- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Wolseley residents pan Transit plan (Jun12'24)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jun '24

12 Jun '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Fear overhaul will trade cars for buses on greenway Wolseley residents pan Transit plan https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/06/11/wolseley-resident… WOLSELEY residents are asking Winnipeg Transit to pause their neighbourhood’s portion of a citywide bus network overhaul, arguing the changes could undermine a reduced-speed route designed to safely serve cyclists and pedestrians. A network transformation of bus routes is set to alter almost every city route, bring buses closer to many residents and increase bus frequency, starting on June 29, 2025, with council slated to vote on the exact changes this month. Some residents fear part of a newly proposed No. 28 route that’s set to travel over the Wolseley Avenue neighbourhood greenway and interfere with its objective to welcome active transportation. The greenway recently saw its permanent speed limit drop to 30 km/h and got new speed humps to help slow traffic. “There’s huge support for the new greenway on Wolseley Avenue. Residents want transit to co-exist with Wolseley, not overwhelm it, not undermine its livability, not change it from a walkable and family friendly community into a major bus thoroughfare,” said Rachel Morgan. Morgan said the residents don’t oppose the Transit investment but the proposed path would include old, narrow roads that are well used by pedestrians and cyclists and weren’t designed to handle so many buses, raising the risk of crashes and injuries. “Running 130 buses a day through a residential bottleneck will be neither efficient nor reliable. That’s why residents urge council to pause the plan for Wolseley. Please give us time to properly consult with Transit,” she said. The group’s estimate is based on one bus passing through every 7.5 minutes between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. the following day. City staff said later the actual frequency would be much lower, often about one bus every 15 minutes. The residents said 467 people signed a petition to support pausing the Wolseley area changes. Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy suggested relocating the No. 28 route around Wolseley to address the concerns. The currently proposed route would travel south down Arlington Street, then head east down the Wolseley greenway toward Academy Road. Instead, she asked that the route stay off Wolseley entirely by having buses travel south on Arlington, then go east on Broadway before heading south on Academy. The councillor also stressed the greenway isn’t suited to heavy bus traffic. “If you go down there around 8:30 to 8:45 (a.m.) you are going to see a mass of kids, children riding their bikes … And then you see a mass of adults riding their bikes … I think that Wolseley residents would rather walk a little ways to a (high) frequency (transit) line (than have this route),” she said. Another Wolseley resident expressed concerns that the plan’s removal of the current No. 10 bus route would force her to walk 20 minutes further to catch a ride. “I don’t know how that is even a conceivable idea in winter,” said Kathryn Martin Winnipeg Transit officials expect the overall network overhaul to roughly double the number of people who are in walking distance of frequent transit service, with a bus arriving at least every 10 minutes on the most frequent routes during rush hour. A Transit advocate said those changes are desperately needed. “(This) is essentially taking the system we have right now and blowing it up and starting over again, (which) is exactly what needs to be done. It is focused on getting people from where they are to where they want to go more efficiently,” said Brian Pincott, a spokesman for Functional Transit Winnipeg. Pincott urged councillors not to alter specific changes, which he said could result in a less efficient system. “This is an integrated, linked network and the moment you start whittling away at any one of those links, the whole thing could fall apart or not function very well,” he said. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, told media she does have concerns about increased traffic on greenways, which aim to slow vehicles down. “Do we want buses travelling regularly on a greenway route? Personally, I wouldn’t. But (we also) want to deliver bus service to Wolseley,” she said. Lukes (Waverley West) noted any changes council approves will be reviewed in 2026, about a year after the new routes are expected to take effect. She said there was extensive planning and consultation on the new transit network, though many public meetings were forced online during the pandemic. “This is all because we want to deliver better transit service. We want to have higher frequency. We want to have dependable service,” she said. On Tuesday evening, the public works committee voted to move the new route plan forward, while requiring additional consultation. Any route changes would be subject to a final council vote. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Safer roads needed, family of cyclist killed by hit-and-run driver says (Jun11'24)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '24

11 Jun '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Safer roads needed, family of cyclist killed by hit-and-run driver says https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/06/10/safer-roads-neede… A 61-year-old cyclist was on the way to his job at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights when he was killed last week by a speeding driver who fled the scene. The national museum said in a news release sent on behalf of the man’s family Monday that Rob Jenner was its shipper/receiver and had worked there since September 2014. He regularly cycled to work, the CMHR said. Jenner was cycling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street when he was hit by an eastbound vehicle shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday. “Rob was killed cycling to work, something he loved to do. He knew cycling in this city could be dangerous, but he loved it,” the family said. “The city needs to do more for safer roads for cyclists, and we would ask every driver in Winnipeg reading this to think of Rob and take extra care and patience while passing cyclists. We don’t want another family to experience this grief.” Jenner’s widow, Wendy Van Loon, said in the statement that, “He was my everything. And I know I was his.” More than 100 cyclists blocked a stretch of Wellington Crescent and the adjacent street at a protest late Friday afternoon. Some people in the crowd held signs demanding action to protect cyclists and pedestrians with protected bike lanes and slower speeds. Jenner, a grandfather, was a caring person who was looking forward to retirement, his family said. “He was an artist and writer; his home was filled with art. He was also an incredible chef — his family and friends looked forward to the meals he prepared for them with love,” the statement said. “Rob was friendly, blunt and also very kind. He had a soft spot for people and was quick to connect with everyone. He was a person who treated everyone he knew with respect and dignity.” Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision. He has had no prior convictions in Manitoba, court records show.

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WFP Editorial: A wake-up call the city shouldn’t need (Jun11'24)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '24

11 Jun '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. A wake-up call the city shouldn’t need https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2024/06/11/a-wake-up-c… THE death of a cyclist struck by a speeding vehicle in Winnipeg last week is a stark reminder of the need to reduce speed limits on residential roads and to significantly expand protected bike lanes. A 61-year-old man was cycling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street North at 7 a.m. Thursday and was hit by a motorist police say was driving erratically. About 100 cyclists staged a protest at the location Friday to demand greater bike safety on city streets. Many of them said vehicles often speed on that stretch of Wellington. They want the city to build more protected bike lanes, not only on Wellington but throughout Winnipeg, to better separate cyclists from motor vehicles. Some of those at the protest also demanded the city lower speed limits on residential roads to reduce the chances of collisions between motor vehicles and cyclists. It should not take a tragic incident like last week’s to effect change. But all too often, that is what is required to motivate politicians to do the right thing. To be fair, city hall has made progress expanding the network of protected bike lanes in Winnipeg, including in the downtown area. There are now more active transportation routes than ever. Many are well used. The edict “build it and they will come” aptly applies to the city’s small but growing network of protected bike routes. But it’s not enough. Cyclists in Winnipeg are routinely forced to switch from protected bike lanes to busy roadways to reach their destinations. They must often compete with fast-moving motor vehicles whose drivers do not always respect or make accommodation for cyclists. Riding a bike on busy roadways can be hazardous. It not only discourages many people from cycling, it can end in tragedy, as we saw last week. City hall can and must do better. City politicians should make active transportation a higher priority. Right now, motor vehicles are still the highest priority for city hall when it comes to transportation budgeting, whether it’s street repairs, snow clearing or the widening of roadways. The car is still king in Winnipeg. That mentality has to change. City hall needs to find a better balance between single occupancy motor vehicle use and active transportation when drafting budgets. There needs to be a shift in resources from the former to the latter. Does the city, for example, really need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to widen Kenaston Boulevard (the latest cost projection is now over half a billion dollars for that project), or would those resources be better spent on active transportation and transit improvements? These are big picture issues city hall should re-evaluate. The resources are there to improve active transportation and to make cycling and pedestrian traffic a greater priority. But it has to come at the expense of motor vehicle use. That would require a paradigm shift at city hall, something that is long overdue. Tragedies like last week’s cannot be eliminated altogether. There will always be a risk of collision between cyclists and motor vehicles, no matter how many protected bike lanes are constructed. But those risks can be mitigated by lowering speed limits and separating cyclists as much as possible from motor vehicle traffic. Last week’s fatal collision should be a wake-up call for city hall. It’s time for Winnipeg to take the next step on active transportation by making it a much higher priority.

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WFP: Angry cyclists shut down scene of fatal collision (Jun8'24)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '24

08 Jun '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Angry cyclists shut down scene of fatal collision Advocate: ‘My community is moved and tired’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/06/07/angry-cyclists-sh… [CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/hit-and-run-fatal-cyclist-crash-win…] MORE than 100 cyclists, angered and saddened over a fatal hit-and-run of a bike rider a day earlier, shut down the intersection where the collision occurred Friday afternoon. A 61-year-old man cycling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street was hit by a driver police allege was speeding and driving erratically just after 7 a.m. Thursday. The man, who was on his way to work, was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died. Protesting cyclists blocked a stretch of Wellington Crescent and the adjacent street Friday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The demonstrators forced most drivers to find an alternate route, but allowed Winnipeg Transit buses and a fire truck through the crowd. Most drivers obliged, though some jeered and swore at the protesters. Some in the crowd held signs demanding action to protect cyclists and pedestrians with protected bike lanes and slower speeds. Patty Wiens, who was bestowed the title Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg by an international active-transportation advocacy group last month, spoke for the group. “My community is moved and tired,” said Wiens. “When I saw that they were getting organized to protest the lack of safety for pedestrians and cyclists in this area, I knew that I had to be here as well, because we’re all in this together, and our community is really feeling hit.” She said news of the hit-and-run spread quickly in the cycling community. “The first thing that happens is we think of, ‘That could have been me; I’ve been on that stretch so many times,’ or, ‘I had a close (call) right at that stretch and I never used it again, because I’m terrified,’” she said. “The first feeling, too, is what is that family thinking right now? What are they feeling? What (are) his co-workers — he didn’t arrive at work — but most of all, it’s how many is too many?” She said many drivers go “very” fast on the stretch of Wellington Crescent, using it as a route out of downtown. She said cycling infrastructure needs to be improved. “Narrowing the streets, putting in a bike lane, protected infrastructure… that would be amazing and ideal, but also slowing down the speeds on side streets is very important, because if we don’t have money for protected bike infrastructure, if we slow down our streets, then maybe people will get the message that they can’t go so fast and maybe we’ll feel a little bit safer,” Wiens said. She said moves on improving cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg have been slow. “It seems like the priority is always for anything to do with cars… the cyclists always kind of fall below,” she said. “It hasn’t been dealt with in so long — and our current administration is trying, our mayor rides a bike to work, our deputy mayor used to be with Winnipeg Trails… but we need buy in from everyone.” She added police enforcement on speeding could also help, but design of streets is the more pressing concern. Investigators determined the driver of a white BMW was speeding and driving erratically when the luxury sedan hit the cyclist, said Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen. “It’s incredibly unfortunate,” he said. Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision. “This person was operating the vehicle erratically, at high rates of speed… this is beyond preventable, this is an individual who clearly had no concern for public safety whatsoever,” said Michalyshen. He said Severight had borrowed the vehicle. Police found the car parked near the owner’s home. “They’ve been very helpful, co-operative,” Michalyshen said, referring to the owner. Severight is in custody. He’s had no prior convictions in Manitoba, court records show. erik.pindera(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Arlington Bridge needs $1M in repairs (Jun1'24)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '24

01 Jun '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Arlington Bridge needs $1M in repairs Replacing bearings necessary, costly but won’t mean reopening span https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/05/31/arlington-bridge-… THE City of Winnipeg expects to pay up to $1 million to repair the Arlington Bridge, but the work is only expected to prevent the structure from falling onto the rail yard below it, not to help reopen it. A new tender seeks a company to replace multiple bearings on the bridge, which was suddenly shut down in November after an assessment found significant steel corrosion and structural issues. The traffic closure remains in effect, while an engineering study set to provide recommendations on whether council should demolish, repair or replace the bridge is expected this fall. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said the new repair work should take place this summer. “Until we decide to take it down or replace it… the bridge is there. What has degraded are bearings on the bridge that allow the bridge to expand and contract based on the weather. The current ones have rusted and solidified… So they’ve put an order out for these bearings and it’s basically to prevent it from falling down,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The councillor said a report with options for the bridge’s future will come out around October. Lukes said each bearing is expensive and the construction work will be complex, since removing any piece of a bridge must be done with extreme caution, especially at this location. “Even though the bridge is closed, it is over an active rail line. Clearly, we’ve got obligations to the rail line also to be safe,” she said. “If you take out a piece of a bridge, you have to make sure the rest of it doesn’t fall down.” While noting she’s still waiting for the engineering report to make a final decision, Lukes said she believes the bridge will likely be replaced, ideally with access for trucks, buses, pedestrians and cyclists. “I think I’m pretty confident in saying we’re going to be doing a replacement of some kind. It’s a critical link to north and south. If we can start using it more for trucking also, it’s going to relieve some pressures,” she said. The councillor said she’s not sure if the bridge could remain at its current location or if it would have to move. Since the span closed, traffic has ramped up on McPhillips Street and the bridge on Salter Street. A tender document notes the city is seeking a company to replace bearings at three piers of the bridge, which a city spokeswoman said is urgently needed. “We anticipate the repair project to cost up to $1 million. This includes engineering, materials, and construction. The repair is considered urgent to keep the bridge standing and underlying railway property safe… If we do not replace (the bearings) now, unintended stress will build up in the truss; such stress puts bridge stability at risk,” wrote Julie Horbal Dooley, in an emailed statement. Mayor Scott Gillingham said the repair is necessary to keep the area safe. Gillingham said he’ll wait for the engineering report’s recommendations to council before sharing his views on the bridge’s future. “I need to wait for the report to see what the report is recommending. Obviously, traffic in and out of Winnipeg’s North End and the movement of vehicles is very important. So we need to make decisions with that in mind as well,” he said. The city expects to award the construction contract by June 28 and have the winning bidder achieve “total performance” by Sept. 11. The bridge was suddenly closed to all traffic on Nov. 21, after a condition assessment. The inspection was part of a viability study for the 112-year-old structure, which allows traffic to cross over the Canadian Pacific Railway yards. At the time of the closure, a city official told reporters some repairs would be required just to keep railway workers and property under the bridge safe. Brad Neirinck, manager of engineering for public works, said safety risks were rising at the bridge prior to the closure, though it wasn’t in immediate danger. “We don’t want to get to the point that there’s a collapse,” he said at the time. “We’re not near that point… but there’s things (we’ve) got to do to mitigate the risk and make sure that the structural integrity is there.” In 2016, city engineers deemed the bridge, which opened to traffic in 1912, to be near the end of its life. In 2019, a preliminary design estimated a new bridge could cost $319 million. Gillingham said there’s no updated cost estimate for a new bridge, which could be considerably higher now, due to rising construction costs over the past five years. Over the past decade, the city has devoted about $3.6 million for studies on whether to repair or replace the bridge. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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Omand's Creek Crossing & Graham Ave Transition
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '24

17 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Provide input on City projects [Winnipeg Public Library News & Events | Nouvelles et activités de la bibliothèque publique de Winnipeg]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Public Engagement News<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Bulletin d'information sur l'engagement public<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> En français Provide your input [Omand's Creek Bridge in the winter]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> An Omand’s Creek crossing for everyone<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> The bridge in Omand Park is old and must be replaced. We're exploring how a new pedestrian bridge could serve the community while maintaining the look and feel of the park. Before we begin the design study, we want your feedback to better understand the community, your needs, and how you currently use the park. Join us at a park event May 30 or share your feedback online<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>. Park event details: Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024* Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Location: Omand Park, meeting at the corner of Wolseley Avenue and Raglan Road<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Format: Drop-in (come and go) *In case of rain or high winds, visit the project webpage<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> for rescheduling updates Take the survey<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Map your feedback<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> [CentrePlan 2050]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> CentrePlan 2050<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> CentrePlan 2050 will help transform what Downtown looks like, how we get around, and how we experience Downtown. Unfortunately, the open house ended earlier than scheduled on May 15 due to a power outage affecting most of Downtown. Another open house has been scheduled for Thursday, May 23. We hope you can join us, details are below. Open house #2 Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Location: Carol Shields Auditorium, Millennium Library, 251 Donald St.<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Format: Come and go (drop-in) Take the survey<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Take the Re-imagining Graham Avenue survey Share your comments<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Share your comments about the draft CentrePlan 2050 Attend an information session [Transit bus garage]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> North Garage Replacement Project<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> We are building a new bus garage in northwest Winnipeg at the intersection of Oak Point Highway and Selkirk Avenue<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>. Join us at an information session to learn more about the project and speak with the project team. Information session event details Date: Monday, May 27, 2024 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Tyndall Park Community Centre, 2255 King Edward St.<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Format: Come and go (drop-in) Upcoming engagement events May 23 * Open house #2: CentrePlan 2050<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> May 27 * Information session: N<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>orth Garage Replacement Project<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> May 30 * Park event: An Omand’s Creek crossing for everyone<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> We strive to promote public events at least two weeks ahead through other means such as newspaper ads, social media, and direct mail. Contact us Email: City-Engage(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:City-Engage@winnipeg.ca> Phone: 204-986-4243 [Winnipeg 150 graphic]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Winnipeg 150<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Our shared stories. Our shared future. In 2024, Winnipeg marks 150 years as a city. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our past, and look ahead to our future. Exprimez-vous [Bridge in Omand Park]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Un pont pour tout le monde au-dessus du ruisseau Omand’s<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> (anglais seulement) Le pont du parc Omand est vieux et doit être remplacé. Nous explorons la façon dont un nouveau pont piétonnier pourrait bénéficier à la communauté tout en préservant l’apparence et l’ambiance du parc. Avant d’entreprendre l’étude de conception, nous voulons obtenir vos commentaires pour mieux comprendre la communauté, vos besoins et la façon dont vous utilisez présentement le parc. Joignez-vous à nous lors d’une activité qui aura lieu dans le parc le 30 mai, ou exprimez-vous en ligne<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>. Précisions sur l’activité qui aura lieu dans le parc : Date : Le jeudi 30 mai 2024* Heure : De 16 h à 19 h Lieu : Parc Omand. Rencontre à l’angle de l’avenue Wolseley et du chemin Raglan<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>. Format : Entrée libre * En cas de pluie ou de vents forts, visitez la page Web du projet pour savoir si l’activité a été reportée. Répondez au sondage<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Indiquez vos commentaires sur une carte<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> [CentrePlan 2050]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> CentrePlan 2050<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> (anglais seulement) CentrePlan 2050 aidera à transformer l’apparence du centre-ville, la façon dont nous nous y déplaçons et notre expérience du centre-ville. Malheureusement, les portes ouvertes du 15 mai ont pris fin plus tôt que prévu en raison d’une panne de courant touchant la plupart du centre-ville. On a organisé d’autres portes ouvertes le jeudi 23 mai. Nous espérons que vous pourrez vous joindre à nous. Des précisions sont données ci-dessous. Précisions sur les portes ouvertes Date : Le jeudi 23 mai 2024 Heure : De 11 h à 18 h Lieu : Bibliothèque du Millénaire, 251, rue Donald<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>, salle Carol-Shields Format : Entrée libre Répondez au sondage<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Répondez au sondage sur le projet Repenser l’avenue Graham Exprimer-vous<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Exprimez-vous sur l’ébauche de CentrePlan 2050 Participez à une séance d’information publique [Transit bus garage]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Projet de remplacement du garage nord<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Nous allons construire un nouveau garage d’autobus dans le nord-ouest de Winnipeg à l’intersection du chemin Oak Point et de l’avenue Selkirk. Joignez-vous à nous lors d’une séance d’information pour en apprendre plus sur le projet et pour discuter avec l’équipe de projet. Précisions sur la séance d’information Date : Le lundi 27 mai 2024 Heure : De 18 h à 19 h 30 Lieu : Centre communautaire du parc Tyndall, 2255, rue King Edward<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Format : Entrée libre Activités à venir 23 mai * Portes ouverte<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> : CentrePlan 205<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>0<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> 27 mai * Séance d’information: Projet de remplacement du garage nord<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> 30 mail * A<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>ctivité qui aura lieu dans le parc: Un pont pour tout le monde au-dessus du ruisseau Omand’s<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Nous nous efforçons de promouvoir les événements publics au moins deux semaines avant leur tenue par d’autres moyens tels que les journaux, les médias sociaux et le courrier postal. Contactez-nous Courriel : City-Engage(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:City-Engage@winnipeg.ca> Téléphone : 204-986-4243 [Illustration de Winnipeg 150]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Winnipeg 150<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Nos histoires communes. Notre avenir commun. En 2024, la ville de Winnipeg aura 150 ans. C’est l’occasion de réfléchir à notre passé et de regarder vers l’avenir. 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Fwd: A fun way to support cycling advocacy in your community
by Dave Elmore 16 May '24

16 May '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Vélo Canada Bikes <info(a)velocanadabikes.org<mailto:info@velocanadabikes.org>> Date: Thu, May 16, 2024 at 9:27 AM Subject: A fun way to support cycling advocacy in your community To: <daveelmore12(a)gmail.com<mailto:daveelmore12@gmail.com>> 📊 Claim your Pedal Poll/Sondo Vélo counting shift today View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/velocanadabikes/april2024-16197743?e=c0b62fb8ea> [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/23fdf8ea-af68-de…] Pedal Poll/Sondo Vélo 2024 Canada’s national bicycle count - June 4-9, 2024 Claim a counting shift in your community today<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Pedal Poll/Sondo Vélo 2024 is taking place June 4 to 9. The count is a chance to evaluate the state of cycling in our communities. Together we get a “snapshot” of what cycling looks like in communities across Canada, at the same time, year over year. [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/ded0bb90-8105-1a…] The data collected helps build the case for more, and better, cycling infrastructure. This growing data set is there for everyone to use to advocate for access to safe cycling choices for everyone, everywhere. 📆 Count dates You will note that the SignUp pages list Tuesday, June 4 and Saturday, June 8 as the weekday and weekend count dates. These are the ideal count dates, but if the weather is poor or you are unable to count on these days, please conduct your weekday count on Wednesday the 5th or Thursday the 6th and conduct your weekend count on Sunday the 9th. [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/4b97a529-8092-4e…] Help close the gaps in cycling data<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> 📑 Resources Everything you’ll need to have a successful count. [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/7519f997-042c-cf…] Count Instructions REVISED! Step by step instructions with answers to frequently asked questions. Get all the details<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/1ff19b2c-0edb-3e…]<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Quick Reference Guide NEW! All the basics on how to get started on one page. Learn the basics<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/c6c2f9ce-28eb-c6…]<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Webinar Last month our team was hosted by the interdisciplinary research team CapaCITY/É to present the background, methods and key findings of the count. The recording is now available on YouTube. Listen in<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/f776fd18-4d95-b9…]<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Promotional material The more people counting the better. You can forward this message to others and access a folder with a number of shareable images, GIFs and videos you can post to your profiles, newsletter and website. Get the word out<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> 📊 Results and analysis from past Pedal Polls The results from the 2022 and 2023 counts have been analysed and are available as a series of tables, infographics and charts for each focus community. You are welcome to download your community’s results and share them widely. [https://mcusercontent.com/d4de63e62b75495d947e15ed4/images/efa14418-38d3-fd…] See what we’ve counted<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Pedal Poll/Sondo Vélo is a project of Vélo Canada Bikes, funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Active Transportation Fund<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> administered by Infrastructure Canada in 2023 and by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> in 2021. The project has also received in-kind support from local cycling advocacy organizations, the CounterPoint app<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> team, hundreds of community volunteers and the Cities, Health & Active Transportation Research Lab<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC (2021 and 2023) and the Healthy Populations Institute<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS (2021 and 2023). Data for the 2022 and 2023 were analyzed by Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…>. [Facebook icon]<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [Twitter icon] <https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [Website icon] <https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [LinkedIn icon] <https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> [Email icon] <mailto:info@velocanadabikes.org> [Instagram icon] <https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4de63e62b75495d9…> Copyright (C) 2024 Vélo Canada Bikes. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have opted in or have participated in one of our projects. Our mailing address is: Vélo Canada Bikes 306 Edwin Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y6 Canada Add us to your address book<https://velocanadabikes.us7.list-manage.com/vcard?u=d4de63e62b75495d947e15e…> Want to change how you receive these emails? 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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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WFP: Traffic-calming Wolseley Avenue (Apr4'24)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '24

04 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Traffic-calming Wolseley Avenue City says dropping speed limit would increase neighbourhood livability https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/04/03/wolseley-avenue-o… WOLSELEY Avenue, a hotbed of activity with bicycles and pedestrians dodging drivers trying to escape the hustle of Portage Avenue, could become the city’s latest greenway, with vehicle speeds limited to 30 km/h under a new proposal. A city report recommends the scenic street along the Assiniboine River become the next year-round speed-reduced route, which would see its speed drop to 30 km/h from 50 km/h between Maryland Street and Raglan Road, if approved by council. Coun. Janice Lukes, head of the public works committee, supports the change. “It increases the neighbourhood livability… As our city densifies, we’re going to be doing more and more of this. We don’t need cars racing through neighbourhoods… They can drive (at a higher) speed on collectors and on the major arterials,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The trend to add more speed-reduced neighbourhood greenways is well underway. The City of Winnipeg defines the greenways as on-street routes meant to safely move pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles, which typically include traffic-calming treatments and a 30 km/h speed limit. The avenue would join 19 other such routes that council previously approved. Wolseley Avenue stands out because it tends to have more traffic than the standard neighbourhood greenway, with about 1,000 to 3,200 vehicles per day, while target traffic volumes for a greenway should fall below 1,000 to 1,500, said city spokeswoman Julie Horbal Dooley, in an emailed statement. “What we need to explore further is whether the speed limit and some minor traffic-calming measures do enough to create ‘all ages and abilities’ (active transportation) conditions on Wolseley,” she wrote. She noted speed tables, curb bumpouts and raised crosswalks are slated to be added this summer. After staff assess how that works, further proposed changes could be brought forward for community consultation, Horbal Dooley said. Lukes said the higher traffic volume doesn’t dampen her support for the proposed change. “Wolseley is one of the most commuter… bicycling-oriented neighbourhoods in the city… It’s got a very high percentage of people who bike and walk. I know the majority, a lot of Wolseley residents, want this,” she said. A frequent bike commuter and advocate for reduced residential street speed limits applauded the proposal. “I wouldn’t want to ride on Portage Avenue with my kids. So having Wolseley to the south of Portage is a great way to be able to head out to the Polo Park area… It’s a missing link,” said Ian Walker, chairman of Safe Speeds Winnipeg. Walker said the lower speed is much safer for roads shared by vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, since pedestrians and cyclists are much more likely to survive a collision when the vehicle is travelling at 30 km/h or less, as per the World Health Organization. “We’d like to see all residential streets be 30 km/h. In the meantime, we’re happy to see that the city is creating routes that people can use to commute,” he said. By contrast, others fear the change would slow down drivers. “These are routes that people need to drive on. I’m not against having areas for (cyclists) but it needs to be done with some thought… I’m concerned that it’s going to be a cash grab for the city and they’re going to set up their mobile (photo radar police units to ticket people) as a way to increase their revenues,” said Winnipeg resident Derek Rolstone. Rolstone said he expects the change would result in traffic congestion, perhaps inconveniencing more Winnipeggers than it supports. “When you put a 30 km/h zone in place, there’s people who are going to go 20 (km/h) and that’s not good,” he said. “We have a lot of bike routes for a winter city. I don’t think we need more.” Lukes said she expects some drivers to oppose the change but believes the benefits outweigh the concerns about driver delay. She said photo radar can offer an “incredibly effective tool for traffic calming and for improving neighbourhood livability.” In recent years, Wolseley has been an enhanced summer bike route, which means it is already slated for a seasonal speed-limit reduction that begins in May. Those bike routes were meant to slow down vehicle traffic and create more room for cyclists. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP opinion: It ain’t over till it’s over — is it over? (Portage & Main) Apr4'24
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '24

04 Apr '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. It ain’t over till it’s over — is it over? https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2024/04/04/it-aint-over-… JUDY WAYTIUK THE other day, I dropped into the Portage and Main circus. The elderly Asian man at the little convenience store there told me, in halting English, “I hope property owners keep open.” He has nowhere to go. He’ll have to figure it out. City council’s decision is not a reprieve while debate over closing the concourse continues, and the decision perhaps gets reversed. It will close. Council prettied up the mayor’s abrupt, unilateral decision with the gentlest possible knuckle- rap (though the vote on the amendment was 14-1) for his colossal pratfall in announcing the closure without a shred of the information needed to do so sensibly. Not actual costs, economic impacts, effects on businesses clinging to survival. Not the damage dried-up foot traffic will do to Winnipeg Square shops, to hotels, restaurants, or to the property values on which taxes from all those shops and businesses and parkades and hotels are based. Without pondering the thrill of crossing Portage and Main in January at -30 C with 40-kilometre winds in a wheelchair. Because when you close the circus, surface pedestrian crossing is your only option. Remember: the sole reason the mayor chose to open the surface was so he could close the circus. Council cobbled together a face-saving repair to his blunder and threw a sympathetic bone to the Bruce Head Wall, which is in the centre of the circus. The Winnipeg Arts Council — from whom the mayor just pulled an annual $500,000 that had enabled them to fulfil an essential purpose, commissioning public art, will try to figure out the problem. But they really should just find competent art historians to document the Wall in torturous detail for history, since the public will never see it in situ again. Locating a site for a 415-foot massive circular piece of three-foot-thick, 12-foot-high sculptured concrete slab? Figuring out what to do with its backside, even if you find a spot? Assuming you could cleanly cut it up into roughly 50 four-tonne blocks and haul them out of the doomed circus? Scotiabank’s escalators won’t carry them up. I’m exhausted after weeks of battling alone, until the Building Owners and Managers Association of Manitoba and the Downtown BIZ blazed up at the last minute, firing desperate salvos across the civic ship of state’s inexorably advancing bow. I’m tired of constantly observing the mayor’s $73-million number is patently wrong, and seeing that simple truth ignored in favour of the shiny-bauble news story: “Widow battles to save husband’s art.” But the media ran with that number, unquestioning, from the get-go, and cemented $73 million into their files — and the public mind. Then the shiny-bauble news story became “Historic intersection to reopen to people.” Nobody has checked the glaringly visible arithmetic. Concourse repairs plus new accesses — $35 million — not $73 million. Sewer/water main repairs, $13 million. Rip up/ replace the intersection plus traffic management, $25 million. Total: $38 million. Traffic disruption and $73 million were the mayor’s reasons to shutter the concourse. They have been blindly parroted by journalists since March 1. The sole questioning analysis came in brief coverage quoting the building owners association protest letter, and in op-eds penned by vested interests (this being one). The mayor also wished to lift the decision-making burden for civic authorities decades into the future. He very much deserves credit for at least making a decision frantically ducked by Brian Bowman — the mayor who held that 2018 plebiscite, simultaneously ignoring the leaking concourse membrane which was, even then, degrading under his watch. But the $38 million worth of sewer and water work still needs doing. Stantec’s report documents the needed work for over two pages. It will mean shredding and replacing the intersection and East Portage Avenue as well, and five years of disrupted traffic; there are even pretty, multi-coloured diagrams. Does the mayor consider $38 million and five years of awful traffic also unacceptable? On June 8, 2016, an enormous sinkhole in downtown Ottawa swallowed three lanes of Rideau Street. Cause: a broken water main. A year later, another hole gaped open. Hasty repairs hadn’t gone quite right. On Feb. 7 of this year, a sewer line broke in south Winnipeg. Roughly 230 million litres of raw, putrid sewage belched into the Red River before it was fixed 16 days later — temporarily. Traffic on Abinojii Mikanah was terrible. On March 13, a sewer pipe collapse forced closure of a south Winnipeg community centre/daycare for more than two weeks. If your sewer and water department tells you something needs doing, you do it. But that means more costs. When crosswalks go in (possibly $10 million), they’ll have to be ripped up, along with the intersection, to do the sewer and water work. The mayor wants those crosswalks by July 1, 2025, the same deadline the public service got to produce all the information the mayor apparently didn’t need to make his decision in the first place. So, another $20 million, maybe? Nobody wanted the concourse closed. Not the consultants, not Stantec, not the public service, not the shelved 2018 Dillon report. This is what happens when you don’t think something through, and you grab the wrong decision because you skipped your homework. It could blow up in your face. Or implode. Literally. Winnipeg, and what’s simply known across Canada as The Wall, will pay the cost. One way or the other. Bruce Head’s widow, Judy Waytiuk, may be exhausted, but she isn’t quite ready to quit.

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WFP: Fuel for a rethink of driving habits (Mar22'24)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '24

22 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Fuel for a rethink of driving habits OPINION https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2024/03/21/an-opportunity-to-think-… THE abrupt shutdown of an Imperial Oil pipeline that carries fuel to Winnipeg is surely an inconvenience. Economically, it’s bad news because it could have a negative effect on trade and retail sales. The trucking industry has already been impacted. However, it’s also an opportunity: a chance for Winnipeggers, including businesses, to explore ways to burn less carbon-emitting fuel. Some fuel stations around Winnipeg have been limiting, or are sold out of, gasoline after the pipeline was shut down for repairs. Imperial Oil says the pipeline — which runs from Gretna, near the U.S. border to Winnipeg — will be out of commission for three months. While industry officials and politicians have assured Manitobans there is no immediate threat of a fuel shortage (since gas is being delivered by truck and rail instead), there are visible signs of a supply disruption. Hastily scrawled “Out of gas” signs are popping up at some pump locations. Those will surely become more common, as will capping the amount of fuel motorists can buy. The wrong and dangerous response to this inconvenience (which is all it is right now, it’s not a crisis) would be to hoard fuel in jerry cans in your garage or backyard. For starters, there’s no need to do so. Fuel is available for sale and, by all accounts, will continue to be so for some time. It may just take people a little longer to get it. Second, hoarding will only exacerbate the situation by increasing demand unnecessarily. Third, and most important, it’s dangerous. Storing fuel in jerry cans — or worse, containers not designed to hold fuel — increases the risk of combustion and fire. A more appropriate and healthier response would be to use this situation to re-evaluate how much carbon-emitting fuel we use in our lives. Granted, some of that consumption is not discretionary. For those who need their vehicles for work, or have no other way of commuting to places they must be, there’s not much wiggle room. For many, though, there are alternatives to driving, especially for able-bodied, single-occupant motorists. Transit is the most obvious alternative. It’s not an option for everyone, especially in Winnipeg, which has a substandard public transportation system (the government should take this opportunity to re-evaluate how poorly it funds transit in Winnipeg). But it is available to many and, while perhaps inconvenient and less comfortable than getting into a remote-started vehicle, it is often a viable alternative to driving. Walking is also not an option for everyone, but it goes without saying most people could walk a lot more to reach their destinations, myself included. Many of us are lazy. We like convenience and it’s far easier to get into a vehicle to commute a kilometre or two (sometimes less) than it is to walk. Cycling. Again, not everyone has that choice, but with warmer weather just around the corner, biking to work, school, the store… wherever, is a viable alternative for many. Fortunately, the city has made progress expanding its network of dedicated cycling routes. It is far easier to get around on a bike today in Winnipeg than it was 25 years ago. The city has a long way to go before it can claim to be cyclist-friendly, but it’s headed in the right direction. Perhaps the fuel-supply disruption could help accelerate that process. Some people can work from home more often, carpool if possible (or more often) or even stay home instead of making a discretionary commute. Dog owners don’t have to drive to unleashed parks every day. They can substitute some of those trips with walks in their own neighbourhoods. The fuel-supply disruption could even be an opportunity to re-evaluate how people drive, including reducing or eliminating quick accelerations, speeding up to red lights and exceeding the speed limit, all of which is fuel-inefficient. In other words, use this fuel-disruption situation to rethink how much fuel you burn. Is all of it necessary? Can some be reduced? Is it time to start thinking about buying an electric vehicle or a hybrid? Those who have one must feel pretty good about their decision right now. Given the climate-change crisis faced by humanity, we should be having these discussions on an ongoing basis. It should not take a minor fuel- supply disruption to get us out of our single-occupant vehicles. Since the opportunity has presented itself, why not exploit it? tom.brodbeck(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: City hall votes to open Portage and Main, close concourse (Mar22'24)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '24

22 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City hall votes to open Portage and Main, close concourse Tear down barricades: council https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/03/21/council-votes-to-… IN the end, the final vote in a debate that has raged since 1979 wasn’t even close. Next year, after 46 years, pedestrians will once again cross Portage and Main at street level: city council Thursday voted 11-3 to open the intersection and close the underground concourse. ‘ The landmark intersection, which has been called the windiest in Canada, has been the place to where Bombers fans race to celebrate a Grey Cup win, where protests are routinely held and where the military was celebrated for helping out during the 1997 “flood of the century.” The vote came after city officials estimated it would cost $73 million and disrupt traffic for up to five years to replace the leaking membrane that protects the underground concourse and keep it open. Mayor Scott Gillingham has repeatedly argued that assessment makes a clear case to close the underground instead. “I believe the practical alternative (is) to open the intersection to pedestrian traffic at street level, avoid up to five years of traffic delays and decommission the concourse,” said Gillingham. The mayor joined Couns. Matt Allard, Jeff Browaty, Shawn Dobson, Evan Duncan, Cindy Gilroy, Janice Lukes, Brian Mayes, Sherri Rollins, Vivian Santos and Devi Sharma to support the proposal, while Couns. Ross Eadie, Jason Schreyer and Russ Wyatt voted against it. Couns. Markus Chambers and John Orlikow were absent. Not everyone at Thursday’s council meeting agreed: the trucking industry questioned the effect on traffic, while one councillor argued for another plebiscite to let citizens have their say and another councillor said he backs opening pedestrian access but opposes closing the indoor walkway. An early estimate suggests it would cost about $20 million to $50 million to close the concourse, though council voted to complete a more thorough assessment of that cost, and the steps required, before the 2025 budget process. City officials are expected to prepare for the street-level reopening by July 1, 2025. The city expects to devote $13 million to the “initial opening design and construction” and defer some road projects to pay for it. Some delegates at Thursday’s council meeting questioned why council would make such a quick decision to close the concourse, before the full impact is studied. “We’ll all have to wait until after you vote to close it to find out what it would actually cost… We know nothing that we need to know about the ramifications of closing it,” said Judy Waytiuk. Waytiuk noted she has a vested interest in opposing the concourse closure, since her late partner, Bruce Head, created the 127-metre-long concrete artwork that covers the inner wall of the circular walkway, which would be difficult to save on its own. She stressed maintaining public infrastructure is a primary role of city council, including the concourse. A member of the trucking industry said he fears large trucks could lose some access to the intersection, which is a key part of many different routes. “We’re not specifically against opening the barricades… Our concern is keeping Portage and Main open in all directions to trucks because conceptual designs do not make that clear,” said Aaron Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. Debate over pedestrian access at the intersection has raged on for many years. In a 2018 plebiscite, 65 per cent of Winnipeggers voted “no” to reopening the intersection to pedestrians, which was cut off in 1979 after the underground concourse opened. Wyatt said the city shouldn’t pursue a reopening unless a second plebiscite with the same question finds the majority of Winnipeggers now support the change. “I’m not going to vote to open Portage and Main, absolutely not, without there being another plebiscite (to) let the citizens of Winnipeg decide,” said Wyatt (Transcona). He also expressed safety concerns, suggesting pedestrian access will result in an increase in crashes, causing injuries and even deaths. While the mayor said he was opposed to reopening the intersection during the last election campaign, Gillingham said the latest information, especially the cost to fix the concourse, led him to change his mind. Eadie (Mynarski) supported pedestrian access but opposed the concourse closure. “I’m definitely not for closing the concourse. It’s existing infrastructure, just like the Arlington Bridge (that should be maintained),” he said. Meanwhile, Browaty said an amending clause, which requires the cost and traffic impacts of closing the concourse to be studied, helped lead him to support the slightly altered motion. That comes despite his long-standing opposition to opening the intersection to pedestrians. “Even though I’m still against 24-7 (pedestrian) crossings and I don’t think spending $13 million to rush the opening for next year is the best plan, I do think… getting that amendment is important enough (to vote for this),” he said. The North Kildonan councillor said pedestrian crossings should be assessed over the first 12 to 18 months after the reopening. “If it doesn’t work out… perhaps (in the) longer term, we look at putting weekday rush-hour bans on pedestrian crossing,” said Browaty. The mayor said he’s committed to consulting with the trucking industry, property owners at the intersection and businesses in the underground concourse about the changes, noting any spending to actually close the concourse would still require city council approval. “Council has to make hard decisions from time to time. There are times… when we have to make a decision about whether we’re going to continue to invest in an asset or whether or not we’re going to say it’s time to decommission an asset,” said Gillingham. Council’s decision also directs city staff to consult with the Winnipeg Arts Council about the public art in the concourse. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X : @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Poll shows U-turn on Portage and Main (Mar21'24)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Poll shows U-turn on Portage and Main Most Winnipeggers now support reopening intersection https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/03/20/u-turn-on-portage… A MAJORITY of Winnipeggers is in favour of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians six years after an overwhelming “no,” a new poll suggested ahead of a council vote Thursday. More than a quarter of those polled in the Free Press- Probe Research survey said they voted against the proposal in a 2018 plebiscite, but have since changed their mind. “When you look at this new information, I think a lot of people, like me, are making a different decision than they did six years ago,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said Wednesday. The “new information” is the estimated $73 million cost and up to five years of traffic disruption associated with proposed repairs to the pedestrian concourse beneath the iconic downtown intersection. “When people, like I did, get this new information, it moves us toward the practical alternative, which is to reopen the intersection at-grade,” said Gillingham. The online survey of 600 Winnipeg adults was conducted between March 5-18. A total of 61 per cent said they strongly or somewhat support restoring pedestrian access, while 39 per cent are strongly or somewhat against it. Women, younger adults, university graduates and supporters of the provincial NDP and Liberals were among those more likely to be in favour. Portage and Main has been closed to pedestrians since 1979. In 2018’s non-binding plebiscite, 65 per cent of voters were against removing concrete barriers and reopening the junction to foot traffic, while 35 per cent were in favour. The Free Press- Probe Research poll suggests 28 per cent of those who voted “no” are now strongly or somewhat in support. “We have seen a pretty significant chunk of suburban Winnipeggers think this is the right thing to do, given the cost and the support (on council),” said Probe Research principal Curtis Brown. “There hasn’t been as much vocal opposition compared to six years ago.” Support outpaced opposition in four of five areas of the city. The strongest support is in the city’s core (72 per cent in favour), followed by the southwest (61 per cent), northwest (60 per cent) and southeast (58 per cent). Northeast Winnipeg had the highest proportion of opposition (53 per cent). Potential traffic impacts and negative attitudes toward downtown were probable factors, said North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty. The finance committee chair said he is open to allowing pedestrians only at off-peak times. He said a full reopening should be trialled for 12-18 months — to assess traffic pattern changes and economic impacts — before a final decision is made. A 2017 study by a consulting firm suggested a few minutes would be added to most commutes. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed work and commuting patterns for some Winnipeggers, the mayor has said. Browaty said council shouldn’t consider closing the underground concourse until it sees a complete study. He fears property and rental values could decline if the concourse is closed. At a March 12 executive policy committee meeting, Browaty was the lone member to vote against a motion to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians by July 1, 2025, and proceed with an eventual concourse closure in consultation with affected businesses and property owners. Council is scheduled to vote today. “It seems like the mayor has the votes for it,” said Brown. “No matter what happens, there definitely will be people who are not happy.” Gillingham believes the motion has enough support, but he is not expecting a unanimous vote. If approved, an external engineering study will help to determine the design and cost of a pedestrian- friendly intersection. The vote is taking place less than three weeks after Gillingham announced he is now in favour of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians. The U-turn was prompted by a report from the city’s acting urban planning manager, who said it could cost $73 million and disrupt traffic for up to five years to replace a leaking membrane under the concrete that protects the concourse. “I could see why that could sway people’s decision,” said Coun. Vivian Santos, who supports pedestrian access to the intersection, which is in her Point Douglas ward. Decommissioning the concourse, meanwhile, could cost between $20 million and $50 million, subject to further study. Gillingham has said it costs the city about $1 million annually to operate and maintain the concourse. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Manitoba has spoken out against the proposed closure, describing it as “short-sighted” and “based on incomplete information.” The city said about 72,000 vehicles pass through Portage and Main on a weekday, which is 10 per cent less than in 2016. It is Winnipeg’s sixth busiest intersection. Last year, a study counted more than 2,100 pedestrians in the underground circus during a two hour period at midday on a weekday. More than 1,500 people walked by the intersection on adjacent sidewalks during counts in mid-January. Probe Research said its survey comprised a random and representative sampling of Winnipeggers. Live operators, an automated phone system and an online panel were used to recruit respondents. The polling firm said the survey has a margin of error of four percentage points, 95 per cent of the time. Margins of error are higher within sub-groups, such as gender, age and education. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca>

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The Economist on American love of big vehicles
by Charles Feaver 14 Mar '24

14 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Why American cars are so big A regulatory loophole that incentivised sales of big vehicles is about to be tightened [Trump supporters drive through Mooresville in trucks while participating in a Donald J. Trump parade in Mooresville, Indiana, USA.]image: jeremy hogan/polaris/eyevine Mar 11th 2024 SaveShare Give Americans love to super-size-and not just their fast food. They favour huge sport-utility vehicles (suvs) and pickup trucks over small cars. Some 8.7m hit the road in 2023, accounting for more than half of all sales of new vehicles, according to jato Dynamics, a research firm. Although European cars are also getting bigger<https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/06/21/a-farewell-to-small-cars-the-in…>, American ones still have a comfortable lead: in 2022 the average car sold in America weighed 1,857kg, almost 20% more than the average in Europe. Wide roads and big parking spaces accommodate this preference for hefty rides-and so does the law. But a loophole that for nearly 50 years has incentivised sales of big vehicles will soon be tightened. Will that lead Americans to buy smaller cars? In 1973 oil-producing Arab countries cut shipments to America to punish it for supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur war: sharp increases in fuel prices, long queues at petrol stations and a deep recession followed. In 1975, in response to the crisis, the federal government imposed fuel-economy standards on carmakers. By 1985 all new models would have to reach 27.5 miles per (American) gallon (11.7km/litre), up from an average of 13mpg. Today the law mandates 40mpg. To increase efficiency, manufacturers had to use more complex engines, which made their cars costlier. To ease the burden on small businesses that relied on big vehicles, the government exempted "light trucks", any vehicle that could be used off road and weighed less than 8,500lb (3855kg). That meant suvs-typically among the biggest and least-efficient cars-were swept into the category and avoided the new fuel standards. [cid:image002.png@01DA7652.C1A60610]image: the economist Because making light trucks held to lower environmental standards was more profitable than building small clean cars, automakers marketed big models, including suvs, enthusiastically. They portrayed them as quintessentially American, embodying freedom<https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/11/09/in-praise-of-ame…>, strength and adventurousness. By 2002 light trucks made up a bigger share of light-duty vehicle sales than cars. After the price shock of the 1970s, by the 1990s petrol had become cheaper in America than in other rich countries-so the cost of running a big car did not deter buyers. Such models are convenient for suburban living, and consumers see them as safe. Even when buying cars that are not exempt from efficiency standards, Americans favour chunky sedans over small city cars, which made up just 8% of vehicle sales in 2023, compared with 36% in Europe. And although suvs have a similar market share-a little over half of new vehicles-in both America and Europe, American models are bigger and less efficient. That has been bad for the climate. Transport is the largest source of greenhouse gases in America, and almost 60% of those emissions come from cars and other light-duty vehicles. It has been bad for the safety of other road users too. Heavier cars are more likely to kill people if they hit them. According to a study conducted at the University of Hawaii, pedestrians are almost 70% more likely to be killed if they are hit by a light truck as opposed to a car. The rule favouring big petrol-guzzlers is about to change. The Environmental Protection Agency (epa), which sets limits on cars' emissions, announced in April 2023 that it planned to tighten standards across the board and narrow the definition of a light truck. The agency is due to publish final rules this year. The CO2-emission limit for cars is currently 161 grams per kilometre, compared with 276 grams for light trucks, a 71% difference; the epa is expected to cut that gap to 22% by 2032, forcing manufacturers to use more efficient engines in their big models, which will raise the price of big cars relative to smaller ones. The agency believes that its new rules are so strict that they will speed up the move towards electric vehicles<https://www.economist.com/business/2023/11/27/is-americas-ev-revolution-sta…> (evs), so that by 2032 two-thirds of new sales will be electric. Yet this may make little difference to the size of cars. Many popular vehicles, such as the Ford F-150, would still count as light trucks and continue to benefit from lower efficiency standards, and hence lower costs and prices. And evs are developing the same weight problem<https://www.economist.com/business/2023/08/10/how-green-is-your-electric-ve…> as conventional cars. The epa does not regulate evs' indirect emissions, even though heavier models require more electricity to charge, and need bigger batteries, which contain more of the scarce metals used to make those batteries. In 2022 60% of electric-vehicle sales in America were suvs, according to the International Energy Agency. Regulation alone may not be enough to change the country's taste for super-sized cars. ■

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WFP: A step closer to pedestrians on Portage and Main (Mar13'24)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '24

13 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. EPC votes for plan; Downtown BIZ concerned A step closer to pedestrians on Portage and Main https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/03/12/epc-votes-in-favo… THE proposal to reopen pedestrian access at the Portage and Main intersection and decommission its underground concourse passed a key hurdle Tuesday. City council’s executive policy committee cast a 5-1 vote in favour of the move, despite hearing concerns the below-grade closure will hurt businesses linked to the structure. After applauding the pedestrian reopening as a way to spark street-level activity, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ chief executive officer Kate Fenske told EPC she is similarly worried about the below- ground changes. “We’re hoping this doesn’t have to be an either/or position… Decommissioning the underground would have a huge impact on their livelihoods and could also impact the success of other businesses connected to the city-owned Portage and Main underground,” said Fenske. The sheltered walkways also offer a key option for employees of many downtown businesses to travel between buildings, especially during the winter, she added. “Opening the intersection at Portage and Main to pedestrians is absolutely a priority, but Winnipeg’s underground is so much more than just an intersection,” she said, suggesting the city collaborate with the BIZ to address any negative impacts. Mayor Scott Gillingham later told reporters the feedback “doesn’t change anything for me.” “I’ve committed to having discussions with the property owners and the business owners, as well. We know that businesses, obviously, within the circus… would be affected by its closure but also businesses that are located under the properties. Part of our commitment is to be in discussion with the property owners and the businesses to try to find a way to assist them,” he said. The mayor stressed decommissioning of the site would not happen immediately, though the City of Winnipeg hasn’t provided a timeline. Gillingham said it’s “too soon to tell” whether the city could compensate the six tenants who now rent spaces within the city’s portion of the concourse. “The decommissioning wouldn’t happen immediately. It would take a while to all play out, so there’s time for dialogue.” The mayor has stressed there is a clear financial basis for the changes, noting replacing a leaking membrane to protect the concourse would cost an estimated $73 million and require up to five years of traffic-delaying construction. The mayor’s office said Winnipeg received about $111,000 in rent from concourse businesses in 2023, but paid $1.011 million to operate and maintain the site the same year. An early estimate suggests it would cost about $20 million to $50 million to close the concourse. After decades of heated debate over the site’s future, Gillingham said the relatively muted response to his current call to reopen it to pedestrians is likely related to Winnipeg’s need to address more urgent concerns. “I’m not saying the opening of Portage and Main is not important, but there are just more things that are pressing in our community right now — whether it’s housing, safety, the need to continue to address homelessness in our community. I think the public is wanting us to focus on those things.” At EPC, the mayor joined Couns. Sherri Rollins, Evan Duncan, Janice Lukes and Brian Mayes to vote in favour of the Portage and Main plan; Coun. Jeff Browaty voted against it. Browaty stressed the underground walkway is an important piece of public infrastructure. “Many groups are concerned with this out-of-the-blue closure scenario, accessibility advocates, business owners, people working downtown… At this point, no real work has been done to study the shuttering of the underground circus.” While the matter still awaits a final council vote, Gillingham said he believes there is sufficient support among elected officials to get the plan approved. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Analysis: Imagining what the ‘Windy Corner’ could one day be (Mar11'24)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '24

11 Mar '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Imagining what the ‘Windy Corner’ could one day be https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2024/03/11/imagining-wha… OPEN Portage and Main. Four simple words. Elections have been fought over them. Friends have become temporary enemies because of them. Family dinners have been ruined by them. A Winnipeg debate that has stirred local emotions and bewildered outsiders for more than half a century. During the 2018 plebiscite, a common refrain in opposition to opening the intersection to pedestrians was that the money required to remove the barricades could be used for more important things. A new Public Works report flips this economic argument on its head, revealing a staggering cost for required repairs to the underground. This construction work would also cause up to five years of traffic delays through the intersection. With this new information, Mayor Scott Gillingham and several city councillors have pulled the pin on that old political hand grenade and announced their support for the less costly and disruptive approach, proposing to close the underground and allow people to cross the street at the sidewalk level. In 2018, the easiest solution was the status quo, so we voted against change. Today the easiest solution is change. The debate will continue as the mayor’s proposal moves through committees and council votes. We know the issue has been a political quagmire and this time will likely be no different. As politicians argue, however, the rest of us might try a new approach for once. Instead of being sucked back into endless circular debates about traffic and safety, informed by gut feeling and speculation, what if we let the traffic engineers solve the traffic engineering? Let the experts be experts, while the rest of turn our thoughts to a vision of what Portage and Main might become. We may be forced into this decision for pragmatic reasons, but that doesn’t mean our response can’t inspire our collective imagination. The mayor has said, “it’s just an intersection.” He’s right, it is. It’s not the mythical beast that has its own climate or was once a battlefield of pedestrian carnage that has lived in Winnipeg lore for generations. But it was once a special place in our city, in our country. What if it was again? What if instead of being a place to drive through, it was a place where we lingered, learned, and loved? As you enter the ‘Cities of the Twentieth Century’ exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, you are greeted by a giant mural of Portage and Main from a century ago. It once represented the very best of what a city could be — bustling sidewalks filled with optimism at the social and economic heart of a city. Could it ever become that again? Portage and Main began as an Indigenous meeting place, the intersection of two ancient trading routes, its unusual width a legacy of Red River Carts travelling, side by side, as Métis entrepreneurs crisscrossed the open Prairie. When Henry McKenney built his general store at the connection of the two paths in 1862, he planted the seed that a modern city would grow from. Portage and Main would later be the site of Winnipeg’s first city council meeting, and was once the head of Banker’s Row, a stunning line of financial buildings on land as valuable as Wall Street in Manhattan. Western Canada’s first office building once stood there, and in 1969, the west’s tallest building rose from the corner. It would be where the city’s first streetcar ran, and its last. The intersection witnessed the 1919 General Strike, the signing of Bobby Hull and Dale Hawerchuk, and the return of the Jets. A place where we celebrate together, mourn together, and protest together. Imagine a place where this spirit and history was woven together and expressed through art, lighting, landscape, and interpretive design. A vibrant place that is a celebration of our city, one that welcomes visitors to learn about us and a place for us to learn about ourselves. Today, every side of the intersection is seeing renewal and growth — new plazas, new restaurants, new office space, a gym, a soaring new skyscraper filled with hundreds of people who call the nearby intersection home. The familiar old bank that resembles a Greek temple on the southeast corner will see the intersection’s highest impact transformation as it becomes the Red River Métis National Heritage Centre, poetically reclaiming the origins of the place as a celebration of Métis culture and modern spirit. It will stand as a downtown focal point and destination that will draw people to Portage and Main. Imagine if, instead of being hidden behind concrete barricades, this new landmark was surrounded by a grand urban landscape that spills from one corner to the next, drawing all this new activity out from inside the buildings onto the sidewalks and into the public spaces. A celebration of who we are, where we have come from and where we want to go. Most Winnipeggers recognize the lasting impacts of the pandemic have hit downtown hard, and Portage Avenue is no longer the proud street it once was. New ideas are needed to restore its prominent place in our city. Re-imagining Portage and Main as a welcoming place for people won’t solve all of downtown’s issues, but it will make an important statement about who we are as a city and who we aspire to be. The mayor and supporting councilors should be given credit. It will take political courage to move forward, even backed by financial justification. As we do, let’s take some time to dream about the possibilities and shift towards an uplifting dialogue about vision and opportunity, reflecting on what Winnipeg’s famous ‘Windy Corner’ might one day be. Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.

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