May 2015 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

CBC: Bike paths on Berry Street ripped up, residents question city plan (May11'15)
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '15

12 May '15

Bike paths on Berry Street ripped up, residents question city plan Hydro work also tears up 5-year-old cycling paths By Sean Kavanagh, CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/cbc-news-online-news-staff-list-1.1294364> Posted: May 11, 2015 4:28 PM CT Last Updated: May 11, 2015 4:45 PM CT Residents along Berry Street say they don't understand why the City of Winnipeg would build bike paths only to damage them by subsequent work for another project. The two bike paths along Berry were completed at the end of 2010 as part of an active transportation strategy funded by the province, the federal government and the city. Some residents on Berry were angered by the original bike path project from the start. The paths run along each side of the curb and meander around trees and light posts. "It's the only street in North America with two sidewalks on it … and they are all dirty," said Agostino "Gus" Fiorentino. Fiorentino has run his barber shop on Berry for the past eight years and watched as crews built the bike paths in 2010 and 2011, and then saw other workers damage them last year doing sewer work. "It's just a waste of money," said Fiorentino, who didn't want the paths installed in the first place. He said the work crews seemed to disappear during the sewer repairs last fall. Fiorentino was told they left to work on roads around Polo Park. "They stopped here, and then went to do on St. James. Because they had to — Target has a priority to be opened up first. The Target ended up closed." The paths now have large sections cut out for replacement and there is debris everywhere on Berry from last fall's work. Lindy Alderson has lived on Berry for 24 years. She saw the bike paths built, then damaged. "I don't know what the hell they thought they repaired in the process of doing that. They screwed these up because they drove their equipment over it. They just screwed it up," Anderson said. The city admits that some of the damage to the bike path was caused by combined sewer and basement flood relief work started in April 2014. A city spokesperson also acknowledges the project was delayed and will seek compensation from the contractor in charge of the work. "The project has been delayed for reasons beyond the control of the City including a period of time in July/August 2014 when the contractor reassigned some of its crews to projects in the Polo Park area. Because of these delays, the City will be requesting compensation from the contractor," the city stated in an email to CBC News. The city also said Manitoba Hydro is responsible for much of the damage to the bike path. Hydro has been installing new street lighting on Berry Street and was required to cut out sections of the path for the street light cable replacement. Public works and infrastructure committee chair Janice Lukes says she understands the residents' frustration. "I don't think there was a big embracing of the active transportation path in the first place, and then two years later we have the sewer works that starts, and then the sewer work is delayed and then the sewer work starts up again, and then Hydro starts upgrading their hydro poles. It's been a long process," she said. Lukes is steering a 20-year, $300-million cycling/pedestrian plan through city hall and promises that active transportation routes will be better planned and have more consultation before being implemented. The city says the sewer work and repairs to the damaged bike paths will be completed by the end of this month. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bike-paths-on-berry-street-ripped-up…

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WFP: Wyatt wary of two-wheel traffic - says bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business (May12'15)
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '15

12 May '15

Wyatt wary of two-wheel trafficSays bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wyatt-wary-of-two-wheel-traffic-3033… Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt is trying to put the brakes on Winnipeg's new bike-and-pedestrian strategy by warning protected bike lanes could harm downtown businesses. The fourth-term councillor has penned a letter to downtown business owners, warning the creation of 13 protected bike lanes over the next 20 years may lead to a loss of parking. "I thought you may want to know this. This is not just a 'strategy,' but calls for the amending of the city's transportation master plan, designating and setting out these streets for this treatment. Once it is in the plan, you are then on the defensive if you want to stop or change it," Wyatt wrote in an email to an undisclosed number of businesses. In the letter, Wyatt noted he spoke against the city's bike-and-pedestrian strategy last week at council's public works committee, "assuming many in the business community have never been consulted." He noted the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ spoke in favour of the plan at the meeting. Wyatt wrote he supports bike-and-pedestrian paths but called the documents making their way through council committees "unrealistic plans that ignore the facts" of how roads are used. "Maybe a street or two could be designated to improve the protected bike lane system in our downtown, but to designate a dozen or more streets seems a bit over the top," he wrote, offering to meet with downtown business owners who are concerned about the plans. In an interview, Wyatt said he contacted "three or four" downtown business owners because he feared Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who represents the southern half of downtown, would not. "Downtown Winnipeg belongs to all Winnipeggers," he said. "It appears to me we've forgotten the lessons of the Assiniboine Bikeway audit." That audit, conducted following a troubled city effort to conduct $20 million worth of bike-and-pedestrian upgrades in 2010, concluded businesses were not adequately consulted about the construction of a protected bike lane on Assiniboine Avenue as well as traffic-flow changes on the downtown street. St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes, city council's public works chairwoman, said she isn't sure why Wyatt is trying to foment downtown opposition to the pedestrian-and-cycling strategy, which comes before council's executive policy committee on Wednesday. "He's free to do what he wants," said Lukes, the former director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. "Any dialogue toward active transportation is a good thing, as nothing can be built until we have consultation." Lukes, however, questioned why Wyatt is so concerned with the relocation of on-street parking spaces when downtown suffers from a surfeit of surface parking. She also called the Assiniboine Bikeway one of the most utilized bike lanes in the city, despite the fact it's interrupted by the Heritage Landing apartment construction. "It's a proven fact more people walking and biking bring value to businesses," she said. "I have no idea what he's doing, but I'm pleased to see he's engaging." The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ plans to consult with its members about the protected bike lanes as well, executive director Stefano Grande said. "We've advised them consultations are just starting. There are no designs," Grande said. Gerbasi concurred, saying nothing will move forward without "extensive consultations" that may include plans to create more parking-protected bike lanes such as the one on Sherbrook Street, where parking stalls are placed between traffic and a bike lane. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 12, 2015 0

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WFP: Show the Free Press the city's worst spots for cycling (May11'15)
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '15

11 May '15

Excellent article! Please share widely and start sending in those photos of the worst spots. * * * * * Show the Free Press the city's worst spots for cycling By: Kristin Annable Bike lanes that lead nowhere or abruptly end, dangerous merges into traffic and a daily battle with cars for a share of the road. These are the hindrances cyclists say they encounter daily as they navigate the streets of Winnipeg. [image: Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg rides through the Pembina Highway Underpass.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*1334/6769357.jpg> Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*1334/6769357.jpg> Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg rides through the Pembina Highway Underpass. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)Photo Store <http://store.winnipegfreepress.com/photostore/photo-search/?keyword=Mark+Co…> THE *Free Press *is asking cyclists to submit their own photos of troublesome spots they encounter in their travels. Come across a bike path that goes nowhere, a lane that abruptly ends, or a dangerous merge? Snap a photo and send it in and we will post it <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/multimedia/interactive/Tell-us-where-Winni…>. Our aim is to create a map highlighting all the hindrances cyclists come upon in their travels. We've already started the job for you by mapping out some spots cyclists have already identified to us. Visit wfp.to/cycling to participate. *Winnipeg's bike lanes and paths, by the numbers:* - Winnipeg currently has about 197 kilometres of multi-use paths, 35 km of bike paths, 56 km of bike boulevards. - Estimated cost to create a connected bike network throughout the city: $125 million, plus $1.4 million annually. - Estimated cost of a dedicated downtown protected bicycle lane: $7 million, plus $100,000 annually. - Estimated cost for developing a network that would connect local bicycle networks to the main paths and downtown: $25 million, plus $200,000 annually. - Estimated cost for developing separated crossings for pedestrians and cyclists along major corridors, rivers, and rail crossings: $100 million, plus $500,000 annually. - City's planned investment over six years on walkways and off-street bike paths: $8.3 million. - City's planned investment over six years on bicycle corridors: $11.1 million. *Some examples from cyclists of danger spots they encounter during their commute:* - *Main Street underpass:* Narrow road with many cars and no protected bike lane, a central connection needed for cyclists to cross the city. - *St. Vital Bridge:* Narrow sidewalks, coupled by a dangerous merge where it suddenly turns to 80 km/h when you get over the bridge. - *Portage Avenue and Broadway:*Dangerous merge on the lane eastbound for cyclists. - *The termination of the FortWhyte cycle path: *exits onto Front Street and McGillivary Boulevard, cyclist must now navigate this extremely busy intersection to get to the bike path on the south side. - *Bike path at Taylor Avenue that proceeds south to the IKEA corner:* Example of a path that starts nowhere and ends nowhere. - *Sturgeon Creek path from Ness to Hamilton Avenue:* Path is less than a metre wide in places and has not seen any maintenance for some time. After years of planning, the city has finally released a comprehensive 20-year, $330-million strategy into tackling these issues in Winnipeg and making the city more pedestrian and cycling friendly. The plan is making its way through city hall this month for final approval. In the meantime, the Free Press is launching a project this week to help cyclists identify these troublesome areas and through our website, send in photos to help us map out the city's worst spots for cyclists. And it is a project city officials say they will pay attention to. 'No bike lanes, no calm streets, you'll find you are on a street with a lot of traffic and cars trying to squeeze around you' -- Mark Cohoe on his typical commute It is modelled after a similar project done in Sweden, by the Gteborgs-Posten, a daily newspaper based out of Gothenburg, which saw many cyclists participate and a vast map created. Kevin Nixon, the city's active transportation co-ordinator, said it is something that could help officials prioritize their future investments. "It is really useful, because you can't do everything, so if we get a lot of mentions of a particular issue, then we can make that our priority," Nixon said. "All of these proposed (bike paths) are extremely long and you just don't get the money in one year's budget to do the whole thing." Pathways such as the Bishop Grandin Greenway, which can get a cyclist from Sage Creek to FortWhyte Alive, is one example of a well-designed route the city has created, he noted. The protected bike lane along Sherbrook Street is another example of a well-crafted route for cyclists, said Anders Swanson, the co-ordinator of the Winnipeg Trails Association. But, he points out, it will only function as well as what it is connected to. "With a complete connected network, it is science, you build it and they actually will come, so every bicycle project that makes it safer and easier for people to ride bicycles is more people riding. Period," he said. "I think pointing out how many little or big barriers there are in the city, how much work needs to go into Winnipeg, I think one of the values is until you have these protected lanes, until you fix some of the barriers that are out there, it is tough for someone to understand it is possible." He points to the North End, where there is no safe way for cyclists to cross the Canadian Pacific rail yard, forcing cyclists to navigate dangerous connections such as the Arlington Bridge, which does not have a protected bike path. For Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg, he describes his typical commute as one filled with barriers, as he battles to share the road with a heavy onslaught of traffic. "No bike lanes, no calm streets, you'll find you are on a street with a lot of traffic and cars trying to squeeze around you," he said. "A lot of the pathways, you have to stop and dismount or cross multiple lanes of traffic." His nightmare intersection: the Pembina underpass, where more than 60,000 cars a day travel and cyclists are forced to squeeze through a narrow road shared with these cars. However, creating a connected cycling network does not come cheap. The city's 20-year Cycling and Pedestrian Strategies report estimates creating a connected bicycle network throughout the city will cost $125 million, while creating separated crossings for cyclists and pedestrians at major corridors, rivers and rail crossings will cost a further $100 million. On the books for 2016 is a $4-million plan to tackle issues along Pembina Highway, by building buffered bike lanes from Grant Avenue to Osborne Street. Nixon, Cohoe and Swanson all argue the payoff -- less wear and tear on the roads and less congestion, plus a healthier, more active community -- are reasons even those who don't cycle should embrace these sorts of investments. "The fact is if we don't create these alternatives for people to get through, the alternative to creating a safe space for people to be biking is to create more roadways, which is an incredibly more expensive alternative," Cohoe said. "And it is more divisive. Those higher volume roadways are going to be coming through people's neighbourhoods." Through a telephone survey conducted by the city, Nixon said they found a significant population of Winnipeg was interested in cycling, but were concerned about the safety and convenience of the current network. "If you allow the people who want to get out of their cars, a bike is a lot less hard on the road than a vehicle is, it is also healthier for folks and we have to realize there is market out there for walking and cycling that we haven't tapped into," he said. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca Came across a bike path that goes nowhere? A busy underpass with no space for cyclists? Perhaps a bridge with poor bike path markings? Take a photo and send us a description, so we can add it to our interactive map of cycling problem spots in Winnipeg. See the map below for some troublesome cycling spots, then send us your own using our form below. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/take-us-for-a-bumpy-ride-303249791.h…

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A little Friday fun. Just imagine what Bike to Work Day would sound like!
by Stacy Matwick 08 May '15

08 May '15

Trotify Makes Your Bike Sound Like a Galloping Horse | | | | | | | | | | | Trotify Makes Your Bike Sound Like a Galloping HorseTrotify is a wooden gadget that uses a coconut to that makes your bicycle sound like a galloping horse when pedaling. | | | | View on inhabitat.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | |

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Protected bike lanes cut sidewalk biking in half
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '15

08 May '15

A few months after Honolulu's first protected bike lane opened, it's the latest to demonstrate a very consistent trend across the country <http://greenlaneproject.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=64bd122c67bd28d62…>: almost every protected bike lane cuts sidewalk biking in half. >From August 2014 (before barriers were installed) to February 2015 (after), the number of bikes using King Street (both directions, road bed and sidewalk combined) soared 71 percent. And in the same period, Honolulu bicycle coordinator Chris Sayers said Monday, the number of bikes on the sidewalk plummeted 65 percent. Full story: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/honolulu-installs-protected-bike-l… -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: Stadium pedestrian path takes shape (May7'15)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '15

07 May '15

Stadium pedestrian path takes shape By: Kristin Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/stadium-pedestrian-path-takes-shape-… THE road leading to Investors Group Field is on the path to a $1.3-million overhaul. As part of the city's 2015 pedestrian and cycling plan, a pathway on Chancellor Matheson Road -- from IGF to Pembina Highway -- is being proposed to deal with safety issues for pedestrians leaving the stadium. The Chancellor Matheson pathway has been given top priority by city officials thanks to a number of high-profile events over the next few years, including the Grey Cup and women's World Cup soccer games in 2015. Mayor Brian Bowman said the pathway will give Winnipeggers more options to travel safely to and from stadium events. "It is a strategic investment, and when you look at the volume of people who are going there for games and also the Bisons and concerts throughout the year," he said Wednesday. "We want to make sure the different points of accessibility are there." When asked whether other stakeholders, such as the University of Manitoba or Winnipeg Football Club, should be sharing the cost for the pathway, Bowman replied, "We are making our investments where our priorities are." This week, public works committee chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes added an amendment to the project's funding which will take almost $200,000 out of the Waverley multi-use pathway budget. The amendment called for the city to look into alternate sources, such as surpluses in the city's local road renewal fund, to help pay for the project. "A greater percentage of the pathway was actual roadwork that needed to be done to accommodate transit," she said, noting the scope of the project also includes shoulder upgrades for buses, landscaping, lighting and a spot for the buses to pick up and unload riders. "It is heavily needed when you have that many people coming out after an event and we want to get people on the buses as fast we can so we don't have hours of waiting." Lukes said because active-transportation funding is often difficult to wrangle from the city, the money for the pathway shouldn't all come from that source. "A million dollars in pathway work -- that could give us more pedestrian sidewalks. It could go massively far," she said. The 2015 pedestrian and cycling plan heads to council on May 27 for final approval. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 7, 2015 B4

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WFP L2E: Enforce street-closure rules (May7'15)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '15

07 May '15

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Enforce street-closure rules I was surprised by the reference to Sunday street closures as "bike-route street closures" (Driving on bike routes to be costly, May 6). We bought a house on Scotia Street over 20 years ago, in part because it is a Sunday-closure street. When we first moved there, plenty of families and people of all ages would be out walking, cycling, Rollerblading and skateboarding every Sunday, enjoying the freedom of the entire width of the street without vehicles. In the past decade, the numbers have dwindled because motorists ignore the barricades and scare families back onto sidewalks (or perhaps couches). I sincerely hope this new approach is enforced, and that Scotia Street will come alive again each Sunday. Beth McKechnie Winnipeg http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letters-may-…

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Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies - local media coverage
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '15

06 May '15

http://globalnews.ca/news/1979888/cycling-walking-plan-goes-up-for-debate-a… http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/05/05/city-on-bike-path http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-s-334m-cycling-walking-plan… * * * * * Advocates weigh in on city's $330-M active transportation plan By: Kristin Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Advocates-weigh-in-on-citys-330-M-ac… Cycling and walking advocates lined up at city hall to discuss the benefits of the city’s new $330-million active transportation strategy. Representatives from Bike Winnipeg, Winnipeg Trails Association, Green Action Network, Downtown BIZ, along with Coun. Jenny Gerbasi spoke in favour of the 20-year strategy which calls to improve the city’s infrastructure to benefit cyclists and pedestrians at the city’s public works committee Tuesday. 2015 Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan recommendations to be approved by council: Sidewalk on the north side of Sargent Ave. between Milt Stegall Drive to Strathcona Street - Estimated cost: $497,648 Sidewalk on east side of Donan Street between Murray Avenue and Park Manor Boulevard - Estimated cost: $150,000 The Forks to the Assiniboine Avenue Bikeway connection - Estimated cost: $400,000 Downtown protected bike lane system - Estimated cost: $205,000 for first phase functional design to include Fort Street and/or Garry Street Chancellor Matheson Pathway from Investors Group Field to Pembina Highway bike path - Estimated cost: $1.29 million Northwest Hydro Corridor path - Pedestrian and cycle path in the Northwest hydro right-of-way located one-half kilometer, west of McPhillips Street between McPhillips Street Casino and the North City limits - Estimated cost: $450,000 Public education and awareness program for 2015 Bicycle Corridors - Estimated cost: $105,000 Winnipeg Cycling Map redesign - Estimated cost: $30,000 (in addition to $49,000 identified in 2014 for the project) The 356-page strategy was released on Friday <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/City-plans-improvements-to-walking-c…> . The city also released the public service’s proposed infrastructure projects for cycling and pedestrians for 2015 on Friday. Stephanie Voyce, manager of transportation, placemaking and cleanliness with the Downtown BIZ, asked public the committee to consider supporting a pilot program which would see temporary protected bike lanes created to connect areas of the city to the downtown. For four Sundays in August and September, temporary lanes created from traffic cones would connect areas such as Kildonan Park and Assinboine Park to the downtown. The idea is to fill in the current gaps that exist in the city’s bike lane infrastructure, she said. Meanwhile, Anders Swanson of the Winnipeg Trails Association, commended the city for releasing a strategy, but called for the city to move faster on getting more protected bike lanes across the city. "Every street, small or big, needs to include cycling/walking improvements. Period," Swanson told the committee. He noted cities such as Vancouver, Indianapolis and Calgary are already ahead of Winnipeg in building protected bike lanes, adding it encourages cycling in the city by up to 40 per cent. Mark Cohoe of Bike Winnipeg listed off a number of bike lanes in the city that need to be extended or created such as extending King Edward Street across the railroad tracks, upgrading Ferry Road to protected bike lane, and extending the Jefferson Street lane past McPhillips Street. However, not everyone was happy with the contents of the strategy. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt called it a tremendous report, but pointed to a specific caveat of the document which recommended the city look at changing the priorities of sidewalk snow clearing. "They are recommending creating a special sidewalks category, that would require... folks to shovel their own sidewalks," he said, noting in the report they would take the savings from that and put it towards snow removal on the bike path system. He said he will vote against the strategy if it comes to council in its current form, arguing more public consultation needs to occur. He also questioned the impact on traffic some of the proposed pedestrian infrastructure recommendations will have on traffic. "This is a major change that is being recommended," Wyatt told the committee. Committee chair Coun. Janice Lukes fired back at Wyatt’s opposition to the strategy, saying every aspect of the report will have to go through public consultation and council before it is implemented. "We will be doing in-depth consultation on any project that we undertake," she said. "There is no proposal to get residents to clear their own sidewalks, there is many, many recommendations... these are things that could be considered." Looking to the future, however, Lukes said the city will have to take a closer look at how snow is cleared from sidewalks frequently used by pedestrians. And residents shoveling their own sidewalks might have to happen. "I think with consultation with communities and neighbourhoods, that is the only way to go about it," she said. Krisitn.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: Driving on bike routes to be costly - Sunday, holiday closures will carry hefty fine (May6'15)
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '15

06 May '15

Driving on bike routes to be costlySunday, holiday closures will carry hefty fine By: Kathleen Saylors http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/driving-on-bike-routes-to-be-costly-… Drivers face hefty fines later this month if they're caught driving too far in designated cycling routes. A bylaw approved by city council last summer comes into effect May 24 and lasts until Thanksgiving Monday. The bylaw prohibits traffic from travelling more than one block on four Winnipeg roads, including Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street on Sundays and holidays. Drivers will face a fine of $190.80 for driving more than the allotted one block through the bike routes. The streets are part of the Sunday and holiday bike-route street closures -- roads set apart for cyclists during the summer to encouraging biking. The streets are favourites for cyclists because of the picturesque routes. River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow, whose ward includes Wellington Crescent, said the restrictions foster a sense of community for cyclists. "It will provide a nice environment for families to get out on a Sunday, to take their kids on the street to bike or learn to bike. It allows people to connect in the neighbourhood," Orlikow said. Drivers should expect a two-week phase-in period as police begin to educate the public, police Staff Sgt. Rob Riffel said. "Our primary goal is to change driving behaviour. Officers may use discretion when issuing any offence notice," Riffel said. "The police are not going to be draconian," he said. "For one day a week. I believe it's a good community-building thing." Any inconvenience to homeowners in the area should be minimal at best, he said. "If there is an inconvenience, it will be minor. It's only on the Sunday, they have access to their property at all times. They just have to tell visitors to go up the side street closest to them." City spokeswoman Lisa Fraser said the city is making drivers aware through media releases and social media, as well as issuing letters to homeowners on the affected streets. Traffic signs will be posted to let drivers know when they are entering a bike zone. Before the bylaw, bike routes were not enforced. Barriers were put up to discourage traffic, but cyclists said they often found themselves surprised by cars. "You'd see people who would simply drive normally through the street, and when they reached the barricade, they would thread their way through and carry on," said Shawn Kennedy, a cycling advocate. He said there were huge risks to cyclists by people who disrespected the current bylaw. Mark Kohoe from Bike Winnipeg said property owners might be surprised by the pleasant effect of the bylaw on the community. "It's just more the through traffic that is dropping down," Kohoe said. "It might be kind of nice because you're not getting the though traffic you might otherwise be getting." Sunday and holiday bike-route closures are in effect regardless of the weather every Sunday and holiday from May 24 to Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. kathleen.saylors(a)freepress,mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 6, 2015 B1

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WFP: City plans improvements to walking, cycling paths (May2'15)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '15

04 May '15

Other local media coverage of the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/active-transportation-gets-a-leg-up-… http://www.cjob.com/2015/05/02/winnipeg-making-strides-to-modernize-city-st… http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/05/02/cyclists-continue-drive-for-better-ac… * * * * * City plans improvements to walking, cycling paths http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/City-plans-improvements-to-walking-c… CITY officials are attempting to encourage Winnipeggers to get active with an extensive document that maps out a $330-million, 20-year plan to increase cycling and walking in the city. "The City needs a road map to prioritize active transportation infrastructure, programs and policy to support a growing and dynamic city," Kevin Nixon, the city's active transportation co-ordinator, said in a news release. The city's 356-page Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies guideline outlines the city's short- and long-term goals for walking and cycling in Winnipeg, and provides the framework for its 20-year plan. Public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes is happy the city finally has a plan. "It is a plan; it is not a random approach. We are identifying key connections, we have brought extensive data to make extremely informed decisions on how we invest our funding, and we don't have a ton of funding, so we have to be extremely strategic on how we invest it," the St. Norbert councillor said, noting the latest report is a comparable document to the city's Master Transportation Plan, which guides road investments. "This brings us up to speed with cities around North America and Europe." It outlines several barriers the city needs to address in order to support this plan, including increased sidewalk snow removal and better connectivity for bicycle paths. The cost to implement the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy is pegged at about $334 million over the next 20 years, a cost Lukes notes is about 10 per cent of what the city plans to spend on roads. It will also require approximately $3.7 million annually to support infrastructure improvements needed in tandem with the strategy. The strategy calls for improving the convenience of cycling by providing parking for bikes to encourage cyclists to bike to work. The plan also cites the need to improve maintenance of the city's sidewalks and bicycle networks. In this year's capital budget, $250,000 was set aside for new regional sidewalks, as well as $150,000 for new non-regional sidewalks, $1 million for recreational walkways and bike paths, plus $1 million for bicycle corridors. For 2015, the public service has outlined a series of proposed new sidewalks, bike paths and multi-use active-transportation paths, such as a $1.29-million bike path for Chancellor Matheson Pathway to connect Investors Group Field and Pembina Highway. The report outlining the strategies will be first considered by public works committee on May 5, before heading to council for approval. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca

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