October 2026 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Police urge caution amid pedestrian collision surge (Oct.20'26)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Oct '26

20 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Advise to ‘make eye contact with each other,’ take extra care as winter weather nears Police urge caution amid pedestrian collision surge https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/10/19/make-eye-contact-… WINNIPEG police are urging motorists and pedestrians to exercise extra caution at intersections following a rash of collisions across the city, including one that claimed the life of a woman. “Having the right of way does not make you safe,” Insp. Helen Peters of the Winnipeg Police Service’s traffic division said during a news conference Monday morning. “This isn’t just about who’s at fault. This is about keeping each other safe and doing everything we can as drivers, motor vehicles or pedestrians to help each other out and navigate our roads.” Police said a woman in her 80s was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign while turning right onto eastbound Roblin Boulevard from Hunterspoint Road on Sept. 29. The woman was taken to hospital in stable condition but died Thursday from her injuries. The driver has been identified and Peters said charges are being considered as the investigation continues. “Sometimes it depends on the number of witnesses that can provide that statement, but also it sometimes depends on the victim themselves to be able to provide a statement to us,” she said, explaining that investigators sometimes wait for an injured person to recover enough to provide an account. “Sometimes we pause, hoping that we’ll be able to talk to that person involved and we’re just waiting. So to ensure that we made the correct charge, maybe there’s more charges that might need to be made. “If that opportunity doesn’t come, then we have to proceed with the information that we have.” In another collision Thursday, a 69-year-old man was charged with impaired driving after two people riding motorized mobility scooters were struck by a vehicle. Const. Stephen Spencer said the victims, both in their 60s, were at the intersection of St. Anne’s Road and Bonita Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. when a driver turning left onto Bonita struck them. Both were thrown from their scooters and taken to hospital in stable condition. The driver remained at the scene and is facing two impaired driving-related charges. The investigation remains ongoing. Several other recent collisions have resulted in charges against motorists. On Sept. 11, a child was struck by a vehicle cutting through a parking lot at a retail location on the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard. The child was rushed to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable. Police said the driver remained at the scene and was charged with several offences, including careless driving, disobeying rules of the road on a private property or parking lot and failing to exercise due care for a pedestrian. The driver was also issued a Manitoba Public Insurance serious offence notice. Another collision in the early morning hours of Oct. 5 sent a man in his 30s to hospital after he was struck by a vehicle turning south onto Arlington Street at Wellington Avenue. The pedestrian was sent to hospital in stable condition, while the driver, also in their 30s, was charged with driving imprudently. On Oct. 6, a woman in her 70s was hit trying to cross Elizabeth Road at the intersection of De Bourmont Avenue. A vehicle failed to stop at a four-way intersection. She was hospitalized and the investigation remains ongoing. Police are trying to determine if there is a common thread for the spate of crashes. “What is the reason for them? Where are they located? Crosswalks?” she said. “We see them in parking lots. We see pedestrians just on the side of the road getting ready to cross that have been impacted rather than already crossing the street.”’ Peters said police are urging motorists to be cautious approaching intersections and crosswalks, while also reminding pedestrians to be alert when facing oncoming vehicles. “The best ways to keep ourselves safe is actually to make eye contact with each other when we’re out there on the road,” she said. “As motorists, make eye contact with pedestrians, so you know that they see you coming and vice versa. Pedestrians, make eye contact with oncoming drivers.” Peters also said extra caution must be taken as winter driving conditions loom on the horizon. She also warned of potential challenges with the move to permanent daylight time for motorists and children while they’re walking to school while it’s still dark out. Peters encouraged pedestrians to wear bright or reflective clothing. “Black is a favourite colour of many, many people, but when you combine that with a low-lit environment, you’re going to blend into the landscape,” she said. scott.billeck(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:scott.billeck@winnipegfreepress.com>

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CBC: Spate of pedestrian-vehicle collisions prompts warnings from Winnipeg police
by Beth McKechnie 19 Oct '26

19 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. There have been 20 such incidents this year, including 7 since late September https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-collisions-winnipeg-9.73…

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WFP: Campaign promises for quick, on-budget transit fix are misleading (Oct16'26)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Oct '26

16 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Campaign promises for quick, on-budget transit fix are misleading OPINION - Tom Brodbeck https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2026/10/15/better-wait-for-the-next… WINNIPEG’S transit system needs fixing. But voters should be skeptical of municipal election candidates who promise to restore old routes, put hundreds of bus stops back where they used to be and somehow make everything better without spending substantially more money. That’s not a transit plan. It’s wishful thinking. Winnipeg’s transit network underwent a massive overhaul last year, fundamentally changing how people get around the city. The new system has some real advantages, depending on where you live and where you need to go. It also has some serious shortcomings, including reduced service and less convenient connections for many riders. Transit has made some adjustments in response to public feedback, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. For many Winnipeggers, getting to work, school or an appointment has become more difficult than it used to be. Those frustrations are legitimate. But the solution isn’t necessarily to turn back the clock. The new system was designed around a spine-and-feeder model. Instead of trying to provide a direct bus route from every neighbourhood to every destination, it uses primary routes to move large numbers of passengers along major corridors, with feeder routes connecting neighbourhoods to that network. The primary routes include rapid transit lines, frequent express lines, frequent lines and direct lines. They’re designed to run along relatively straight corridors, with fewer stops and more frequent service. The idea is straightforward: fewer stops and less circuitous routes allow buses to move faster, improve reliability and reduce waiting times. Feeder routes, meanwhile, include community and connector buses, as well as on-request service. They bring passengers to the primary network, ideally without getting bogged down in congested areas that can make buses late. There’s a reasonable logic to this approach. A transit system that spends less time meandering through neighbourhoods and stopping every few blocks can move more people more efficiently. And frequent service on major corridors can make transit more useful for passengers who need to travel longer distances. But that doesn’t mean the system is working well for everyone. Some passengers have lost convenient one-seat rides. Others face longer walks to bus stops, additional transfers or less frequent service in their neighbourhoods. A system can look more efficient on a map while becoming less convenient for the people who depend on it. Those are real problems that need to be addressed. Transit planners should be listening to riders and making sensible changes where the network isn’t meeting their needs. But candidates promising to restore the old system need to explain what that would actually mean. Reintroducing hundreds of former stops and routes wouldn’t simply involve putting a few lines back on a map. It would require buses, drivers, operating money and a plan for how those routes would fit into the existing network. Recreating the old system could also undermine some of the benefits the new one was designed to deliver, including faster travel times and more frequent service on primary corridors. In other words, restoring the old network wholesale could leave the city paying for two competing approaches to transit while sacrificing some of the advantages of both. And there’s another inconvenient reality that gets lost in the election rhetoric: the overhaul wasn’t accompanied by new money. The city essentially took its existing budget and reorganized the service. That helps explain why some of the promised improvements have been difficult to deliver. You can rearrange routes, consolidate stops and change the way buses connect, but you can’t manufacture additional service hours out of thin air. If Winnipeg wants more buses running more frequently, better neighbourhood connections, shorter waits and fewer inconvenient transfers, it will need to put more resources into the system. That means investing in additional drivers and buses, expanding service hours and improving the connections between feeder routes and primary lines. It also means identifying where service reductions have created unacceptable hardships and providing the resources to correct them. Some improvements might be possible through better scheduling, route adjustments and more effective use of existing resources. Transit should continually evaluate its performance and make changes where they can improve service without creating new problems elsewhere. But there are limits to what can be accomplished by rearranging the deck chairs. The provincial government also has a role to play. Public transit is an essential service that supports employment, education, economic development and access to health care. If Winnipeg is expected to deliver a substantially better system, the province should be prepared to help pay for it. A properly funded transit network could provide more frequent service on major corridors while restoring or expanding neighbourhood connections where they are needed. It could make transfers less onerous, reduce long waits and improve the reliability of the entire system. It could also make transit a more attractive alternative to driving, which is essential if the city wants to reduce congestion and accommodate future growth. None of that is impossible. But it won’t happen simply because a mayoral or council candidate promises to bring back the good old days. Any candidate who claims to be able to substantially fix Winnipeg Transit with the existing budget, while restoring old routes and hundreds of stops, either doesn’t understand the system or is deliberately misleading voters. tom.brodbeck(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:tom.brodbeck@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP Editorial: Law will curb e-scooter enthusiasts (Oct15'26)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Oct '26

15 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. EDITORIAL Law will curb e-scooter enthusiasts https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2026/10/15/law-will-cu… FOR people concerned about safety on Manitoba’s sidewalks and roadways, the province’s announcement that new rules will be introduced next year regarding the use of e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles (PEVs) was no doubt met with an enthusiastic “It’s about time.” As their popularity and their presence among pedestrians on sidewalks and/or motor vehicles on the road has increased steadily, so have reports of close calls or, even worse, collisions involving e-scooters or other PEVs — including electric skateboards, hoverboards and unicycles — being operated imprudently and at unsafe speeds. Traffic laws urgently need to be updated to govern the use of these conveyances, which up until now have remained in a regulatory grey area that has allowed PEVs to operate largely without guidelines and outside conventional avenues of traffic-safety enforcement. Accordingly, updates regarding PEV use will be included in the Highway Traffic Act in 2027. The new legislation will govern such areas as mandatory helmet use, age restrictions, where PEVs can lawfully operate and the maximum speed at which they can travel (25 km/h). The aim of the new law, according to the province’s website, is “to help keep Manitobans safe when sharing roads, paths, and other public spaces.” A laudable goal, indeed. And the restrictions proposed within the legislation seem to sensibly address concerns about PEV use on sidewalks, cycling paths and roadways. But the impending rollout of the regulations inevitably prompts a fairly direct question: “OK, so now what?” In other words, who’s going to enforce these new restrictions, and how? The practical elements of the proposed legislation are straightforward: PEV users must be at least 16 years of age and must wear a properly fitted helmet; PEV use is restricted to roads with speed limits of 50 km/h or less as well as bicycle lanes, pathways and cycling facilities (subject to local rules), and PEVs cannot be used on sidewalks except where signage specifically permits their use. The enforcement portion of the equation, however, seems significantly less clear: according to the government website, “Police and other peace officers can stop PEV riders, enforce the rules, and inspect PEVs and safety equipment to ensure they meet legal requirements.” There’s no mention of what the penalties will be for violating the new law, and given the limited availability of law-enforcement personnel to deal with other non-emergency situations in Winnipeg and other jurisdictions, it’s difficult to envision a scenario in which policing PEV use becomes a high-priority consideration. There are, of course, many PEV users who will welcome and obey the new legislation as enacted, because they understand how the addition of these practical and eco-friendly options for active transportation must be accompanied by regulations that allow them to safely co-exist with other users of pathways and roadways. Unfortunately, as in all other segments of society, there are those in the PEV-using community who have chosen — and will no doubt continue to choose — to operate in a manner that puts themselves and others at risk. Expecting them to self-police is, quite frankly, pointless. There’s little reason to expect the introduction of helmet requirements and speed limits will prompt a change in behaviour of those who habitually careen helmetlessly along sidewalks at whatever top speed their e-scooter can achieve, weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic with an apparent disregard for the calamity they risk creating, E-scooters seem to be everywhere these days, in greater numbers with each passing warm-weather month. It will be up to the province and law-enforcement agencies to use the coming winter respite from e-scooter chaos to figure out how to turn the new legislation’s admirable intentions into a realistically enforceable set of road-safety rules.

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CBC: Age, speed limits for e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles hitting Manitoba roads next year (Oct11'26)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Oct '26

11 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Devices to be banned from sidewalks, roads with speed limits above 50 km/h https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-personal-electric-vehicle-… People who ride personal electric vehicles, like e-scooters and electric skateboards, will soon have to abide by new age and speed limits for the devices, as new rules are expected to hit roads across the province next year. Those vehicles, along with e-unicycles, hoverboards and self balancing scooters, will be subject to new regulations under Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act <https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/43-3/b043e.php> starting in 2027, according to the province's website<https://www.manitoba.ca/mti/roadinfo/personal_electric_vehicles.html>. Riders must be at least 16 years old and anyone using the devices, including passengers, are required to wear properly fitting helmets, the province says. Personal electric vehicles can't go faster than 25 km/h under the incoming speed limit. They won't be allowed on sidewalks and can only be used on pathways, bicycle lanes and roads with posted speed limits of 50 km/h or lower, the province said. Depending on local rules, they may be allowed at some cycling facilities. However, e-bikes — which are not affected by the new rules — are allowed to ride on roads with speed limits higher than 50 km/h, a provincial frequently-asked questions document <https://www.manitoba.ca/mti/roadinfo/pdf/faqs_personal_electric_vehicles.pdf> says. The government says personal electric vehicle users should adhere to the same basic rules as other road users, including following traffic signs and signals, not riding while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and using required lights and reflectors when riding at night. Police and other peace officers can stop riders who aren't following the new rules, the province said. CBC News has reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service for comment. Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said in a statement on Saturday that more Manitobans are using personal electric vehicles and the government is "bringing in clearer rules to help protect kids and everyone sharing our roads." The minister said the province is particularly concerned about the number of young people that have been injured while using these devices. For example, a teenaged e-scooter rider was critically injured in a collision<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/scooter-ebike-crash-teen-witness-9.…> on Waverley Street in Winnipeg last month. "This legislation is about preventing injuries, protecting kids and making our roads and communities safer for everyone," Naylor said. Earlier this year, the southern Manitoba city of Morden introduced its own personal electric vehicle bylaws, which require riders to wear helmets and stay off sidewalks, among other rules. Mayor Nancy Penner says more people are wearing helmets and sticking to one rider per device. She said just a handful of tickets have been issued to riders since the bylaws — which are largely being used as an "educational tool" — came into effect in the spring. Morden's bylaws don't include an age restriction or speed limit, but Penner says that will change once the provincial rules hit the road. She believes other communities will be supportive of the government's move too. "I think a lot of municipalities are finally saying thank you to the provincial government for finally stepping forward with some concrete guidelines," Penner said. Winnipeg e-scooter advocate Rob Kristjansson says he has a "range of feelings" about Manitoba's incoming rules. While he thinks the changes will be mostly good, he questions some of the details. "We all have to share the roadway and that they're now officially recognized as a legitimate thing on the road, that's a great thing," said Kristjansson, who moderates the E-Scooter Winnipeg Facebook group. He says he's not inherently against speed limits, but he's not sure why 25 km/h was chosen as the maximum. He says he typically rides at 32 km/h, which is the speed limit for e-bikes. He also believes 16 years-old is an "arbitrary" age limit. Kristjansson also says some e-scooter users are worried about being banned from using sidewalks, because Winnipeg's infrastructure is "still quite patchy" and there may be few safe options for them to use in some parts of the city. "It's not so much rules, but infrastructure that I think will really save the day," he said. Winnipeg father Eric Wilson says he's been riding an e-scooter for about three years. He mostly uses it for grocery runs and riding on trails alongside his 13-year-old son. He believes the incoming rules are "overbearing" and worries they could push people off their vehicles altogether, turning them into e-waste and making them "practically useless." "I feel like everybody that's riding an e-scooter is getting punished for the worst people that are out there," Wilson said. He said he doesn't feel safe riding with his son on a 50 km/h road and they typically opt for the sidewalk. Sharing the sidewalk shouldn't be an issue if riders are aware of their surroundings and respectful of other users. "I teach my son when I ride that we slow down when we go close to people and let ourselves be known," he said, adding he and his son both have bells on their e-scooters. "Just like a bicycle would, you're supposed to let people know that you're around and that you're not going to hurt them." Wilson said his son just got a new e-scooter in August. Now he's not sure if he should hold on to the scooter or sell it, since his son will be under the age limit for a few more years.

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WFP: Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban (Oct11'26)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Oct '26

11 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/10/11/manitoba-e-scoote… People riding e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles in Manitoba will have to strap on a helmet, stay off sidewalks and follow new age limits once new provincial rules for the devices take effect next year. The vehicles, which also include electric skateboards, hoverboards and unicycles, will fall under The Highway Traffic Act starting in 2027, according to the province’s <https://www.manitoba.ca/mti/roadinfo/personal_electric_vehicles.html> website<https://www.manitoba.ca/mti/roadinfo/personal_electric_vehicles.html>. E-bikes are excluded from the new rules, according to the province’s frequently-asked-questions page. All riders must be at least 16 years old and wear properly fitting helmets — that goes for passengers, too, the province said. The proposed new legislation sets a speed limit of 25 km/h and would prohibit personal electric vehicles from sidewalks unless signs specifically allow sidewalk use. Riders would be using shared paths or roads with speed limits of 50 km/hr or less. They won’t be allowed to operate the vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs and they must use hand signals and obey traffic signs. Police and peace officers are responsible for enforcing the rules, the province said. The province’s site does not outline penalties. Winnipeg police said no one was available to speak about the new standards on Sunday. Coun. Janice Lukes, the chair of Winnipeg city council’s public works committee, questions how the regulations will be enforced when police resources are scarce. “It’s a double-edged sword because they (e-sc00ters) are really good, but people don’t adhere to rules,” Lukes said. Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said the new rules aim to clarify how to use e-scooters and address concerns about youth injuries while riding. Manitoba joins other provinces, such as British Columbia and Ontario, that have already enacted similar standards. “This legislation is about preventing injuries, protecting kids and making our roads and communities safer for everyone,” she said in an emailed statement Sunday. E-scooter injuries have steadily climbed across Canada. National numbers show that hospitalizations have surged by nearly 40 per cent from April 2025 to March 2026. The Canadian Institute for Health Information said 837 hospitalizations were reported, up from 601 in the previous 12 months. Hospitalizations of kids aged 15 and under almost tripled from 54 to 150. Ten children died while riding e-scooters or e-bikes in 2025, according to a Canadian Pediatric Society study. Last month, a Winnipeg teenager on an e-scooter suffered life-threatening injuries after an SUV struck him. Manitoba physicians are concerned about the “sharp increase” in injuries related to e-scooters and have previously called for provincial standards, a Doctors Manitoba spokesperson said. ”While we have not yet had the opportunity to consult physicians on the specific safety rules the provincial government has proposed, there is clearly a need for regulations to help avoid injuries related to e-scooter use, as we already have in place for other vehicles,” the spokesperson said in an email. In June, the City of Morden became the first Manitoba municipality to pass regulations on personal electric vehicles. It bans them from sidewalks, requires helmets and mandates a headlight and rear light or reflector at night. Violators can be fined $50. Morden Mayor Nancy Penner said she was pleased the province took action on the vehicles, particularly setting an age limit. More parents are buying e-scooters for their children without teaching the rules of the road, making age restrictions more urgent, she said. “As a driver, I would be devastated if I came into a collision with a youth on a e-scooter, and as a parent, I want to make sure my kids are safe, and I don’t want my 10-year-old in jeopardy on a road without proper training. she said. Robert Chartier, a Winnipeg massage therapist, rode his e-scooter Sunday along the East Kildonan’s Northeast Pioneers Greenway path. He’s commuted to work with his e-scooter for roughly one year, always wearing a helmet. He said he welcomes the speed limit and age restrictions. He’s seen children weaving through traffic on e-scooters and zipping along sidewalks. “It’s honestly very dangerous. I’m surprised it took so long to get regulations put in place,” he said. E-scooter advocate Rob Kristjansson said he will adapt to the new standards and is happy the province formally recognizes the vehicles. But, clarification is needed on where the e-scooters can go when the speed limit on a road is more than 50 km/hr. “An e-scooter should be able to go to the same places as people who walk or (are) riding bikes, and it shouldn’t be a massive diversion because you’re on an e-scooter or any kind of personal electric vehicle,” Kristjansson said. matthew.frank(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:matthew.frank@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP OpEd: Other cities build rapid transit, while we wait (Oct9'26)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Oct '26

09 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Other cities build rapid transit, while we wait KEN KLASSEN https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/10/09/other-cities-… WINNIPEG’S civic election campaign has produced no shortage of promises to improve transit safety and fix problems with the new network. Those issues are real and urgent. But they should not distract from a larger failure — while other Canadian urban regions secure billions in federal support to transform their transit systems, Winnipeg is falling further behind. The Winnipeg Transit Master Plan, approved in 2021, sets the right vision — frequent, reliable service anchored by an expanded bus rapid transit (BRT) network. Yet not a single additional BRT corridor has been approved for construction. The modest network proposed in the plan is not projected to be completed until 2045 or beyond. Despite that, city council voted this summer to delay updating the master plan by two years. The full BRT network was estimated at $588 million to $1.1 billion in 2020 — or roughly $720 million to $1.34 billion today, after accounting for construction inflation. That is substantial, but modest compared with what other cities are spending. Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ottawa and Quebec City have rapid transit projects under way or recently completed, totalling about $26 billion and backed by $7.3 billion in federal commitments. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are spending billions more with federal support. Other cities build. Winnipeg waits. Since the mayor and council were elected in October 2022, Winnipeg has had one of the weakest records among major Canadian cities for advancing rapid transit and securing federal cost-sharing. That record deserves scrutiny in this campaign. Timing is critical. The federal Canada Public Transit Fund will provide $25 billion over 10 years beginning in 2026-27. Based on population and ridership, Manitoba should target at least $900 million of that, chiefly for Winnipeg Transit. The $51-billion Build Communities Strong fund offers further funding opportunities for transit improvements. But federal money rewards cities with up-to-date transit plans and projects ready to advance. Applicants must submit a 10-year regional transit investment program for review. Delaying the Transit Master Plan update weakens Winnipeg’s hand precisely as national competition for those infrastructure dollars intensifies. For years, city hall has said Winnipeg cannot solve its infrastructure deficits without more senior-government help. Now that record transit funding is on the table, the city has put off the planning required to maximize it. You cannot plead for funding and then hesitate when it is offered. While other Canadian cities recognize they cannot pave their way out of congestion simply by expanding roads, Winnipeg’s leadership wants to take an opposite path. The city continues to chase senior-government funding for the Chief Peguis Trail extension and Route 90 widening — over $1 billion combined, with highly contested economic benefits — while only $5.8 million has been budgeted for preliminary design of the next phase of rapid transit. Roads matter. But Winnipeg already struggles to maintain the infrastructure it has. New road capacity tends to invite more driving through induced demand and with it more congestion, maintenance costs, taxes and pollution. Transportation produces nearly half of Winnipeg’s greenhouse gas emissions and swapping gasoline and diesel vehicles for electric ones will not fix congestion or the high cost of building and maintaining more roads for car-dependent suburban and exurban development. Expanding transit service, especially rapid transit, is not a luxury for a growing city. It connects people to jobs, schools, health care and essential services. For many newcomers, students, seniors and lower-income households, it is the only practical alternative to the high cost of owning and operating a car. Good transit also supports downtown renewal, affordable housing and the province’s new Path to Net Zero climate strategy. Few cities have a more compelling economic case for bus rapid transit than Winnipeg. We are home to New Flyer Industries, North America’s leading transit bus manufacturer. Investing in BRT keeps capital circulating locally, supports advanced manufacturing jobs and showcases Winnipeg-built zero-emission buses, powered by clean Manitoba electricity. Current transit safety and service problems must be fixed. But Winnipeg also needs leaders who will refuse to let the city’s rapid transit network fall even further behind the cities across Canada we compete with. This election, voters should ask every candidate a simple question: Will you make funding and building rapid transit a priority or keep Winnipeggers waiting? Ken Klassen is a Winnipeg engineering technologist and consultant specializing in sustainable homes, buildings, communities and energy policy.

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WFP OpEd: Transit, roads and city council’s priorities (Oct2'26)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Oct '26

02 Oct '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Transit, roads and city council’s priorities ERNA BUFFIE https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/10/02/transit-roads… DID any of you happen to notice that the week of Sept. 14 marked an interesting confluence of events in Winnipeg? First up was the mayoral debate on public transit. Second was an announcement that the city would be undertaking a survey to determine whether their citizens’ “transportation needs” are being met. The debate on our public bus system, from which our current Mayor Scott Gillingham was tellingly absent, focused primarily on safety rather than the efficiency of the system. Which, on one level, is no great surprise. After all unlawful incidents on buses and at transit stops have increased by 280 per cent compared to levels recorded around 2016. Moreover, the candidates were primarily speaking to the bus drivers’ union that organized the event, and bus drivers are often the victims of violent episodes. That said, it’s a bit of a puzzle why more time wasn’t spent on a detailed discussion of how the new transit system might be improved, not just to retain regular riders but to attract hundreds, possibly thousands, of new ones. I mean, given the current state of our carbon- addicted culture, getting drivers out of their cars and on to an efficient, and yes, safe public transit system should be the goal, right? So, colour me frustrated when I then discover that city council, in its wisdom, is now doing a survey to improve the world for people who drive cars. At least, that’s how it sounds after reading the statements of councillors such as Janice Lukes and Jeff Browaty in a recent Free Press article ( Road map to future, Sept. 16). Their interest appears to be focused on things such as congested intersections and whether or not the Chief Peguis extension should take precedence over the replacement of the Arlington Bridge. This, when the chief aim of the survey should be to see whether or not the city’s commitment to a mode shift — that is, getting people out of their carbon-belching cars and onto buses, bikes and their feet has been in any way successful. This is information that’s critical to make evidence-based choices on how to reach the goals laid out in the city’s Transit Master Plan and Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy. Because, after all, reducing traffic emissions should be the order of the day, right? Well, maybe not, given that the survey will quiz Winnipeggers on how many cars they have, what routes they drive and what complaints they have about rush-hour traffic jams caused by thousands of cars that are mostly empty, save for the person in the drivers’ seat. This instead of a survey that will tally up the bitter complaints of bus riders, and the concerns of cyclists, who, in some areas, contend with a haphazard network of bike paths squeezed onto the furthest edges of three- to five-lane roads designed for automobiles going 50 to 60 km/h. Bike paths which sometimes abruptly end only to reappear half a block down (in my neck of the woods, anyway) because, heaven forbid the city actually takes up more road space for bikes and pedestrians and a little less for traffic. Better to cut down trees and cut into boulevards than piss off a car and its driver. I can almost see one particular councillor waving the survey results, shouting, “Look! Here’s the evidence! Winnipeg is a car city. Public transit sucks and bike lanes are a pain in the butt, so let’s spend more money on high-speed roads!” OK, OK, maybe I am overstating the case. Maybe I’m unduly cynical about the motivations of a mayor and council who, despite the evidence and significant public opposition, ram through projects such as the widening of Kenaston Boulevard and the Chief Peguis Trail extension. A council that also rolled out a new, more flexible bus system too quickly, without a sufficient number of buses and drivers to ensure efficiency or the designated bus lanes needed to guarantee a speedy ride. A council that has failed to restore the 50-50 cost share deal with the province that would help put more buses on the road, then denigrates a citizens’ coalition that is actually trying to help them improve the system by doing some evidence- based research. Yup, that’s right, there is a Transportation and Land Use Coalition right here in River City, which has teams of people riding public transit to assess what works, what doesn’t and how it can be improved. So, will council engage with that coalition — or even better, consider collaborating with it — to accrue the evidence needed to improve public transit and active transportation? Will they spend the money needed to improve the speed and efficiency of public transit? I don’t know. If I were you, I’d ask them. Erna Buffie is a Winnipeg writer. Check out the TLUC @ https://www. anatomyofapothole.ca/

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