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WFP: City eyes imposing speed limits on active transportation paths (Oct28'23)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Oct '23

28 Oct '23

City eyes imposing speed limits on active transportation paths https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/10/27/city-eyes-active-transpo… THE City of Winnipeg will study the idea of imposing speed limits for electronic bikes and scooters. On Thursday evening, Winnipeg city council approved a call to have city staff study the potential new restriction, which could affect all motorized devices used on active transportation pathways. Traditional bicycles will be excluded. Coun. Janice Lukes said it’s great to see a hike in the number of people relying on active transportation. However, she said concerns about unsafe speeds of travel are triggering complaints and raising a need to consider new rules. “We’ve got people calling (about) getting hit (while) standing in the (path) and a dog’s leash got caught up in an e-bike… There are scenarios that are unfolding that are requiring us to look to see what other cities are doing that have addressed this issue,” the public works chairwoman said during the meeting. She noted Calgary has already imposed such a speed limit. The Alberta city requires all pathway users, including those riding manual bikes, to travel at or below posted speed limits. The maximum speed is typically set at 20 km/h, the City of Calgary’s website notes. The decision comes amid criticism an active transportation speed limit could prove difficult to enforce. Prior to ordering the report, the majority of Winnipeg council members opted to remove traditional bicycles from the potential speed limit. Coun. Matt Allard, who moved that amendment, told council members he feared including manual transportation could prove complicated. “I do believe that some of these (electronic) devices, particularly those that have been modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications, may achieve speeds that are significant. I would hope that we would not move in the direction of establishing maximum speeds for (traditional) bicycles because that would… likely mean installation of speedometers on bicycles and all sorts of issues with enforcement,” said Allard. Coun. Ross Eadie, who said he was once struck by a manual bicycle many years ago, voted against removing traditional bikes from the potential speed limit, suggesting all active transportation options should be limited to a maximum speed of 30 km/h. “If somebody gets hit by a bike moving really fast, believe me, it hurts… The older you get, the worse the injuries are,” said Eadie. Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act already sets a restriction of 32 km/h for “power-assisted” bicycles with motors of up to 500 watts. Coun. Shawn Dobson, who raised the speed limit motion, argues an even lower cap is needed. “Thirty-two (km/h) on an active transportation path is way too fast. Probably anywhere from 10 (km/h) to 20 (km/h) would be reasonable,” Dobson said in an interview Friday. Dobson said he supported the call to remove traditional bikes from the speed limit to avoid holding up the report, but believes the option could be revisited in the future. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City to consider new bike registry (Oct26'23)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Oct '23

26 Oct '23

CITY TO CONSIDER NEW BIKE REGISTRY WINNIPEG could soon endorse a new bike registry in hopes of reuniting more stolen cycles with their owners. A new public service report calls for the city to urge citizens to register their bikes with 529 Garage, a free, cloud-based system that would replace an internal city-run bike registry that has a $7.35 registration fee. Council would also consider providing about $50,000 in each of the next four years to implement a new registration and theft-prevention program. The city sought new bike registration options in June, noting up to 2,000 bicycles are reported stolen in Winnipeg each year; about 1,000 are recovered but less than 10 per cent are successfully returned to their owners. If council approves, the new registry would share data with hundreds of police agencies and Winnipeg civic officials to help get more bikes returned.

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WFP: City seeks feedback on speed-limit reductions (Oct19'23)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Oct '23

19 Oct '23

(Adding to Dave Elmore's earlier message) *City seeks feedback on speed-limit reductions* THE City of Winnipeg is seeking feedback from residents in select neighbourhoods where speed limits have been reduced for several months. The city announced Wednesday it is entering the second phase of its reduced-speed neighbourhood pilot, in which speed limits in the Bourkevale and Tyndall Park neighbourhoods were reduced to 30 km/h, and limits in Worthington and Richmond West were reduced to 40 km/h per hour. “The pilot will tell us if changing the speed limit changes how fast vehicles actually travel, and if lowering the speed limit within a residential area affects neighbourhood livability,” the city said in a news release. The city has created separate surveys to assess the effectiveness of the program — one for residents living within the reduced speed limit areas, and another for the rest of Winnipeg residents. “Survey responses will help us understand both pilot area residents’ experience with the speed limit change and broader perspectives on speed limits in general,” the city said. In addition to the surveys, the city released the findings of a public engagement survey conducted in the program’s first phase before the limits were reduced. Sixty per cent of respondents felt residential speed limits should not be changed, while 40 per cent agreed with lowering them. The city is organizing a series of forums to be held early next year in which residents will be able to discuss the program. The first forum will take place at the Bourkevale Community Centre on Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m. Further discussions will continue in each respective neighbourhood between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. The survey is available online <https://www.winnipeg.ca/news/2023-10-18-winnipeggers-invited-talk-residenti…> on the City of Winnipeg website, along with a list of forum dates and locations.

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Thanks
by Dave Elmore 19 Oct '23

19 Oct '23

The City of Winnipeg put this survey about residential speed limits and the neighbourhood pilots. Please share widely! https://www.winnipeg.ca/news/2023-10-18-winnipeggers-invited-talk-residenti… Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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WFP Editorial: Cities must adapt to new bike tech (Oct17'23)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Oct '23

17 Oct '23

*Cities must adapt to new bike tech* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2023/10/17/cities-must… IT’S a bike, it’s a car, it’s something in between. If you spent any time travelling around Winnipeg this summer, you probably noticed some new vehicles whizzing around the city’s roadways and active transportation routes. Electric bicycles and scooters have accelerated into common use recently with riders of all stripes jumping on the bandwagon. The battery-powered vessels have seen a surge in popularity thanks to their environmental advantages, accessibility and fun factor. But their presence isn’t beloved by all. Last week, the city’s public works committee agreed to commission a report on the viability of establishing speed limits on active transportation paths for bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices. The motion, raised by Coun. Shawn Dobson last month, argues speed restrictions are necessary to protect all path users from collisions. The department has 300 days to report back. As in other jurisdictions, the issue is proving to be a contentious one, with some Winnipeggers expressing safety concerns about mingling with the speedy personal vehicles on pathways and others raising questions about the effectiveness of speed limit enforcement. All are valid viewpoints, which is why the city needs to take an holistic approach to regulations. With every new form of transportation technology, governments have had to grapple with their application on roadways. When horses and buggies were the norm, they were barred from being “driven at a gallop” on New York streets or risked incurring a hefty fine. Alberta introduced its first speed limits in 1906, capping automobile travel at 32 and 16 km/h on highways and within city limits, respectively. Road safety has improved as speed limits have increased thanks to a combination of regulation, enforcement, infrastructure and public education. The city must acknowledge each of these factors when drawing up new rules around e-bikes and scooters. Doing too little will create undue tension between users on active transportation routes. Doing too much will impede e-bike and scooter use, which has the potential to take vehicles off the road and reduce carbon emissions. Speed limits are a good starting point, but they need to come with cost-effective enforcement strategies. In the absence of a fleet of bicycle bylaw officers, signage and public education campaigns can encourage self-policing. Currently, Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act restricts “power-assisted” bicycles to speeds of 32 km/h with an electric motor of up to 500 watts. That’s faster than vehicles are allowed to travel in school zones — a regulation designed to protect young pedestrians from death or injury. In Calgary, most active transportation routes have a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h for all path users. The bylaw also requires users to use a bell or vocal signal when passing others and denotes which vehicles are allowed on which pathways. Fines range between $100 and $400. The rules are clearcut and fair, while setting a standard for decorum on shared roadways. The latter is likely more important for e-rider and pedestrian safety than speed limits. Recent studies from Europe and the United States found that while e-bike users suffer higher rates of more severe injuries than traditional cyclists, rider behaviour and user error were the main culprits of collisions, followed by road conditions, such as speed limits. E-bikes and scooters are not a passing trend. While city councillors are busy mulling speed limits, they should also be thinking about how these increasingly popular modes of transportation will fit into future infrastructure and active transportation developments. Giving residents many different options to get where they need to go offers a direct path to improving Winnipeg’s livability.

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CTV News: New bike lanes cause close quarters driving along Goulet
by Beth McKechnie 14 Oct '23

14 Oct '23

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/near-impossible-new-bike-lanes-cause-close-quar…

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WFP: Speed limit proposed for bike paths (Oct6'23)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Oct '23

06 Oct '23

Speed limit proposed for bike paths https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/10/05/speed-limit-propo… A WINNIPEG councillor’s bid to create a speed limit for bicycles, electric bikes and scooters on active- transportation pathways is raising questions of whether such a restriction would be adequately enforced. Coun. Shawn Dobson argued a speed limit is necessary for the safety for all path users. “I’m trying to be proactive on our pathways because we have a number of bicycles, e-bikes, etc., that are going too fast,” the St. James councillor said Thursday. “I could see this getting much worse.” The potential for collisions increases with speed, he said, noting the growing use of e-bikes and scooters. A motion raised by Dobson at city council’s Sept. 29 meeting asks city staff to study the matter and report back. The motion was referred to the public works committee’s Oct. 10 meeting for consideration. “I just thought it made sense. We can’t turn them into raceways,” he said. Dobson wants staff to look at what other cities are doing. Calgary has a speed limit of 20 km/h for its paths and sidewalks. Fines range between $100 and $400. Dobson’s motion doesn’t recommend a specific speed limit or fine for Winnipeg. “It could be 10, 20 km/h,” he said. The limit would apply to bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices, according to the motion, which states many Winnipeggers are afraid to use pathways because they fear being in a collision. Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act sets a restriction of 32 km/h when power-assisted bicycles are using an electric motor of up to 500 watts. The minimum driving age is 14. Helmets are required. Only bicycles with a rear wheel diameter of 410 millimetres or less are allowed on sidewalks. Enforcement of a city-imposed speed limit on pathways could be an issue, according to some cyclists and e-bike users, as well as public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes. “The police have more important things to do,” said Jeff Bowes, manager of retailer EBike Winnipeg. He thinks a speed limit is a good idea. Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said a speed restriction shouldn’t be viewed as the only solution for matters such as safety. “It’s something we have to consider, but we have to consider carefully,” he said. “We have to look for solutions that are going to work for us and be enforceable and manageable and fair.” He would like cities to consider ways to integrate e-bikes into current and future active-transportation networks. The bikes exploded in popularity when many of Winnipeg’s paths were already in place or designed. Bowes agreed Winnipeg must be more bike-friendly. He and Cohoe said a majority of people who would be affected by a speed limit ride responsibly. Ian Walker, an e-bike user and spokesman for Safe Speeds Winnipeg, believes the increase in electric bicycles, coupled with limited space on paths, is leading to more complaints about speed. There is a need for wider and more pathways, he said. “Our paths are small. There is not a lot of space for passing, which is a problem,” said Walker. He encouraged people to slow down when passing. Lukes, who supports a speed limit on paths, recently discussed e-bikes with police after some residents contacted her with questions. “It is definitely time to take a look at this and make a decision on what we’re going to do,” the deputy mayor said. Whatever the city chooses to do, it must not discourage people from using bicycles or e-bikes, she said. Lukes believes an effective education campaign would encourage a large majority of people to comply with a speed limit. “I think, sometimes, things can self-enforce,” she said. Safe Speeds Winnipeg has lobbied city council to reduce the speed limit for vehicles to 30 km/h on all residential streets. Doing so would reduce the risk of fatal or serious injury collisions, while encouraging more cyclists or e-bike riders to use the roads, it argues. That proposal should be a higher priority for council than speed restrictions on paths, Walker said. Dobson does not support lowering the speed limit for all residential streets. “There’s no way people would follow that,” he said. Last March, the city turned four streets into 30- or 40-km/h zones as part of a pilot project. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @chriskitching

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WFP: Assiniboine Avenue closure considered (Oct5'23)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '23

05 Oct '23

ASSINIBOINE AVENUE CLOSURE CONSIDERED VEHICLE traffic may lose access to a key section of Assiniboine Avenue if a proposed pilot project to enhance the area for pedestrians is approved. On Oct. 10, council’s public works committee will consider a call to order a report on a pedestrian-prioritized pilot project that would close Assiniboine Avenue to vehicle traffic between Fort and Main streets. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said shutting down vehicle access at this stretch of Assiniboine Avenue would improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. “Vehicles would not have a right or left turn onto Assiniboine Avenue (from Main Street), basically closing Assiniboine Avenue,” said Lukes. A pilot project could help determine how best to use the space and to study its impact on traffic and safety. Lukes suggested the area could include more green space and/or a plaza in the future. The motion also calls for options to eliminate the right turn lane at River Avenue and Osborne Street and consider adding a pedestrian scramble in that area. At a pedestrian scramble, all vehicle traffic has a red light at the same time in order to let pedestrians cross in all directions at once.

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WFP: City spring cleanup crews to make on-road active-transportation routes a priority (Oct4'23)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Oct '23

04 Oct '23

City spring cleanup crews to make on-road active-transportation routes a priority https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/10/04/city-spring-cleanup-crew… Starting next spring, some Winnipeg active transportation routes will be cleared of winter sand and grit before other roads, with the goal of making them accessible sooner. A new city staff report notes the city’s on-road active transportation network will be prioritized for cleaning first in the spring. The prioritized routes include bike paths, active transportation priority routes, seasonal bike routes and neighbourhood greenways. (The city defines neighbourhood greenways as on-street routes that typically use reduced speeds and traffic-calming measures to safely move cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles.) The off-road network of sidewalks and pathways will continue to be cleared based on the priority level of associated streets. “It is anticipated that the on-road active transportation network can be cleaned within two weeks (as opposed to the larger network’s five to six weeks), providing a safer environment to users earlier in the season,” Michael Cantor, city manager of streets maintenance, writes in the report. An active transportation advocate welcomed the change Wednesday, suggesting it will reduce the risk of injuries on routes where cyclists travel at higher speeds. “What it means is that if you’re on your bike, there’s less risk that you’re going to be crashing because there’s loose gravel out on the roadway,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. Since Winnipeg tends to have lengthy, snowy winters that require the repeated spreading of sand to improve traction, Bike Winnipeg has advocated for the change in the past. Cohoe said the on-road routes tend to collect more sand than other active transportation ones, partly because nearby motor vehicle tires can push excess debris into curbside spaces designated for bikes. He would like the city to also prioritize spring cleanup for separated sidewalks and paths, in order to encourage more people to use active transportation routes. Coun. Janice Lukes, head of council’s public works committee, said she would also like to see all active transportation routes prioritized for spring cleanup, but considers this change an important first step. “We’re starting with the roads for the vulnerable road user… It’s just to try and get more people to use active transportation and to have it presented to them (earlier in the year) and in a safe manner,” said Lukes. Since the change mainly adjusts the schedule of existing spring cleanup efforts, the city councillor said it’s not expected to cost more money. Street sweeping typically starts in mid-April, weather permitting. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Speed limits sought for active pathways (Sep30'23)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Sep '23

30 Sep '23

SPEED LIMITS SOUGHT FOR ACTIVE PATHWAYS https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/09/29/councillor-suggests-spee… THE City of Winnipeg should study the merits of imposing a speed limit for bikes, electric bikes, scooters and other devices on active transportation pathways, according to one councillor. Coun. Shawn Dobson raised a motion at Friday’s council meeting that seeks a staff report on the potential change, which states collisions and injuries are more likely when speed increases. “Many residents are afraid to use our pathways for fear of being struck and injured by speeding bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices,” the motion states. The matter was referred to council’s public works committee, which will consider it next month.

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WFP: Cyclist injured in apparent road rage incident with truck (Sep20'23)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Sep '23

20 Sep '23

Cyclist injured in apparent road rage incident with truck https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/09/20/cyclist-injured-i… A cyclist is recovering after an alleged road rage incident in which a motorist attempted to ram him with his truck, severely damaging his bike and sending him sprawling to the pavement. “I’m still processing this in a really big way,” Elliot Long said, describing how a seemingly innocent interaction with a motorist allegedly turned hostile. “I’m really shaken up. I would like to continue cycling, but it is really scary.” Long, a student at the University of Winnipeg, said he was cycling northbound on Roslyn Road near Osborne Street around 9 a.m. Monday when a car cut him off and stopped at a red light. When he gestured for the driver to give him more space, an unrelated motorist behind the wheel of a burgundy truck began shouting at him. “I don’t even know why he got involved,” Long said. “He started foaming at the mouth, screaming all kinds of stuff, just completely losing it at me.” Long stepped off his bike and turned to face the incensed motorist. When the light turned green, the man in the truck “backed up a little bit and crashed right into me,” he said. Long said he managed to dive away in order to avoid being run down, and watched from the ground as the truck sped off with his bike trapped beneath. The bike broke loose a few metres away with its rear tire, chain and gears reduced to a twisted wreck. Shaken up and sore, but relatively unharmed, the cyclist got to his feet and took note of the truck’s licence plate. He went immediately to Winnipeg Police Service headquarters and filed a report, he said. Numerous witnesses approached him in the aftermath of the crash, including a staff member at a nearby convenience store who said they had video footage; that evidence has since been submitted to police, Long said. On Tuesday, WPS confirmed it received the report but did not provide additional details. “They asked me if I want to press criminal charges,” Long said. “(I said) yes. This is not OK. There are cyclists killed often and you cannot behave that way. It’s completely inappropriate.” Manitoba Public Insurance data shows an average of four cyclists are killed and 78 are injured in collisions annually throughout the province. While every situation is different, claim reports suggest fault is often shared between drivers and cyclists. In June, a 63-year-old man was struck on his bike and sent to the hospital in critical condition after a hit-and-run incident near Isabel Street and Notre Dame Avenue. In May, a cyclist in his 30s was critically injured after being struck by a garbage truck near Erin Street and Sargent Avenue. Javed Musharraf, 22, died late last year after colliding with a front-end loader while riding his electric bike near the intersection of Mission and Plinguet streets. A separate 2019 MPI report found roughly 30 per cent of drivers admit to committing acts of road rage, including shouting, cursing, making rude gestures or — in extreme cases — forcing other motorists off the road. Long estimates the cost of damage to his bike, helmet and eyeglasses will exceed $1,000. The number does not account for physical or emotional damage suffered as a result, he said. He intends to file a claim with MPI. “Everybody I know who is a cyclist has been in an accident at some point,” he said, “Drivers seem to think cyclists are supposed to ride on the sidewalk sometimes, which is not the law and is much more dangerous. I wear my helmet, I follow the rules of the road, but it is scary.” tyler.searle(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Montreal-area police equip school kids with backpacks that display speed cameras (Sep7'23)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Sep '23

07 Sep '23

Montreal-area police equip school kids with backpacks that display speed cameras https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2023/09/06/montreal-area-police-eq… MONTREAL — Children in the Montreal area are becoming living speed cameras to get drivers to slow down in school zones as the city charges ahead with efforts to increase road safety. On select dates, police in the metro area will equip a handful of schoolchildren with backpacks that display passing vehicles’ speeds. The concept, developed in Quebec by police in the suburb of Laval, north of Montreal, in 2021, spread to Longueuil on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River last year. On Wednesday, the Montreal police force presented its first “living radars.” The striking demonstrations are part of a series of measures municipalities are deploying to better secure school zones this year — an effort that took on renewed urgency last December when a seven-year-old girl who had recently arrived from Ukraine was killed in a hit-and-run on her way to school east of downtown Montreal. “Living environments are not shortcuts, and they must guarantee safe travel for everyone,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said in a statement this week. “Road safety is everyone’s business. Every motorist must prioritize safety over speed.” Police in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil have all announced operations to crack down on dangerous driving around school zones this month. Montreal is reshaping its streets to better protect children, ramping up work to envelop school zones with pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures, such as raised crosswalks, enlarged sidewalks, speed humps and lane size reductions. The program — the first of its kind in Quebec, according to Plante — has made 92 schools safer since its launch in 2020, the city says. Eighteen more projects are underway and scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year. Longueuil is following suit, with its own school zone safety plan coming shortly, the city’s mayor, Catherine Fournier, promised last week. On Tuesday, Plante pointed to the rising number of serious road collisions as motivation to push forward with the urban redesign. Quebec’s public automobile insurance corporation counted 38 fatal accidents in the Montreal region, including the city and on-island suburbs, in 2022, compared with 29 in 2021. “Our aim is to do more, faster,” the mayor said. — The Canadian Press

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WFP Community Review: Mobility fair for older adults to be held Sept. 13
by Beth McKechnie 06 Sep '23

06 Sep '23

*Mobility fair for older adults to be held Sept. 13* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/east/2023/09/06/mobility-… Options to help some of the city’s more senior citizens get out and about will be explored at an upcoming free community event. Green Action Centre, in collaboration with the Transportation Options Network for Seniors, will hold a mobility fair for older adults on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Corydon Community Centre, River Heights site (1370 Grosvenor Ave.). The fair, which will be held in a drop-in format, will include presentations, information and resources provided by a number of organizations, including the two host organizations, such as Winnipeg Transit, Bike Winnipeg, Easy Street Rehabilitation, Peg City Car Co-op, Plain Bicycle, and Freedom Concepts. Organizers say the goal of the event is to showcase a selection of local transportation options that older individuals can utilize to maintain a healthy, independent and sustainable lifestyle. “It’s very exciting for us to do this,” Ariel Desrochers, a sustainable transportation co-ordinator at Green Action Centre, said. Desrochers, who lives in Wolseley, said the organization tends to serve younger audiences — with initiatives such as its Active and Safe Routes to School program — and individuals across the board with any number of active transportation initiatives, so it’s especially satisfying to be tailoring the upcoming fair to an older demographic. She said the event will be helpful to community members with a cross-section of different needs and interests, whether it’s those who are looking for different transportation alternatives, such as people potentially looking for more sustainable alternatives to cars; folks who want to maintain their independence as they age; or maybe those with mobility issues that are seeking prudent options. “It’s something I’m looking forward to. When we talk about sustainability and environmental initiatives, maybe older folks sometimes get left out of the conversation. I really hope this event can be inclusive to this age group and help expand their horizons,” Desrochers said. “Accessible travel isn’t always sustainable, so we’re looking forward to bringing these options to older individuals in the community.” According to Green Action Centre’s website, limited refreshments will be provided. As well, many of the vendors will be stationed outside, so attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear and dress according to the weather. There will be limited bicycle and vehicle parking, as well as street parking. Desrochers said the fair’s drop-in format will allow visitors to pick and choose what they’d like to see and do. Go online at greenactioncentre.ca for more information.

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WFP: Repair coming for longtime safety hazard on Sturgeon Creek path, city promises (Aug30'23)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Aug '23

30 Aug '23

Repair coming for longtime safety hazard on Sturgeon Creek path, city promises https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/08/29/repair-coming-for… A MASSIVE hole at one edge of the busy Sturgeon Creek active transportation route is still drawing safety complaints from residents months after it was first reported. The city said Tuesday a repair is on the way. The Free Press first reported the problem — where the Sturgeon Creek route meets a smaller path that leads to a playground on Amarynth Crescent — on June 7. At the time, it had one barricade posted at each of its ends and appeared to be about 75 centimetres deep and at least six metres long. The next day, the city erected snow fencing around the entire perimeter of the hole. Randall Hull first complained to 311 about the safety hazard on April 23. Hull said he’s relieved to hear some action will be taken soon, since it’s about to get a lot more use. “Once kids get back to school, there’s a lot of kids that use that pathway to either go to school by bike or walk,” he said. The city pumped standing water out of the trench, which now appears to be about 1.8 metres deep, he said, adding the snow fence doesn’t extend far enough to block access to the hole in its entirety. “The snow fence is good on two of the four sides but it isn’t really adequate at the end … it stops (about 1.2 metres) short of going all the way around and therefore it’s easy for kids to go underneath the snow fence,” he said. “At the proper angle, you see how grossly inadequate it is.” A city public works spokesman said the repair process will begin soon. “The gap in Sturgeon Creek pathway by Amarynth Park is the result of an underground washout that needs further investigation. The site will be inspected by a riverbank stabilization engineer in mid-September to determine the cause of the gap and the appropriate next steps for making the repair, Ken Allen wrote. “Temporarily filling the hole with gravel as an interim measure is not a sufficient or appropriate repair method for this type of issue.” Allen said a crew will also inspect the snow fence and could repair it before the hole itself is fixed “in the weeks ahead.” The damaged path is in St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson’s ward. He said city officials suspect an old land drainage line may be linked to the problem. “They can’t (just) fill up (the hole). It’ll keep sinking until they determine the cause,” said Dobson. In June, the councillor called the hole “monstrous” and agreed it posed a significant safety concern. He said it appears even larger now, but he believes the highly visible barrier surrounding it greatly reduces any risk. Dobson said it makes sense to take the time needed to ensure a more permanent repair. “It’s a complicated fix because you can’t just throw gravel in it and say it’s done. ... They have to figure out what’s causing (the washout) and that means they have to get in there and dig,” he said. Dobson said the pathway may need to be realigned and rebuilt. While there is not yet a cost estimate or timeline to fix the problem, he said he’s confident money will be available. Hull said he’s glad the city has promised to take action. And while he’d love to see a quicker repair, he said it does make sense to pursue a long-term fix. “Until there’s something permanently done, it’s probably a good point not to throw money at (fixing it if) you know it’s not going to last,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Editorial: It shouldn’t take a squeaky wheel (Aug25'23)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

It shouldn’t take a squeaky wheel https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2023/08/25/it-shouldnt… DESPITE a convoluted response from city staff last week, hazardous pavement heaving on a well-used local bike path was patched within days of a Free Press story highlighting the issue. It’s a chain of events that raises questions about the inner workings of City Hall, as well as its active transportation priorities. For months, cyclists have been skirting around a section of dangerously uneven pavement at the corner of Rover Avenue and Hallet Street in North Point Douglas. The soil under the sidewalk had shifted, causing the concrete slabs to buckle and creating a large ridge at the roadway. One daily user interviewed by the Free Press said the fissure had developed in the spring, forcing cyclists to dismount or find an alternate route during the height of bike season. The junction would likewise have been impassable for wheelchair users, pedestrians with limited mobility or parents with strollers heading to nearby Michaëlle Jean Park. In its initial response, a city spokesperson pointed to riverbank failure as the cause of the newly formed curb. A costly and lengthy proposal and investigation process was needed before the sidewalk could be fixed. “Making the repair is not as simple as just repaving the pathway,” read the emailed statement. Yet, within 24-hours of that assessment, new asphalt had been poured by public works and the gap corrected. The patch may not be a permanent solution to the underlying issue of ground shifting in the area, but it does make the neighbourhood’s infrastructure usable again. While a gap of several inches might seem like a minor inconvenience in a city with pockmarked streets and thousands of potholes, it’s the latest in a growing list of controversies that illustrate the city’s dismissive attitude toward active transportation routes. This past winter, Winnipeggers took up shovels to clear ice and snow from local bike paths in response to the city’s lackluster clearing efforts. Last year, Free Press reporting found that two multi-use path projects in the city had been funded, but not completed. When pressed, the city couldn’t answer where the budgeted money went or why the projects were stalled. An inquiring city councillor was met with similar silence. In the winter of 2019, two Wolseley residents took it upon themselves to clear ice from the Omand’s Creek footbridge after the city determined the job was too difficult and that the busy bridge should be left impassable until the spring melt. A request for information by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation following the incident revealed 97 pages of internal communications related to the bridge-clearing decision. Time after time, Winnipeggers who opt for active transportation — either by choice or by necessity — are forced to deal with physical and bureaucratic roadblocks during their daily commute. It’s an embarrassing state of affairs that hampers the city’s livability and its environmental goals. Last week, Coun. Janice Lukes rightly described the North Point Douglas issue as “completely unacceptable” and promised that maintenance of Winnipeg’s active transportation network would be a priority for the public works department next year — an admission that suggests bike and pedestrian pathways aren’t currently very high on the agenda. Our infrastructure isn’t the only thing in desperate need of repair. It appears the municipal workflow could also use a tune-up. While the promise of better city-wide bike infrastructure has yet to be delivered, commuting has gotten a little smoother for one cohort of local cyclists. It’s too bad those users had to wait for media coverage in order to find a fix.

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WFP weekly: Women’s cycling group strikes a chord (Aug23'2023)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Aug '23

23 Aug '23

Women’s cycling group strikes a chord SHELDON BIRNIE https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/east/2023/08/21/exceeding… When Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie set out to start a bi-weekly guided bike ride for mature women around northeast Winnipeg this spring, she knew there’d be interest. Even so, the response has surprised her. “It has been phenomenal,” Gravelle-MacKenzie, 68, said. “I don’t think I could have dreamt it would be this successful.” Cycling with Sarah launched in May. Following three introductory rides in the spring, Gravelle-MacKenzie ran two group rides per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A total of 53 women registered, with more than 40 on the waiting list. “We were at the max,” she said. “The goal is for next year, if we want to try to grow it, we’ll have to get more ride leads and sweeps.” This summer’s rides wrap up with group rides on Aug. 29, Sept. 7 and 14. There will also be a wind-up party at Bikes & Beyond (227 Henderson Hwy.) on Tuesday, Sept. 19. “Once formal rides end, we can still ride. People have made friendships, which is something special,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “The bonds that have been created are pretty special.” Sponsored by Liv Canada, Bikes & Beyond, and the Manitoba Cycling Association, Gravelle-MacKenzie is planning to extend a series of events into the fall and, hopefully, the winter as well, to keep the group together and stay active. “Fall, pre-snow, we’re doing hiking groups and going to different places. We’ll set up a schedule and women can sign up,“ she said. “Once the snow comes we’re going to do snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and I want to do tobogganing at Silver Springs here in East St. Paul. It’s a good workout and it makes you feel like a kid again.” Gravelle-MacKenzie, who started cycling seriously when she retired a few years ago, is also keen to introduce more women to winter cycling, if informally at first. “I love winter cycling,” she said. “I have talked about winter cycling and there are some women who want to try it.” Gravelle-MacKenzie believes part of the success of the group has been that it serves an under-represented demographic. “A lot of the women, as older women in their sixties and seventies, said they felt invisible,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “So for a group to be formed just for them is really powerful. It’s been neat to watch it all develop and everyone being so enthusiastic about it. Come spring, we’ve got so many people who want to ride. It’s evolving really nicely.” For more information, follow @CyclingWithSarah on Instagram or email cyclingwithsarah(a)gmail.com

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Stats Can: Commuting to work by car and public transit grows in 2023
by Beth McKechnie 22 Aug '23

22 Aug '23

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230822/dq230822b-eng.htm

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WFP: The great barricade debate (Aug5'23)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Aug '23

05 Aug '23

The great barricade debate Residents worry about extra traffic from drivers looking for shortcut https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/08/04/heg-5 BARRICADES have been removed from an East St. Paul route reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles, allowing general traffic to access the hotly debated link to Winnipeg. It is sparking safety concerns from some area residents, while others argue it’s time to open the paved road for good. The walking-biking route on Raleigh Street in the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul offers a “through-pass” under the northeast Perimeter Highway. A City of Winnipeg boundary on Raleigh is located just south of it. Someone removed the wooden barricades in early July, raising concerns of potentially excessive traffic. “This is a… residential neighbourhood with residential streets… None of them were designed with the notion of becoming another Henderson Highway or Pembina Highway,” said Victor Mikolayenko, who lives nearby. Mikolayenko is urging the province, which owns the infrastructure, to replace the barricades as soon as possible. As traffic from East St. Paul currently has just one permanent connection to Lagimodiere Boulevard, he fears allowing general traffic on the Raleigh link between Sperring (north) and Foxgrove (south) avenues would create a very busy route, increasing noise and the risk of collisions. “It doesn’t take much imagination to see that it would be used as a shortcut… Residents on Headmaster Row between Gateway (Road) and Lagimodiere would be severely impacted, as would any other residents along that way,” said Mikolayenko. He believes the wooden barricades were removed by vandals. During a Free Press visit to the site Friday morning, a broken wooden barrier was spotted in the grass beside the structure. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said the barricades were removed at least three weeks ago and he’s asked the province to replace them. Browaty said he’s most concerned about future traffic, as East St. Paul’s population grows. “There’s a big chunk of East St. Paul that, when this is open, would find it desirable to take this underpass south of the Perimeter Highway and then (connect through) to get to Lagimodiere. That’s the cut-through traffic that is really problematic for the design and the build of Headmaster (Row),” said Browaty, noting Headmaster is a residential street with many driveways that back directly onto it. Before the link was built, a City of Winnipeg public service report also opposed allowing general traffic along the “through-pass.” “Gateway Road and Raleigh Street north of Chief Peguis Trail have not been built or planned to accommodate high volumes of vehicle traffic… (To do so, these routes) would require a major infrastructure investment by the city that would not at this time be supported by residents in the North Kildonan ward,” a 2015 report noted. Browaty is urging the province to cut off general traffic at the site once again, arguing the area isn’t set up to handle it. He said it could be possible to allow traffic in the future, but only after extensive public consultation, traffic studies and potential infrastructure improvements, with no cost to the city. East St. Paul should also first provide guarantees its future development around the site won’t be dense enough to greatly increase traffic, he added. However, one East St. Paul councillor said he believes the route should open up to allow local traffic permanently, to create an efficient route and alleviate the need for detours. “I think the province and everybody (else) foresees… that you’ve got to not land-lock the community. You’ve got to keep (this area open),” said Charles Posthumus. Posthumus said he’s heard ample support for making the change from both Winnipeg and East St. Paul residents. In an email, a provincial spokesperson said road signs were initially placed along the route to note it is restricted to emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, with movable barricades used to ensure emergency vehicle access. Road signs to alert drivers to the restriction did not appear to be present Friday. The province indicated vandalism has been a persistent problem at the site. “These barricades are subject to frequent vandalism and theft. Therefore, barricades may or may not be present at any given time… signage is also subject to frequent vandalism so signage may or may not be present at any given time,” the statement said. The spokesperson said Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure will work with East St. Paul and the City of Winnipeg to resolve any concerns. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Resourceful thieves sabotaging bike racks (Aug3'23)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Aug '23

03 Aug '23

Resourceful thieves sabotaging bike racks Riders locking cycles to altered, non-secure structures https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/08/02/damaged-bike-rack… WATCH out for altered bike racks, a cycling advocate says, after local riders have posted online warnings of security structures damaged by would-be thieves to make pilfering bicycles easier. One such rack had been cut or sawed at St. Boniface-area strip mall Dominion Centre, with the cut masked with a piece of tape, one post said in an online group focused on preventing Winnipeg bike thefts. On Wednesday afternoon, the damaged rack remained, but no cyclists stopped to lock up. Mark Cohoe, executive director of advocacy organization Bike Winnipeg, said he hadn’t personally encountered that specific method of thievery, but noted he’s heard of people damaging racks to ease such thefts. “Sometimes, you might get a rack or a post that’s been unbolted… I haven’t seen it personally, but I’ve heard… where racks are either partially cut or they’re cut through,” he said Wednesday. “In some ways, it’s not surprising — I’ve seen it on social media in other cities, and the tools are here, but I don’t know if it’s widespread.” Bike theft, however, is widespread in Winnipeg, with city data suggesting as many as 2,000 bicycles reported stolen a year, but far fewer returned to rightful owners. Cohoe said he’s also heard of bolts being removed from the base of racks, allowing the rack to be removed from the sidewalk or ground, or a rack being cut most of the way through, allowing a thief to break it with a hammer and slip off a bike’s lock with ease. The advocate, who's had many bikes stolen over the years, said if someone spots a damaged rack, they should report it to the business that owns it or the City of Winnipeg. “But ultimately, we need to have more racks out there and have better enforcement to make sure we’re installing racks in good places, too, to ensure they’re in visible places where it’s a little harder to do that and maybe a quicker response if someone notices it has been vandalized… or prepared for easier theft,” Cohoe said. More short-term street parking and long-term bicycle storage programs need to be developed, he added. “Like into apartment buildings, into workplaces, places where if a bike’s going to be stored on a regular basis, that it’s much more protected than where it’s just sitting out, and ultimately a grinding tool will get to it fairly quickly.” The advocate recommended cyclists choose parking spots in visible locations with foot traffic, and to check bike racks by physically shaking them to ensure it is secured, before locking the frame and a wheel of the bike to the rack. Frequent bike thefts in the city have dissuaded some from cycling more frequently, he said. “If you assume your bike’s going to get stolen, you’re not going to take it out there. And the reality is, people are getting their bikes stolen,” said Cohoe, adding he would like to see Winnipeg police assign an investigator to focus specifically on bike thefts, as well as online platforms to crack down on illicit sales. erik.pindera(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Group wants to see more active transportation in Steinbach
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '23

31 Jul '23

Group wants to see more active transportation in Steinbach https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/the-carillon/local/2023/07/30/group-wants… Strong Towns Steinbach held its first public event on Sunday at E.A. Friesen Park in Steinbach. The group met with their bikes and with like-minded citizens to bring awareness to active transportation. “We’re living in a city that is well suited for getting around by car and it’s possible to actually get around by walking and by riding. So, I think we’re wanting to encourage people to think more consciously about the fact that they can get to so many places by bike and do it efficiently and safely,” said Gary Snider, co-founder of Strong Towns Steinbach. While there are bike routes in the city, the group feels that there needs to be more especially at major roadways. “There are in the original square mile – the older community – there are a lot of bike paths. The challenges is where you come into crossing the larger streets like Main street and (Highway 12) there isn’t a lot of access for that…I have three kids that are under six-years-old and I would like them to cycle safely with me on their own bikes and really to be able to get anywhere in Steinbach,” said co-founder Wade Wiebe. “As more people choose cycling as a way of getting around they will let the councillors know what we need is more access to bike paths, which are separate from car paths. Bike paths alongside car paths are OK, but it’s not ideal for kids unless they’re with an adult and even with an adult it can be challenging or intimidating sometimes. We want to make a push to make that happen.” Wiebe hopes that within 10 to 15 years there will be bike paths all over the city and that biking will be encouraged. “I think we can do a lot better as a city and that’s the hope,” he said.

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CBC: These Canadian cities are making it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to get around this summer
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '23

28 Jul '23

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:13:04 -0500 Subject: Pedestrians & Cyclists: some cities https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/open-streets-efforts-canada-cities-2023-1.69…

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WFP: City expands active-transportation network with new pathway in north Winnipeg (Jul27'23)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jul '23

27 Jul '23

City expands active-transportation network with new pathway in north Winnipeg https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/07/27/city-expands-acti… Also Global News: https://globalnews.ca/news/9860934/winnipeg-multi-use-pedestrian-cycling-ne… The wheels of a few dozen cyclists sliced through several metres of ribbon in place of the classic, comically-large pair of scissors during an offbeat ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday marking the official opening of Winnipeg’s newest active-transportation path. After a soft opening earlier in the week, the Northwest Hydro Corridor Multi-Use Path was formally unveiled to the public during a news conference Thursday at Simkin Park in Garden City. “By embracing the opportunity to partner and invest in our transportation network, we are ensuring that we provide healthy opportunities for safe and accessible pathways for our residents,” Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma told the gathering. Cyclists and pedestrians could be seen using the new trail while councillors, the mayor and representatives from Manitoba Hydro, Trails Manitoba and the Manitoba government delivered speeches. The 4.5-metre-wide path, running parallel to McPhillips Street, consists of a 2.4-kilometre stretch between Leila and Church avenues. It cost a total of $2.5 million and was funded, in part, by a $450,000 grant from Trails Manitoba and the province. The multi-use trail will service a wide range of shops, workplaces and institutions in north Winnipeg, including the Garden City Shopping Centre, Seven Oaks Hospital and several schools. Don Denesiuk cycled north from his home in Downtown Winnipeg to test out the path and gather with other bike enthusiasts. “Any kind of infrastructure, especially if it separates the bike from traffic, is going to be a good thing,” Denesiuk said. “The points of contention are going to be where it crosses the major thoroughfares.” To improve cyclist and pedestrian safety in the future, Denesiuk wants the city to address more gaps in the municipal active-transportation network and invest in snow-clearing infrastructure designed specifically for the routes in the winter months. Mayor Scott Gillingham raved about the city’s growing investment in projects such as the pathway in the past year. The city’s 2023 preliminary budget committed $17.5 million to active-transportation projects. “Our investment in active-transportation projects this year is 300 per cent higher than what was forecasted in the 2022 budget,” Gillingham said. He added that the city is also installing protected lanes along River and Stradbrook avenues and multi-use paths down Keewatin and Archibald streets. Over the years, multiple hydro corridors have been transformed into multi-use pathways. Awasisak Mēskanow Trail, formerly known as the Bishop Grandin Greenway, was the city’s first. Colleen Galbraith, Manitoba Hydro’s customer energy services department manager, said active transportation is one of the best uses for hydro right-of-way corridors. “We’re so happy to see the right-of-way to be used for such a great community,” Galbraith said. “The project is a perfect example of what our community can achieve by working towards a common goal: giving Winnipeggers, young and old, a safe place to get outside, ride a bike and get some exercise.” In Phase 2, the multi-use path will extend into Point Douglas. Gillingham couldn’t provide further details on when that will happen. Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos said she was eager to welcome more active-transportation investments into her ward, which has historically been underserved. cierra.bettens(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Higher standard for snow clearing (Jul14'23)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jul '23

14 Jul '23

*HIGHER STANDARD FOR SNOW CLEARING * CITY council has backed a call to ramp up snow-clearing for residential sidewalks, while moving forward a request to greatly increase the annual snow-clearing budget. Council voted Thursday to refer the call to raise the annual ice and snow control budget to $54.2 million, from around $35 million, to next year’s budget process. *The vote also approves a plan to spend an extra $216,000 in 2023, plus $552,000 or more per year from 2024 through 2027, to ramp up snow-clearing for residential sidewalks and pathways.*

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WFP Analysis: The Idaho stop: a step forward for safety (Jul13'23)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '23

13 Jul '23

*The Idaho stop: a step forward for safety * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2023/07/13/the-idaho-sto… WHY isn’t the Idaho stop legal in Manitoba? That’s not the latest TikTok dance trend, it’s a rule that allows cyclists to “roll” through stop signs when safe to do so and research indicates it saves lives. The Idaho stop, named after the state that first made it legal in 1982, isn’t allowed anywhere in Canada, but is slowly becoming part of the legal landscape in the United States. Here’s how it works. When a cyclist comes to an intersection in states with stop-as-yield laws, they must reduce their speed, ensure that there is no traffic coming and proceed carefully. It also means stopping at red lights, but only for as long as needed for the intersection to be safe to ride through. It doesn’t mean blast through all the stop signs, red lights and any other traffic measures. It does mean that the rider doesn’t have to stop the bike, put their foot down and stop their momentum if it’s safe to continue to ride. As Bike Winnipeg’s Patty Wiens explains: “Stop signs are for controlling speeds and making sure that cars aren’t treating every street like a highway. Bikes aren’t high-speed vehicles, with even e-bikes being speed controlled at a maximum of 32 km/h, having the Idaho stop become legal, would just help to keep traffic moving.” Obviously then, this treats cyclists differently than vehicles. And that’s not a bad thing. Research conducted suggests that allowing cyclists the opportunity to maintain their momentum and get “in front of traffic” at intersections is safer. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, there are on average four cyclists killed and 78 injured annually in collisions with vehicles. Intersections are the most dangerous place for cyclists. Interestingly, a 2007 study indicated that women cyclists are more likely to be killed than men by large transport trucks, largely because women are more likely to obey signage and stop, and as a result, are hit by trucks who don’t see them in their blind spot. Here’s why the Idaho stop should be implemented in Manitoba. First as stated, research suggests it saves lives because it allows cyclists to get out ahead of traffic and away from blind spots. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, after Idaho adopted the law, cyclist injuries from traffic crashes declined by 14.5 per cent in 1983. When Delaware adopted a similar stop law in 2017, crashes involving cyclists at stop sign intersections fell by 23 per cent. Second, while building more bike paths should still be the goal for city planners, stop-as-yield laws may divert cyclists off of main thoroughfares and onto side streets which have more stop signs. If cyclists don’t have to slow down their momentum and aren’t going to be ticketed by police for Idaho stops, this may be a safer response to trying to cycle on Kenaston at Corydon in the middle of rush hour in Winnipeg. (No, I am not letting city hall off the hook about bike paths, but this feels like a reasonable compromise until something is finally done.) Third, it decriminalizes cycling behaviour and it may actually encourage more people to become cyclists. With more people riding bikes, there’s more visibility and there’s more safety. Research indicates that there is safety in numbers for cyclists and accidents are reduced when there are more riders on the streets. Finally, it also may reduce the opportunity to harass cyclists. It’s perhaps one of the most annoying habit Winnipeggers seem to engage in and it’s something I have never experienced as an avid rider who has biked in Cuba, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Quebec, Alberta and New York City. People (very often, driving large trucks) will scream at you while waiting at the intersection. The Idaho stop means cyclists could ride away from that kind of vitriol. (Seriously, what is wrong with you?) As Wiens says, cycling is more than just a leisure activity and we should normalize it as another form of active transportation. For many who live on a lower income, cycling is the only form of transportation that is affordable and reliable. As well, Wiens says: “due to the rising price of gas, insurance and car ownership, there are more and more people commuting on their bikes in Winnipeg, including in winter.” Making cycling safe for everyone should be a priority that has to be promoted by the government from the top down. And in the winter, a stop-as-yield law will be even more important. Wiens says cyclists end up sharing the road even more because there are many times where the snow gets cleared onto the bike lane and the separated bike paths don’t get the priority snow clearing that roads get. It’s time to do the Idaho stop Manitoba. Let’s save some lives. Shannon Sampert is a communications consultant, freelance editor for Policy Options and former politics and perspectives editor at the Free Press. She teaches part time at the University of Manitoba. shannon(a)mediadiva.ca

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WFP: Winnipeg top three in residential bus stop accessibility (Jul13'23)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '23

13 Jul '23

*Winnipeg top three in residential bus stop accessibility * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/07/12/winnipeg-top-three-in-re… (CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-transit-buses-accessible-b… ) WINNIPEG is — or should be — one of the easiest places to catch a bus in the country, according to new Statistics Canada data. Data released Tuesday compared population density and how many people live within 500 metres of a bus stop across 36 cities. In Winnipeg, 84.8 per cent of its population has convenient access to a bus stop, following only Montreal and Toronto, at 87.5 per cent and 85.3 per cent, respectively. Cities with similarly high percentages include Vancouver, Victoria and Regina. The lowest was Belleville, Ont., where just over half of residents can get to a bus stop in a short walk. However, access to a bus stop is not access to a reliable bus, Functional Transit Winnipeg president Kyle Owens said Wednesday. “In the past, there has been sufficient investment to at least put those stops in place, to understand that having lots of stops makes transit service broadly accessible to more people … Infrastructure was put in place with the expectation that people would be using and valuing transit to get where they’re going as part of their routine,” he said. “That we have not seen widespread use of Winnipeg Transit reflects the fact that we just haven’t seen that commensurate investment.” The grassroots non-profit organization also questioned the value of the data, as a 500-metre distance isn’t always indicative of true accessibility, noting struggles for people with physical disabilities to traverse winter sidewalks that aren’t regularly cleared. “It is crucial that we think about making that access possible for so many people, whether or not they have mobility needs, and if they do have mobility needs, we’re seeing broken sidewalks, sidewalks that are not to grade, all that infrastructure maintenance is crucial for transit to work properly,” Owens said. Functional Transit member Brian Pincott called the data “meaningless” without more investment in Transit services. “I think honestly what the city should do is go, ‘So what?’ and then look at the plan that they have … and make it happen quickly,” he said. The Winnipeg Transit Master Plan incorporates several broad revisions, repairs, fixes, improvements to service, Owens said. “We are trying to encourage the city to accelerate the Transit Master Plan… What we consider to be the key (improvement) is frequent service.” The number of city residents close to a bus stop has dropped in the past seven years. — Malak Abas

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