. This summer, we will turn Wolseley into an all ages and abilities active transportation route with a neighbourhood greenway. We will reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h and install speed tables, raised crosswalks, and curb bump-outs. Ahead of this, we want to know what success would look like to the community. Your feedback will help the us develop what we’re calling community criteria. We will use this list to measure how well the greenway meets community needs in addition to technical requirements such as lower speeds and traffic volumes. Attend a pop-up. Join us in person to speak with the project team and provide your feedback. Format: Drop in (come and go) Date: April 18, 2024 Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Clifton School, 511 Clifton St.<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Date: April 19, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Bonnie Day, 898 Westminster Ave.<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Date: April 20, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Location: Robert A. Steen Community Centre (Outside the Spring Craft Sale), 980 Palmerston Ave.<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Learn more<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Review the project boards. Take the survey<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Take five minutes to tell us what you think. Learn more about this project winnipeg.ca/wolseleytodowntown<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Contact us Email: <mailto:City-Engage@winnipeg.ca> wolseleytodowntown(a)winnipeg.ca<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Phone: 204-924-4144 Connect with us: [Twitter]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[Facebook]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[YouTube]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[LinkedIn]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[Instagram]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Share on X<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> | Share on Facebook<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>

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WFP: Public service says Osborne proposal would slow traffic, transit (Apr4'4)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '24

04 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Public service says Osborne proposal would slow traffic, transit Report leaves city hall scrambling for answers https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/04/03/councillors-scram… A CITY councillor is disappointed after a report shot down a proposal to improve pedestrian flow at one of Osborne Village’s busiest intersections. The public works committee asked the public service to investigate the possibility of introducing a scramble crossing at Osborne Street and River Avenue last year, allowing pedestrians to cross in all directions amid widened sidewalks, narrowed road lanes and slower vehicles. The final report recommends no alterations to the intersection due to concerns about traffic flow and transit interruptions. “There are problems of logic that need to be explained in the report. I think it’s a very light report, so I don’t think enough time and care was taken,” Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said of the 14-page document, which is to be reviewed by the public works committee at its April 9 meeting. “In particular, the troublesome part is that the resolve of the original motion was to report back on a pedestrian-prioritized pilot and I see none of that in this report.” Rollins championed the original request to investigate a scramble crossing, which would be the first intersection of its kind in Winnipeg. She and other community stakeholders believe it would improve safety and walkability for pedestrians. The public service acknowledged the crossing would improve safety, but said it would require a longer traffic signal cycle length. “A pedestrian scramble is not recommended at the intersection because it would likely increase both vehicle and pedestrian delays and also be cost-prohibitive,” the report said, noting motorists would have to stop at the intersection for an additional 20 seconds and the delay would likely impact nearby intersections. The service also assessed the possibility of removing the slip lane on Osborne Street, which allows southbound motorists to turn right onto River Avenue without stopping at the lights. Eliminating the slip lane would require the removal of a concrete island that houses a transit stop at the intersection. “The removal was ultimately not recommended due to negative impacts to Winnipeg Transit service and bus stop amenities at the intersection,” the report said. “Relocating the bus stop is an undesirable change to Transit operations and passenger comfort.” Rollins called the explanation a “red herring.” “Transit stops move all the time,” she said. “You could argue the passengers of the bus might have even more room to line up if they didn’t have to exist on a small island.” Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs the public works committee, said she, too, has questions about the public service’s report. “They’re saying not to proceed. I like the idea of a (pedestrian) scramble. We don’t have many of them in Canada. I think there may be some hesitancy with the department on that,” she said Wednesday. The report lacks a detailed accounting of how many pedestrians cross the intersection daily, said Lukes, who would “like to have a little bit more information.” The Osborne Village BIZ was a major proponent of overhauling the intersection and floated the idea of a scramble in its “Blueprint for a Vibrant and Healthy Neighbourhood” document, released last year. “Everybody who lives in the neighbourhood understands how important it is to make sure it’s safe for pedestrians,” said Zohreh Gervais, Osborne BIZ executive director.”This is one step we can take to help that process move along, so I really hope that the city will reconsider.” Rollins intends to reject the report and recommend the public service return in 90 days with a more comprehensive document, she said. — with files from Joyanne Pursaga tyler.searle(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca>

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