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WFP: Gaping hole on city pathway remains ‘disgusting, a danger’ (Aug3'24)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Aug '24

03 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Gaping hole on city pathway remains ‘disgusting, a danger’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/08/02/gaping-hole-on-ci… A MASSIVE hole on a city pathway that has triggered safety complaints for more than a year has grown even larger, amid hope a permanent fix is on the way. Early Friday afternoon, the gaping depression surrounded by bright orange fencing appeared to stretch at least seven metres long, three metres wide and up to one metre deep. It previously triggered complaints when it was about six metres long in June 2023. “It’s ridiculous. I walk these trails at least twice a day… and this has been (very large for) a few years,” said Karen Stokes. “It’s an eyesore, I think it’s disgusting … Some of these (guard) rails are in that water. It attracts mosquitoes, there’s lots of reasons that it’s gross.” At least one barricade was spotted submerged in water, with weeds and algae in the hole on Friday. Most of the damage is located on the path that connects an Amarynth Crescent playground to the busy Sturgeon Creek active transportation route. Stokes noted the area is so well used by pedestrians and cyclists that their traffic has worn away grass on both sides of the path. During repeated downpours this June, those stretches became a wet, sticky “mud pit,” she said. “I’ve had to push a senior in a scooter out of the mud… She was literally stuck,” said Stokes. Even with the fencing and some metal barricades in place, she fears the massive gap still poses a risk to seniors and kids, noting it’s close to a playground. “For kids, it’s probably a bit of a danger,” Stokes said. “It’s disappointing because these trails are used a lot. Hundreds of people every day are out here and it’s disappointing that (it hasn’t been fixed).” Spring flooding and rain water appear to wash out the current section of the path in the low lying area at times, while storms fill it with water, residents said. Susan Cava-Salie said the gap looks “awful” but she believes the fencing is effective at reducing the risk of someone falling into it. St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson said the city has proposed a design to repair the path and expects to receive a cost estimate for it soon. The proposed fix would realign part of the path to the west and cover part of the area near the sinkhole with woven concrete to help prevent erosion, while a bank around the creek would also be cut back to reduce the velocity of the water, said Dobson. He said the hole has persisted for at least two years and poses safety risks, which led him to personally reinstall some barricades around the large depression this spring. “It is a hazard because there is a hole… This is unexpected because it’s on the pathway,” said Dobson. The councillor said the problem took time to study, but he supports the current proposal for a more permanent repair. “It was not the money (delaying repairs). It was figuring out (how to) fix it once versus fixing it every year,” he said. Dobson said he will push for the path to be fixed this year and would use ward funding to help pay for it, if needed. However, that work isn’t guaranteed at this stage, he noted. The Free Press reported on the hole in June 2023, when only a small barricade blocked off one of its sides. Fencing was added to surround the entire gap a day after the story was published. A request to interview a representative from the city’s public works department was not granted Friday. Dobson said the city previously filled the hole with limestone, followed by wood chips, both of which washed away. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Pedal Pub wheels out spirited new offering (Aug1'24)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Aug '24

01 Aug '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Coolers stocked with beer, vodka sodas to be available on Exchange District cycle tours Pedal Pub wheels out spirited new offering https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2024/08/01/pedal-pub-wheels-out-… BIKERS with beers will soon traverse Exchange District streets. Pedal Pub, a popular attraction where users cycle to local bars, is preparing to offer brews on its quadricycles. “The first question we get from people is whether they can consume alcohol on the bike,” said Miguel Gauthier, co-owner of Pedal Pub’s Winnipeg branch. “Now we’re very proud and happy to say that we can answer… with a big, firm ‘Yes.’” Starting Monday, employees will load coolers full of beer and vodka sodas onto the quadricycles, which are four-wheeled vehicles that riders pedal. It’s been a long time coming for Gauthier and his partners. They brought Pedal Pub to Winnipeg in 2022. In other Canadian cities, customers of the franchise could sip alcohol while pedalling to various bars. They’d get off, drink more and hop back on. It was the case for operations in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Winnipeg’s Pedal Pub couldn’t get a liquor licence from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba. The LGCA would only issue a liquor service licence if other government agency licences and permits regulated the entity in question, spokeswoman Lisa Hansen explained earlier this summer. And in 2022, Pedal Pub’s quadricycles — where 15 customers can pedal at a time — didn’t fit any vehicle registration class. It didn’t need a City of Winnipeg licence, either. Pedal Pub contacted the provincial government to create laws targeted at quadricycles, co-owner Brandon Guenther said. As of this Wednesday, Manitoba has launched a pilot project regulation for large quadricycles. It’s set to be revoked Jan. 31, 2029. Part of the legislation called for municipal approval. So in July, the Pedal Pub owners waited to see what the City of Winnipeg would say — and on July 3, councillors gave the green light. “The province is the one that’s regulating it, so I wish them the best,” Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) said while moving the motion. Now, Pedal Pub is preparing for an even boozier ride. “We’re really, really excited,” Gauthier said. The tour will continue the same: the two-hour Exchange District trek will have two bar stops and pre-paid drinks. However, customers can order a cooler stocked with cans to accompany them on the quadricycles. Packs range from 15 to 36 drinks, at $6 per Torque Brewing beer and Smirnoff vodka soda. People must place their orders online before the voyage, according to Gauthier. Pedal Pub isn’t required to change its safety features, such as adding seatbelts. Instead, it’s adding a second staff member to its rides, Gauthier detailed: one employee will drive and another will act as bartender, ensuring riders behave. “Nobody who is on the bike can just reach in and grab their own drink,” Gauthier emphasized. “If there’s instances of full intoxication, we’re in full control of that vehicle. We’re able to remove the person from the tour… if it’s becoming unsafe.” Each quadricycle has an electric motor, a backup if legs fail. Pedal Pub has 10 bar, restaurant and distillery partners in the Exchange District. Each tour elicits an average $1,200 in spending at local businesses, Guenther said earlier this summer. The company is currently restricted to operations downtown and in the Exchange District. It must get city approval before touring elsewhere, Gauthier said. gabrielle.piche(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com>

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CBC: 'Whose kid is next?' Winnipeg cyclists call for safer infrastructure after another collision (Jul31'24)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Cyclists demand safer riding conditions near the scene of two recent collisions https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bike-rally-cyclist-vehicle…

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WFP: Cyclists demand safety improvements (Jul31'24)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '24

31 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Teen on bike struck by vehicle at intersection of Wellington Crescent and Academy Road Cyclists demand safety improvements https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/30/teen-cyclist-inju… A TEENAGE cyclist was injured Monday after she was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Wellington Crescent and Academy Road, renewing calls for better active- transportation infrastructure. Winnipeg police said the crash happened at about 8:45 p.m. The teen, who was cycling with her father, was hospitalized but has since been released, Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said Tuesday. Her father was not injured. McKinnon said the driver, who remained at the scene, may have been experiencing a medical event at the time, and the investigation is continuing. Passerby Mark Hildahl blocked traffic with his vehicle immediately after the collision. He used his paramedic training to keep the teen’s spine stable. “My heart sunk,” he said Tuesday. “She wasn’t moving; at first I thought she might be dead.” He said he didn’t notice that the vehicle’s driver was in medical distress, but observed that she was “very distraught.” He was told the driver was later taken away by an ambulance. Hildahl described what happened Monday as “everybody’s worst nightmare” at a notoriously unsafe intersection. “I travel through this intersection multiple times a week and it’s just horrible,” he said. “The entire design of the intersection at Wellington and Academy is designed for cars, there’s nothing that’s designed for pedestrians or cyclists, so it’s extremely dangerous for everybody.” The crash happened a short distance from where Rob Jenner, 61, was killed June 6 in a hit-and-run on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street. Jenner had been cycling to his job at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. Last week, more than 100 cyclists calling for improved infrastructure gathered outside the museum to honour Jenner’s memory. Among them was Patty Wiens, a director of Bike Winnipeg, who blamed poor infrastructure for the crashes. “Do you think this kid will ever get on a bike again? This is not OK. Our roads need better design,” she said. “That’s what it’s going to actually take. It’s not about enforcement, it’s about design.” About 180 cyclists blocked cars at the intersection of Academy and Wellington as a protest on Tuesday evening. Wiens said she wonders how many pedestrians and cyclists need to be hurt or killed before bike infrastructure becomes a priority. “We are tired of protesting. I don’t want to be shutting down intersections once a week. It’s going to take some serious political will,” she said. Following Jenner’s death last month, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins called the stretch of Wellington Crescent a “known gap in the cycling plan for the city” and suggested her calls to install 30 km/h zones around the ward hadn’t been heard due to a lack of political will. Brent Bellamy, a Free Press columnist who writes on urban planning, was hit by a driver while cycling at the same intersection in 2019. He witnessed the aftermath of Monday’s collision. Both Wellington Crescent and Academy Road are designed for commuters but are in the middle of a pedestrian- dense residential area, and cars “fly by” the slip lanes on Wellington Crescent, he said. He noted that just across from where the crash happened, a piece of the fencing at St. Mary’s Academy is missing after being hit by a driver. “It doesn’t even have a stop sign for five kilometres, from Academy all the way to Assiniboine Park. It’s actually designed to be unsafe. It’s designed to prioritize speed and traffic volumes,” he said. Streets should be designed to account for medical emergencies, mistakes and freak accidents, Bellamy said, adding slower traffic, more narrow intersections and fewer lanes all reduce the amount of time cyclists and pedestrians are interacting with cars and give them more time to escape dangerous situations. “We have to design our streets to allow things that aren’t normal to happen, and provide as much safety as we can, as much room for error as possible on our streets,” he said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca> [https://us5-bcdn.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/ipad/html5.check.24030714/ajax-re…] Members of the cycling community blocked cars at the intersection of Academy Road and Wellington Crescent Tuesday in a protest to call for safer road infrastructure.

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WFP: Cycling community pays tribute to man killed in hit-and-run (Jul26'
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jul '24

27 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘We will not let Rob’s death be in vain’ Cycling community pays tribute to man killed in hit-and-run https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/25/we-will-not-let-r… MORE than 100 cyclists, who wore red to celebrate the life of Rob Jenner, gathered outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Thursday evening to honour the man killed in a hit-and-run collision. Jenner, who regularly biked to his job as a shipper and receiver at the museum, liked to wear red on Fridays to end the work week. He was travelling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street when he was hit by a vehicle going in the same direction on the morning of June 6, a day after his 61st birthday. “Since my retirement, I waited for him with the garage door open, knowing I’d see that big smile rolling toward me — full of pride and feeling on top of the world. He was so proud to be a bike commuter,” said widow Wendy Van Loon, her speech punctuated by applause and the chiming of bicycle bells. “He must have known deep inside that he was part of something bigger, but I don’t think he knew the reach and depth of this beautiful community.” Van Loon said Jenner knew riding a bike in the city could be dangerous and he always wore highly visible clothing, including a helmet with blinking lights. He left home early to avoid rush-hour traffic. He was looking forward to retiring. He was an artist and writer and loved cooking. He was “friendly, blunt and also very kind,” said a statement released by the family a week after his death. Travis Jenner, one of his sons, asked the crowd to fight for change. He said he wishes his dad could be there to help take the training wheels off his son’s bike one day. “One small gap in safety was enough to change my life forever, so I ask you not to stop and don’t take no for an answer,” he said. “Show up and don’t back down until you’re safe, or until we’re all safe.” Members of the bike community have chosen to honour Jenner by installing a “ghost bike” at the location of the crash. Van Loon wanted her old bike to be used. It’s been painted white. In addition to memorializing a life lost, ghost bikes serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be cautious of cyclists on the road, said Patty Wiens, the “bicycle mayor” of Winnipeg. Wiens said she hopes to normalize cycling for transportation in the city and wants to see the bike network completed. Another cyclist was injured Wednesday night at the same intersection where Jenner was hit, she said. “This moment right here is a direct consequence of a bike network that’s missing some very crucial connections. I know I speak for every person here when I say it could have been any of us or someone close to us,” Wiens said. “The moment he used his bike for transportation in this city, he became an activist. We will not let Rob’s death be in vain.” Rachael Alguire lives a block away from the intersection. She started riding her bike to work a year ago but said she’s never felt quite safe. She began taking her bike to work because it’s more convenient than taking the bus and for the positive impact on her mental health. Her partner is an avid cyclist so she felt more comfortable getting into biking with her partner’s guidance. “I experience aggression from drivers and very unsafe roads all the time,” Alquire said, just as the group was leaving to go to the site of the crash. “There’s not a day where it doesn’t happen, so it’s very close to my heart.” Alguire hopes to see the city add protected bike lanes and for the route at Wellington Crescent to be completed. The group of cyclists rode from the museum to the intersection where the ghost bike will remain. Jenner’s family is working with Gordon Bell High School to set up a fund in his memory that aims to teach kids how to fix their bikes and ride them safely. Van Loon wants others to grow up with the same joy her husband got from riding his bike. “My best friend and favourite chef is gone,” Van Loon said. “He may have been just one person, but he was my world. There’s nothing we can do to bring him back, but let’s make sure his death wasn’t in vain.” Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, is charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. jura.mcilraith(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Briefs: Snow clearing, Louise Bridge & quadricycles (Jul20'24)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '24

20 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. SNOW CLEARING FROM SIDEWALKS TO SPEED UP RESIDENTIAL sidewalks should be cleared of snow days sooner next winter. On Thursday, city council voted to require that crews “normally” complete plowing on residential sidewalks within 36 hours after the work begins, instead of the current target of five working days. The work will be funded through money approved during the 2024 to 2027 multi-year budget. LOUISE BRIDGE REHABILITATION PLAN APPROVED THE city will rehabilitate its 114-year-old Louise Bridge following age-related deterioration. “It requires annual closures for reactive repairs and will require significant work by 2030 to remain operational,” a staff report notes. On Thursday, city council approved a plan to design the project for construction no later than 2030. City officials estimate the work will cost $40 million and extend the life of the bridge by at least 30 years. NEW RULES FOR QUADRICYCLES NEW city rules for quadricycles — four-wheeled, pedal-powered vehicles — are on the way. On Thursday, Winnipeg city council voted to make bylaw changes for the vehicles, which would officially allow them to operate in downtown Winnipeg. Those operating a large quadricycle outside of downtown would be required to submit a planned route to seek approval from the city’s public works director. Additional rules would only permit the vehicles to cross multi-lane streets at intersections with traffic signals or those with “an all-way stop condition.” The companies would also be required to submit annual reports to the city.

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Winnipeg Sun: Political will, capital and public buy-in will be crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan
by Patman, David 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Political will, capital and public buy-in will be crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan Winnipeg Sun Author of the article: Cameron Eason Published Jul 16, 2024 * Last updated 2 days ago * 3 minute read Political will, capital crucial for Winnipeg's Transportation 2050 plan | Winnipeg Sun<https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-news/political-will-capital-and-public-b…> On Monday, Councillor Janice Lukes, Winnipeg's public works committee chair, presented Transportation 2050, quite literally a roadmap to how the city could reach its transportation goals within the next 26 years as Winnipeg approaches a population of one million. Many residents would probably agree that what we have now isn't working as well as it should, and as Winnipeg continues to grow, it needs the infrastructure to match. According to the plan, Transportation 2050 outlines its goals by prioritizing and maintaining existing infrastructure instead of building new; investing in our existing roads; developing communities where people can access their needs in a short distance; and empowering people to travel in their preferred mode of transportation. But what could this look like? As it stands today, our current roads are overused in many areas, less than seven per cent of Winnipeggers walk or cycle as a transport method, and public transit usage has declined by 14 per cent since the 1960s. The city laid out an ambitious goal of reaching a "50 per cent mode shift by 2050." Broken down, this would mean 21 per cent ridesharing, 15 percent using public transit, and the remaining 14 per cent cycling or walking. The issues with Winnipeg Transit are well documented, so improvements here come as no surprise. Ensuring that it becomes safer, more reliable and more convenient will be key to increasing ridership. The strategy mentions the need for more rapid transit, and acknowledges that Winnipeg may need to analyze the need for Light Rail Transit in the future. Interestingly, Transportation 2050 also focuses a lot on active and bicycle transport. Talk of more bike lanes can seem to either make people rejoice or roll their eyes, but the solutions may not be as complicated as they seem. If the city wants to encourage more people to use bicycles, they need to find solutions that don't impact the businesses and commuters already using existing roadways. Walking and cycling are grouped together in much of this master plan, and hopefully that is a sign of things to come. If you look around, many of Winnipeg's sidewalks are surrounded by boulevards: wasted space typically covered by grass, brick, concrete or asphalt. Widening the sidewalks, or paving the boulevards beside them for bicycle usage (this already exists in certain parts of the city) could be an affordable and practical way to get more bike lanes built without bottlenecking traffic and parking. Transportation 2050 also mentions changing zoning requirements for developments near key transit routes. Mayor Scott Gillingham pledged to get rid of parking minimum requirements for certain developments (a minimum parking spot per unit ratio) during the 2022 mayoral election, and this appears to be a move towards that. It would not only ensure that more developments are built with transit in mind, but it also lowers building costs, helping keep housing affordable. Other key points in the document are fixing the infrastructure we have before building more, changing the way goods are transported through the city, and focusing on safety and accessibility of our existing infrastructure. It also acknowledges the need for more transport options for low-income Winnipeggers who don't have access to private vehicles. If the city can deliver, these measures will surely be well-received. In the news release, Lukes said "This plan won't completely satisfy anyone, but absolutely has something for everyone." It's a safe bet that she's correct. The best way to encourage transportation mode shifts is to make different modes more convenient and accessible and attract people to make a switch on their own accord. If the city wants this to work, they need the public's buy-in over the long-term. With a large focus on improving existing roadways over building new ones, this hopefully means that it won't impact those who commute in a car in the meantime. After all, with four out of five trips in Winnipeg being taken in a private vehicle, current trends won't change overnight. Transportation 2050 will be presented to the city council for consideration in the fall of this year. Lukes encourages residents to learn more, with six pop-up events around the city between now and July 26. The entire document can be found on the City of Winnipeg's website. Ultimately, the city needs a master plan to pave the way for the future, and this is a step in that direction. But a master plan is, after all, just a plan. Transportation 2050 is a good start, but it will require political will - and, most importantly, capital - to turn plans into action.

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Winnipeg Sun: Show us evidence before making major bike-lane investment
by Patman, David 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Winnipeg Sun KLEIN: Show us evidence before making major bike-lane investment Published Jul 18, 2024 * Last updated 19 hours ago * 3 minute read KLEIN: Show us evidence before making major bike-lane investment | Winnipeg Sun<https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/klein-show-us-evidence-before-ma…> On Monday, Councillor Janice Lukes, Winnipeg's public works committee chair, unveiled Transportation 2050, a comprehensive roadmap detailing the city's transportation objectives for the next 26 years. This ambitious plan aims to transform how we move around Winnipeg, advocating for a future where 50% of us walk, bike, or take public transit to work. To achieve this, the city plans to invest millions of tax dollars. But is this truly what the residents of Winnipeg want? Winnipeg is not a European metropolis. It's a sprawling winter city with a unique urban landscape. Many of our light industrial jobs are dispersed across the city rather than concentrated downtown. While Lukes insists on the need for change as Winnipeg's population nears one million, it's essential to recognize that Winnipeg's suburban communities are among the fastest-growing in Canada, indicating a preference for living outside the city core. As a city councillor, I twice requested an accurate count of how many people use the bike paths, which have already cost millions of dollars. Unfortunately, my council colleagues, including Councillor Lukes and Mayor Gillingham, denied voting against my data collection requests. This resistance raises questions about the transparency and accountability of these investments. Business owners have voiced concerns about the negative impact of bike lanes on their operations. Residents frequently question the rationale behind substantial spending on bike lanes, especially when these lanes remain underutilized, particularly during the winter when they are plowed before many secondary roads. My goal was to evaluate the return on our investment in these bike lanes, yet the council, influenced by bike lobbyists, has continually dismissed the necessity for such data. The city's decision-making process lacks a foundation in proper data or evidence. Instead, it relies on former Mayor Brian Bowman's "Public Engagement" strategy, which tends to support the city's predetermined objectives due to the participation of advocates and lobby groups. Many residents refrain from participating in these engagements, trusting their elected representatives to advocate for them-a trust that is often misplaced. As a result, numerous complaints arise after decisions have been made, but by then, it is too late to effect change. Public opinion is crucial, but so is data. The City of Winnipeg could conduct a phone survey to gauge residents' priorities regarding bike lane spending. Additionally, a thorough count of bike lane usage could be conducted to determine their usage rates and cost per biker. This data-driven approach is essential for making informed, evidence-based decisions about major investments. A comprehensive business plan should outline the long-term costs associated with maintaining, clearing snow, and repainting lines for these bike lanes annually. Residents have an opportunity to voice their support or opposition to the City of Winnipeg's proposed bike lanes during upcoming public engagement events. As part of its CentrePlan 2050, the city is designing bike routes intended to enhance connectivity to, from, and within Downtown. These events represent the final stage of planning, making it imperative for concerned citizens to participate and express their views on the allocation of resources to bike lanes. The city's recommendations can be reviewed online at the City of Winnipeg website or by using a simple Google search. The upcoming meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period. Additionally, city representatives will be available at True North Square Plaza on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the Central Park Market on Saturday, July 20, 2024, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you strongly feel about the city's investment in bike lanes, now is the time to make your voice heard. Complaining to others is ineffective; real change occurs when we demand better from our elected officials. These officials are not there to impose the will of a few on the many but to represent the majority of the people they serve. It is crucial that decisions about major investments like bike lanes be based on solid evidence and data. The city must prioritize the needs and preferences of its residents through transparent, accountable, and data-driven decision-making processes, not lobby groups. The city's transportation infrastructure must serve the needs of all Winnipeggers commuters. - Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and is the President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

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WFP Analysis: City on right track to expand downtown cycling (Jul19'24)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City on right track to expand downtown cycling https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2024/07/18/city-on-right-track-to-e… BUILD it and they will come. That’s the mantra behind the expansion of protected bike lanes in downtown Winnipeg. For the most part, it appears to be working. A new proposed plan by the City of Winnipeg to expand the network further will not only keep that momentum going, it could change the face of the core area. Downtown’s first protected bike lane along Assiniboine Avenue is a good example of how demand for protected bike lanes grows over time. According to Bike Winnipeg, bike traffic increased by more than 200 per cent within four years after the protected lane was built in 2010. Today, scores of cyclists use the route to get to work, school, or other destinations. That’s partly because the bike lane network has been extended north into the heart of downtown. It allows cyclists to reach a multitude of places in the core area — including the Exchange District — on safe, reliable routes separated from motor vehicle traffic. That’s the key to convincing more people to get out of their cars and onto bikes. Surveys have shown that people are far more willing to commute by bike if there are protected lanes for them to use. The city unveiled proposed plans this week to add more protected bike lanes downtown. Options include protected routes on St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue, which are key east-west corridors that would make downtown cycling even more accommodating. Protected bike routes on Notre Dame Avenue, Cumberland Avenue, and William Stephenson Way — which would vastly improve bike access into downtown — are also on the table. Not surprisingly, the plan has its detractors. In order to make room for the protected lanes, downtown would lose 148 parking stalls. In a car-centric city such as Winnipeg, that’s going to ruffle some feathers. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said the loss of those parking stalls could hurt small retail businesses and restaurants that rely on short customer visits. Perhaps, but only in the short term. The whole point of this exercise is to convince more people to walk, bike or take transit downtown and to leave their vehicles at home. To do that, the city needs to improve transit and significantly expand the network of protected bike routes. You can’t tell people to take a bus downtown when buses run as infrequently as they do in Winnipeg (if they show up at all). Similarly, most people won’t bike downtown if they have to compete with cars on busy roads. Painted bike lanes on streets are nice, but they don’t cut it. They don’t give cyclists the protection and comfort level they need. Downtown retail businesses and restaurants won’t suffer with fewer parking spots if more people frequent those establishments by bike. In fact, greater bike access could lead to an increase in business over time. It’s often easier to bike downtown than it is to drive and find parking, especially during busy periods. The more downtown becomes known as a bike-friendly zone, the more people will think of that as a viable option. These are the kinds of things the city needs to do to alleviate motor vehicle traffic. The fewer vehicles on the road, the less money the city has to spend on street maintenance. More active transportation also means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is the most important objective if the city is serious about fighting climate change. The reliance on single occupancy motor vehicles in Winnipeg is ridiculously high. The only way to change that is to give people more active transportation options. This is about creating a different vision for downtown, one teeming with bikes, pedestrians and people moving around on transit. When that happens, cars will be crowded out, especially when it comes to parking. That’s the whole point. This kind of change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow process. But each step, including adding more protected bike routes, is an important one. If you want to see how the demand for protected bike lanes builds over time, spend a half hour anywhere along the Assiniboine Avenue bike route during morning rush hour. What you’ll see is a steady stream of bikes, e-bikes and scooters. It’s what the rest of downtown should look like. And it will, in due course, as long as the city keeps moving in the right direction. tom.brodbeck(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Proposed downtown bike lanes would slash on-street parking: report (July18'24)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Jul '24

18 Jul '24

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Proposed downtown bike lanes would slash on-street parking: report Cycling advocate says changes would make streets safer https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/17/proposed-downtown… NEW bike routes proposed for downtown Winnipeg could result in the removal of nearly 150 parking stalls. The City of Winnipeg is sharing options for routes on St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue and Cumberland Avenue and William Stephenson Way, as part of the Centre-Plan 2050 vision to transform the city centre. A cycling advocate said the proposed changes appear positive. “These are pretty important east-west routes to get in, both the Notre Dame and Cumberland and the York/ St. Mary. So, it’s really critical that we do get those… it adds a fair bit of connectivity,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. City staff recommend one-way protected bike lanes on both St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue, which a report predicts would be easier for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely and have less impact on traffic flow than a two-way route. The design would keep three vehicle lanes on each street. The city also recommends a two-way protected bike lane for each of the north side of Cumberland Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue, which would lose one vehicle lane. “One of the things I’m definitely happy to see in it is we’ve got enough width in there for people to be able to pass each other safely and that’s really critical, especially as we see more and more electric bikes… (add) more variation in speed,” said Cohoe. Combined, the changes would remove 148 parking stalls from St. Mary, York, Notre Dame and Cumberland avenues. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said he is concerned small retail businesses and restaurants could lose customers due to the proposed parking stall reduction, as some folks seek closer parking elsewhere. “For those businesses that really depend on short visits… like retail businesses, I really do think this would impact them,” said Browaty. While he acknowledged the city wants Winnipeggers to rely more on active transportation and less on trips in their personal vehicles, the councillor said he’d prefer the city add more temporary, seasonal bike lanes from May to September and remove the barriers for the rest of the year. “I really don’t believe a lot of the population are going to become winter cyclists… I don’t believe (enough) people are using these pieces of infrastructure in the fall or winter. So put the parking back (then),” he said. However, council’s public works chairwoman welcomed the changes, noting the city’s Transportation Master Plan calls for more bike lanes and sidewalks. “We’ve got a lot of missing gaps (in active transportation routes) downtown, so I think this is great,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West). Lukes said reduced downtown parking could help attract new residents to the area as the city tries to make it more accessible by foot and by bike. “Downtown needs to be a neighbourhood… It needs things like other neighbourhoods have, like bike lanes and connectivity and parks,” she said. A city spokesman said Winnipeg’s active transportation planner was not available for an interview on Wednesday. In an email, spokesman Kalen Qually noted 150 parking stalls would remain on St. Mary and York avenues after the proposed changes, along with “numerous off-street surface parking lots and parkades.” Qually said there’s less demand for parking than in the past. “Our analysis shows there are still less people driving (and parking) downtown for work and meetings now compared to five years ago due to remote-work options, and that has, in part, created opportunities to reallocate space within the right of way,” he wrote. Since road reconstruction projects are planned for both St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue between 2025 and 2027, finalized bike lanes are expected to be included in that work. There is no timeline or funding approved for bike lanes on Notre Dame or Cumberland at this point. The city has also completed designs to widen several sidewalks along William Stephenson Way and Waterfront Drive to become multi-use pathways, though the proposal also lacks dedicated funding and a target timeline. Further study is needed to address traffic concerns at the intersection of William Stephenson Way and Waterfront Drive, the city report notes. The city is seeking public feedback on the changes before a final plan is approved. Winnipeggers can attend pop-up events to weigh in, including one at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at True North Square’s outdoor plaza (223 Carlton St.) A second event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Central Park (367 Ellice Ave.), while residents can also register online to attend a Zoom event from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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