One-metre rule for bikes: it’s a start

Good on Premier Greg Selinger for getting behind a backbencher’s bill to impose a rule that vehicles leave one metre for cyclists on the road

But it is just a start for the provincial government — and it should get the support of all parties — that has been relatively uninterested in promoting cycling for commuters.

At present, the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) requires motorists to be prudent, but doesn’t set out a distance they must keep from cyclists. That leaves too much discretion for some drivers. Some don’t realize how vulnerable cyclists feel on the road; others don’t care.

A rule that requires motorists to leave three feet of grace for cyclists would compel drivers to be more watchful. The HTA requires cyclists to keep as close to the right curb as practicable (which recognizes they are slower and don’t have to impede traffic). But the rule is meaningless when the road, curbside, is so pocked and cracked it is dangerous to ride on.

Riding in the centre of the lane disrupts motorists. It’s irritating if it goes on for more than a minute, because urban speed limits are geared for vehicles and to expedite traffic.

Cyclists, too, forget or ignore their duties under the HTA, stoking resentment and outright hostility between commuters. And this is going to increase as more Manitobans, particularly Winnipeggers, commute by bike. That puts a lot of pressure on municipalities, which shoulder the burden of designing streets and infrastructure to make way for cyclists and pedestrians. But cities alone cannot afford the cost of shifting infrastructure, in a reasonable timeline, to accommodate cyclists safely.

The one-metre rule, if it passes, will show just how much work needs to be done. It will reveal how ill-suited the streets are now to melding bicycles and cars, especially in winter. Narrowed (by snow or potholes), single lanes of opposing traffic will see cyclists holding up traffic on busy roads.

Separated bike lanes are the safest and are shown to encourage commuters to leave the car at home. While they don’t have to be expensive — cement planters can work in place of a fixed curb between the bike and the car — separated lanes do need changes to road design, especially at intersections and bus stops. They have to be continuous, and connected to routes into the suburbs.

This requires planning, preferably on a regional basis. It requires commitment by governments that make moving people into alternative modes of transportation a priority. The Selinger government has been lazy on that point. Some of its infrastructure programs mention active transportation, but there is little dedicated funding for municipalities that face tearing up asphalt to lay down new track.

And it’s doubly overwhelming for winter cities, where even pedestrians are discouraged because sidewalks aren’t plowed regularly.

Other jurisdictions are spending the time, money and effort to push walking and cycling. New York is one example, reworking in a short time its busy streets into a can-do model for cyclists, but not without conflict and acrimony. Closer to home, Minneapolis has invested huge sums to start the shift from a car culture. Across the sea, more cities are taxing motorists more aggressively, some to provide financial incentives to cyclists. Meanwhile, Manitoba has the second-lowest fuel tax in Canada, and Alberta is about to close the gap.

There’s no shortage of ideas and evidence of what works. Mr. Selinger’s green plan does not put enough muscle behind pushing the transportation sector — a big driver of greenhouse-gas emissions — to be greener. It can’t meet its goals on GHG cuts unless a lot of cars get off fossil fuels and more commuters get out of cars. There are proven ways to do that. Manitoba needs a provincial government to help adopt them.

Editorials are the consensus view of the Winnipeg Free Press’ editorial board composed of Catherine Mitchell, David O’Brien, Shannon Sampert, and Paul Samyn.

Proposed one-metre rule for cars and cyclists 'a great idea:' Manitoba premier

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is throwing his support behind a proposed new rule of the road affecting motorists and cyclists.

Selinger says a call to force drivers to move over at least one metre when passing a cyclist is "a great idea" that he would like to see become law.

"Safety for active transportation makes sense. It's part of having a more livable city," Selinger said in a recent interview.

"It's in the interests of both parties to have a respectful understanding of what the zones of safety are."

Ontario recently passed a one-metre law and one of Selinger's backbenchers, Dave Gaudreau, wants Manitoba to follow suit.

Gaudreau has put forward a private member's bill in the legislature and Selinger said he'd like to see it become law.

However, the bill is one of many currently on the agenda and the legislature is scheduled to sit for only 12 days before the campaign begins for the April 19 election.

Whether there is enough time to pass the bill will depend partly on the opposition, Selinger said.

Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act currently requires motorists only to keep "a safe distance" when passing cyclists.

Gaudreau has said specifying a one-metre rule will make things more clear and ensure cyclists are given ample room.