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WFP: Two arrested in June theft of cross-country fundraising cyclists’ bikes (Aug27'26)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Two arrested in June theft of cross-country fundraising cyclists’ bikes https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/26/police-make-two-a… ON June 22, Thomas Clark and Valentin Duquenne set out to cycle across Canada to raise money for men’s mental health. Along the way, they lost four bikes to thieves in two cities — first in Winnipeg, then in Calgary. Just over a month after their first bikes were stolen in Winnipeg, police have arrested two men for the theft. The bicycles, valued at about $15,000, were stolen July 24 from a vehicle parked in the 400 block of Portage Avenue while Clark and Duquenne were inside CBC Manitoba for a media interview. The Winnipeg Police Service said one of the bikes was recovered Aug. 7 after officers spotted a 60-year-old man riding it in the 1800 block of Bannatyne Avenue West. He was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 before being released on an appearance notice. The bicycle was returned to its owner. Investigators later identified a suspect in the theft and learned the bicycles had been traded to the 60-year-old man and another unidentified male. On Aug. 23, officers with the Central District Community Support Unit arrested 42-year-old Kuol Thomas Madit at the intersection of Notre Dame Avenue and Balmoral Street as part of the WPS crackdown on open drug use. Police said officers seized a small amount of methamphetamine during the arrest. Madit has been charged with two counts of theft over $5,000, trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of fentanyl and failing to comply with probation. He was detained in custody. Madit has no prior criminal convictions. The second bike has not been recovered. Clark and Duquenne, friends from Moncton, N.B., began their Men Don’t Ride Alone charity trek in June with plans to cycle more than 6,000 kilometres across Canada and raise $250,000 for men’s mental-health initiatives through Movember Canada. They completed the journey in Victoria on Aug. 11, falling well short of their target by raising just under $16,000. Duquenne said the idea for the ride came after he sought help for substance- abuse and mental-health issues last September. The pair had never been to Winnipeg before their bikes were stolen. “When I walked out, Tom started running towards the car and then I saw the bikes were gone. We were pretty speechless,” Duquenne told the Free Press after the theft. The Trek and Cannondale bikes were locked to a rack on the back of the pair’s support vehicle when the thief cut through the lock. The men were temporarily stranded in Winnipeg, but their story quickly drew attention. An online fundraising page was set up to cover the cost of new bikes, and more than $15,000 had been raised within a few hours. Canadian Tire stepped in to help them get back on the road, donating just shy of $9,000. Less than a month later, their replacement bikes were taken in Calgary. They had already completed their cross-country journey and flown home to Moncton when the replacement cycles were stolen from a vehicle parked at a Calgary hotel. The bikes were being driven back to New Brunswick. According to Clark in a social-media post, the bikes had been triple-locked to the back of the vehicle while the driver slept inside the hotel. The hitch itself was stolen, taking the bike rack and bicycles with it. Calgary police are investigating that theft. Winnipeg police estimate about 3,000 bikes are stolen in the city each year. The service encourages cyclists to register their bikes with Project 529, a bicycle-registration program, to improve the chances of recovery if they are stolen. zoe.pierce(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP OpEd: E-scooters can be the future — if done right (Aug27'26)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. E-scooters can be the future — if done right MEL MARGINET https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/08/27/e-scooters-ca… THE summer of 2026 has been the season that e-scooters and e-bikes transitioned from something advocates were predicting would be a big deal to an obvious reality to everyday Manitobans. The conditions have been right for an uptick — we’re in the midst of an affordability crisis in which more and more people are looking for alternatives to driving. As demand has soared, availability has moved beyond mostly European exports to incredibly cheap options being available on dubious sales platforms such as Temu. If you’ve been passed by a zooming e-bike or nearly run off the sidewalk by an e-scooter, you’re probably saying “the city ought to have some rules about this!” Municipalities have been requesting that the province update the Highway Traffic Act for years so that micromobility options, such as e-scooters, can be regulated under bylaws. Provincial legislation that would prohibit riding on sidewalks, set age limits, restrict speed and require helmet use was passed on June 1, but has not yet been proclaimed. This has created the “Wild West” environment we’re in now. The news this summer has been full of bad behaviour stories around e-scooters and e-bikes, and it’s easy to understand why. The lack of regulation means there isn’t a public awareness campaign about how to use these items properly. There’s no regulation of things such as maximum speeds, so we don’t have any controls on items entering the country. As Patty Wiens recently noted in a Free Press story on e-rides: “It’s not a replacement for a bike … It’s a replacement for a car.” Folks using these e-rides are often using bike lanes and trails for the first time. It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of finger- pointing (the Globe & Mail recently called e-scooters a “scourge”!), but the reality is that e-rides have the potential to improve our transportation options substantially. In Winnipeg, we need to reach a 50 per cent driving-mode share by 2050 to meet the goals of the city’s Transportation Master Plan. This means that 50 per cent of trips need to be made by walking, cycling, transit or carpooling. Our current 80 per cent driving-mode share is a long way away from that. Could these e-rides be a good tool? I first rode an e-scooter back in about 2018. As the publisher at Great Plains Press, I was in Frankfurt, Germany, for its book fair. Frankfurt has amazing public transit. But, where I was staying was around a kilometre from the fair. Not far enough to bother hopping on a streetcar, but far enough that walking back and forth was a slog. The first and last mile is where e-scooters thrive! Parked near where I was staying was a spot for Lime e-scooters. I was intrigued, so I downloaded the app, created an account, and took one for a spin to test it out. I was glad I did. E-scooters are appealing for many reasons. Most importantly, they are easy to ride. Your centre of gravity is low, making them very sturdy and easy to balance on. Travel was much faster than walking, but not too fast. In Germany, speed is regulated. The scooter company had to ensure its scooters couldn’t exceed the local limit. You can even restrict them from certain areas (geofencing shuts them down in certain zones.) In Frankfurt, I had good infrastructure to use. Studies show e-riders don’t want to be on the road, nor do they want to be on the sidewalk. The most preferred infrastructure is bike lanes, and Germany was building out its cycling network long before e-scooters entered the scene. As a tourist, I didn’t need special equipment. Helmet use is encouraged, but I didn’t need to own a helmet or have to rent one (gross) or risk a fine. Because the infrastructure is so safe and speeds are regulated, e-scooters are seen — like walking and bicycle riding — as just another perfectly safe way to get around outside of a personal vehicle. Sprawling Winnipeg has an opportunity with the adoption of e-rides. First, we need quick access to frequent, fast transit. Our spine and feeder network, with limited operating funds, means that having more options for folks to get to F, FX or RT lines without needing a feeder bus is ideal. In Winnipeg, most trips are quite short. In 2016, Statistics Canada data showed that Winnipeggers made some of the shortest trips in all of Canada at 6.6 km. Yet our use of personal vehicles for trips remains stubbornly high. Not only is this, honestly, deeply embarrassing, it’s also a burden on our emissions and costs (personal vehicles are expensive for both the drivers as well as the municipality). As mentioned above, e-riders are not people moving from bikes to e-rides, they are people replacing car trips. We need to encourage this adoption as much as we can. Importantly, travel costs are a major benefit. Owning a vehicle in Canada is becoming ever more expensive. In 2016, the cost to travel by personal vehicle was $8,000-$12,000 a year. Since then, we’ve seen an increase in gas prices, so I’m going to imagine the next data will show the cost of personal vehicles rising. Our aging population is another reason we stand to make huge gains. Seniors are a major reason e-bike sales are booming, and both the city and the province should recognize the wonderful co-benefits of encouraging seniors to stay active in their communities for as long as possible. We need the province to work with urban centres to allow local bylaws that make sense. Cities around the world are far ahead of us in learning lessons on how to integrate this mode of travel. Let’s follow the best practices of the places that are years ahead. Even though we don’t yet have formal “rules” for e-rides, we need to have common courtesy in our bike lanes and on multi-use paths. Keep an eye out for other users; ring your bell or otherwise alert those you are approaching from behind; keep your speed to 25 km/h or less; slow down to pass; and ride defensively and respectfully. Remember, many e-riders might be using this infrastructure for the first time. Try to address tensions firmly but generously. We want new users to ride safely and respectfully, but of course, we want them to keep riding instead of driving. We all want to get to where we are going safely no matter how we travel. Stay safe, have fun and enjoy the journey out there. Mel Marginet is a member of Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team and the publisher at Great Plains Press, which publishes The City Project.

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WFP: Man hit by e-scooter faces long recovery (Aug25'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '26

25 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bomber volunteer’s friend urges NDP to enact new law Man hit by e-scooter faces long recovery https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/24/blue-bombers-volu… A LONGTIME Winnipeg Blue Bombers volunteer was rushed to hospital and now faces months of recovery after being hit by an e-scooter while directing football fans after a home game last month. The volunteer, a regular face on game days, was “seriously injured” when a person driving an e-scooter struck him on the sidewalk outside Princess Auto Stadium after the July 24 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, team president and CEO Wade Miller confirmed. “He is receiving care and our thoughts are with him and his family. We are in close contact with them and offering whatever support we can during a very difficult time,” Miller said in an email. “We’re grateful to the first responders and stadium staff who acted quickly at the scene and we ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as he recovers.” The Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service confirmed they were called to the stadium after the game and one person was hospitalized in stable condition. The victim’s family declined to speak on the record, but a family friend told the Free Press his injuries will have lasting impacts: she said he needed emergency neck surgery, had titanium rods inserted in his spine and suffered five compressed vertebrae. “While the full recovery prognosis is unknown today, he cannot walk unassisted and is having difficulty using his arms and hands. He is looking at two to three months in hospital for spinal cord rehabilitation, with an unknown future for him and his family,” she wrote to the Free Press, requesting anonymity. She said her friend’s experience had inspired her to “urge our elected officials to enact the needed regulations as quickly as possible.” The Winnipeg Police Service does not keep statistics on reports involving e-scooters or other personal electric vehicles, but they expect to see the number of reports increase as their popularity continues to grow, a spokesperson said. Police are waiting on legislation from the province on e-scooters to be put into effect to inform future best practices, said traffic division Insp. Helen Peters. “The WPS traffic division is aware of growing community concerns regarding the use of all types of electric vehicles, including e-scooters…. Police agencies and road-safety partners across the province are working together to develop communication and enforcement strategies to help educate everyone on the safety concerns and the new laws that will govern their use,” Peters said in a statement. On June 1, provincial legislation was passed that would impose bans on operating personal electric vehicles on sidewalks, require drivers to be 16 or older and wear a helmet and restrict speed to a maximum of 25 km/h. But those rules have yet to be put into practice and possible penalties have yet to be laid out. While there isn’t a set date for when enforcement will begin, Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said the work to hammer out fine amounts and other details is underway now. “(I) hoped that we could get this done within the year, and I think we’re on track, so we’ll have more news in the next few months, probably,” she said. Now is a good time to practise following the incoming rules to avoid a future fine, Naylor said. “Until this legislation fully comes into effect, I would hope that Manitobans were starting to kind of follow the letter of the law,” she said. While at least one city in Manitoba has implemented its own bylaws ahead of the province — in Morden, not wearing a helmet, having more than one rider on a single-person electric device, or riding on sidewalks or on the opposite direction of traffic can now get you a $50 fine or have your scooter impounded — Winnipeg will need to figure out a way to enforce e-scooter laws within a larger population, said Coun. Janice Lukes, city council’s public works chairwoman. “This is the other part that really worries me — let’s say we come out with a whole bunch of rules, how do we enforce them? The cops, I think, they’ve got five e-bikes… how are five e-bikes going to enforce thousands of these (personal electric vehicles)?” said Lukes (Waverley West). She called it a “huge, top priority” for the city, and civic staff are constantly getting emails from residents with concerns about e-scooters and e-bikes. Lukes said she’s seen a large number of young children on e-scooters in her ward, calling it “terrifying” to watch, as a parent. She’d like to see any rules banning young people from operating the vehicles be properly enforced. Volodymyr Ishchenko bought an e-scooter this summer. He said the city is lacking in safe, accessible infrastructure for bikes, whether they’re powered by pedals or motors. “There is not much (of) a road for bicycles, for scooters for any stuff like that people can drive on, so that I’m not bothering just regular walkers, pedestrians,” he said. He tries his best to be a responsible rider — he was walking his scooter along a Provencher Boulevard sidewalk Monday — and, as popularity around personal electric vehicles increases, he’d like to see a public education campaign on safe operation. “Some people, they don’t understand, especially kids, the responsibility when they’re driving these things,” he said. Ashley Esquega, who was riding her e-scooter to an appointment downtown Monday, called calls to ban personal electric vehicles “ridiculous.” ‘I think (their) reputation is kind of crappy, but they are so much fun, and you just gotta have fun with life,” she said. Mike McKenna knows first-hand how quickly an e-scooter collision can change a pedestrian’s sense of safety. He was struck by an e-scooter in July as he stepped off a Winnipeg Transit bus at Main Street and Broadway. The impact threw him onto the pavement and left his left arm badly scraped and cut. McKenna has physically recovered from the collision, but he said the psychological impact of the incident has not gone away. “I have anxiety getting off the bus every single time,” he said. “I try to poke my head out and look, and it can hold up people behind me as they’re trying to get off. So, it just hasn’t gone away yet.” McKenna said he was fortunate to walk away from his collision but worries another pedestrian won’t be as lucky. “We need to take back our sidewalks,” he said. — With files from Morgan Modjeski malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Free youth Transit passes set for staggered rollout (Aug21'26)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Aug '26

21 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Free youth Transit passes set for staggered rollout https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/20/wsd-official-expe… A PROGRAM allowing youths to ride Winnipeg Transit buses fare-free is on track to start next month, though some will wait longer than others to get their passes. The provincially funded Free Youth Transit Pass Pilot program will provide no-cost rides to youths between the ages of 11 and 17 and high school students between the ages of 18 and 21. On Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew revealed not all students will be eligible when school resumes next month, as passes will be available based on grade levels. “It’s going to happen week by week, more and more students will be getting the bus passes. So, this is just at the request of the people who run Transit, so that they can accommodate this new program. As you go back to school, you’ll find out how the bus passes are going to be distributed,” said Kinew. The premier indicated accommodations to address “urgent” transportation needs could also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Matt Henderson, superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division, said he expects to provide passes to students in grades 11 and 12 during the week of Sept. 9. That’s expected to be followed by students in grades 9 and 10 during the week of Sept. 21, and students in grades 7 and 8 during the week of Sept. 28. “The City of Winnipeg is asking that there’s a staggered approach so their drivers and system aren’t overwhelmed and they’re able to adjust and plan throughout the month of September,” said Henderson. While those dates will generally apply in most cases, divisional schools that draw students from a wide area, such as Tec-Voc high school, will receive passes at the same time, he said. “Each division in the City of Winnipeg will be sending communication to parents… in the coming weeks just to explain what that rollout looks like,” said Henderson. Transit said the details could vary between schools. Henderson said he believes the program will remove a financial roadblock to education for some. “We know when we speak to families, transportation is the No. 1 barrier to regular and healthy school attendance. It’s not inexpensive for a child to ride the bus every day. We’re really excited about this (free bus pass),” he said. In June, Winnipeg Transit estimated there were 65,000 youths in the eligible age group, including about 60,000 who attend school, but noted it plans to initially cap the program at just 30,000 passes, assuming a 50 per cent uptake. Henderson said he believes a pass can be given to every student who wants one. “There is no cap. According to our provincial partners, if a child needs a bus pass, they will get that,” he said. At Winnipeg School Division, schools will be able to distribute the passes directly to students. However, city council’s public works chairwoman said additional passes will be printed only if there’s enough demand and the province provides more money for the program. Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she fears that even with a staggered introduction, adding the free passes in September could overload the system and lead more riders to wait longer as buses filled to capacity pass them by. “I personally think it’s going to be chaos come fall, regardless of whether it’s staggered or not. I hope it isn’t… I really think it’s a great idea. I just really think it was ill-conceived that we could pull this together for September when it was announced in March,” said Lukes. September and October are already very busy months for Transit, as many riders return to school. She said she’s also concerned that details are still to come for parents and students with classes beginning in about three weeks. In June, Winnipeg Transit said $10 million that the province provided to fund the program for a year would cover its cost for seven months. Lukes said that would lead the pilot project to end in March, unless additional money comes through. Winnipeg Transit declined an interview request Thursday. In a written statement, spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said the pilot should last the full school year but did not provide details on how that could be funded. “We are meeting regularly with the province to discuss the pass-distribution steps and any capacity challenges identified over the course of the rollout,” she wrote. Students who don’t plan to use the bus are urged not to take a free pass. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Residents call for speed bumps after child hit by vehicle (Aug17'26)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Aug '26

17 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Residents call for speed bumps after child hit by vehicle Man, 29, arrested following hit-and-run https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/15/west-kildonan-ind… RESIDENTS in the West Kildonan Industrial neighbourhood are calling on the city to install speed bumps in their area after a child was hit and dragged by a vehicle Thursday. Katelyn Bemister lives near the area where the child — who was hospitalized as a result of the incident and has been upgraded to stable condition — was struck. She says people frequently speed in the area. “They’re going really fast, and they’re not really paying attention at all to the pedestrians in the area,” says Bemister. In video supplied to the Free Press by a resident, the child can be seen riding a bike down a sidewalk along the 500 block of North Point Boulevard. As the child crosses a back alley that intersects with the street, a truck hits them and drags them several feet. The truck stops briefly, but as bystanders approach it, the driver speeds off with its squealing tires captured in the video. North Point Boulevard, which was crawling with kids Friday, is close to a park and playground. Bemister, who is also a parent, says adding speed bumps would make her feel safer. Area resident Ailea Kathleen Palomar also says speeding is an issue in the neighbourhood, but noted the combination of tall fences and uncontrolled intersections are creating risks for pedestrians and motorists. “It’s not safe because you can’t see,” said Palomar. Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) said the city has been installing traffic- calming measures in the area and additional changes are coming. Sharma says the speed limit on Murray Avenue has already been reduced to 60 km/h from 70 km/h and a four-way stop sign at Mira Gate is now in place. A stop sign on Ferrier Street and Murray Avenue has recently been added. Other changes, like speed bumps and the implementation of additional stop signs are “on the table,” says Sharma, while a traffic-calming review is underway for North Point Boulevard between Lyra Gate and Mira Gate. “It’s a horrible incident that unfolded this week and when there’s issues that emerge around road safety, we need to find solutions.” Winnipeg police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection to the hit-and-run. He is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. He was released on an appearance notice with a court date. morgan.modjeski(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Trustees call for e-scooter safety education (Aug17'26)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Aug '26

17 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Trustees call for e-scooter safety education https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/17/trustees-call-for… SCHOOL trustees are calling on the province to bolster public education around e-bike and e-scooter safety ahead of back-to-school season. The Manitoba School Boards Association brought members’ concerns about a growing number of students using electronic devices to get to and from classes to the education minister’s office this month. “There’s a concerning lack of safety knowledge on the part of Manitoba youth,” executive director Alan Campbell said. Campbell, a long-time trustee in the Interlake School Division, resigned from elected office this summer to run the association that mobilizes school boards and provides them with labour relations support. While noting trustees are not curriculum developers, he said they make policies related to local transportation issues and have a responsibility to ensure health lessons, among others, are up to date. Campbell said teaching students about the importance of wearing a helmet on e-scooters, using “prescribed bike lanes,” and following the Highway Traffic Act is critical for all community members’ safety. Manitoba curriculum needs to be upgraded so all kids learn that riding an e-scooter on a sidewalk can put both them and pedestrians in danger, he noted. New research on “powered personal micromobility devices,” undertaken by a group of Canadian pediatricians, shows at least 10 kids died from using an e-bike, e-scooter or related technology in 2025. “Children may be at increased risk due to inexperience operating motorized vehicles, less caution/more risk-taking behaviour, and anatomic differences including skeletal immaturity and larger head size-to-body ratios,” states a summary of the findings. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield was among the team who surveyed 800 colleagues across the country to find out the prevalence of these injuries and fatalities. A total of 57 incidents involving e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-unicycles, hoverboards and motorized mobility aids were reported. Head injuries, accounting for nearly half of all cases, were the most common. Boys between the ages of 10 and 15 were the most likely to be injured. The findings show there were 26 hospitalizations lasting over 48 hours and 12 admissions to intensive care units. “Given recent trends, this is likely an underrepresentation of true cases,” Rosenfield said in a news release Thursday. Although a summary did not break down incidents by province, it did acknowledge there were incident reports from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A government spokesperson said in a statement the Kinew government is taking seriously concerns raised by pediatricians and parents. They described student safety as a “top priority” for Premier Wab Kinew’s team and indicated the province is actively looking for ways to increase awareness about “the safe use of e-bikes and e-scooters.” Asked last week about when an updated health curriculum will be released, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said details will be released “shortly.” Multiple transportation-related resolutions were brought forward at the school boards association’s annual general meeting in March. Dozens of trustees voted to petition the province to “further emphasize bike safety and the safe use of power-assisted bicycles and e-scooters.” Campbell said school leaders in urban areas and rural communities are concerned about unsafe operating habits on these increasingly popular devices. “In 2026, public education is no longer about reading, writing and math, sitting in rows,” said the father of two and former school division transportation director. Given school boards are grappling with high busing costs and interested in promoting healthy habits, such as walking to school, Campbell said trustees should be playing a bigger role in active transportation planning. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: ‘You vote with your bike’ (Aug17'26)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Aug '26

17 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘You vote with your bike’ Fancy Women Bike ride urges cyclists to lobby candidates for improved safety https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/16/you-vote-with-you… PATTY Wiens got dressed up in her sparkly, hot pink cowboy boots to pedal and talk politics with more than 100 other people on Sunday. The founder of Winnipeg’s Fancy Women Bike Ride called on attendees of the 2026 event to ask candidates in the upcoming civic election — a half-dozen of whom were in attendance — about their active transportation platforms. “We’re here today, in an election year, to remind you that you vote with your bike,” Wiens told a crowd of nearly 120 cyclists gathered on the legislature grounds for the group ride. “When (city council) candidates come to your door and ask what’s important to you, you’re going to say, ‘I want to ride my bike safely in the city. What are you going to do about it?’” Daughters, mothers and grandmothers erupted into cheers as Wiens, the city’s inaugural bike mayor, spoke about the critical role bicycles have played in women’s suffrage and liberation movements across the world. The Fancy Women Bike Ride, a now-international movement that has led to parades taking place in more than 250 different cities in 30 countries, was born in 2013 in Turkey. It was held to encourage women to be more visible in public spaces and celebrate the freedom their bikes have given them. Inspired by the message, Wiens invited other active cyclists to wear their favourite formal attire and join her for a local iteration in 2023. It’s since become an annual tradition. Participants decorated their bikes with flowers and donned summer dresses, as well as tutus and fascinators made out of their helmets in celebration of the third local event. (Last year’s ride was cancelled due to thunderstorms and wildfire smoke.) Ballads by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and other female popstars blasted from a boombox throughout the roughly 90-minute ride throughout West Broadway, Wolseley and River Heights. The Taylor Swift-filled playlist — interrupted on occasion by a chorus of women and girls shouting “pothole” to warn others about the craters along their route — was a hit for 11-year-old cyclist Sophie Campbell. Lynn Campbell said it’s powerful for her daughters, including Sophie and Lucy, 8, to witness other women get together to exercise and socialize in their hometown. “We bike as soon as the snow and ice is gone until it comes back,” the mother of two said. Campbell didn’t spend a penny on gas in May or June because of the solid active transportation network in their neighbourhood. The Oct. 28 election has her thinking about “the absolute fortune” that taxpayers spend on patching potholes every year, she said. The City of Winnipeg is estimated to spend $157 million on local and regional street repairs this year. While noting bike lanes and other protective infrastructure may be costly upfront, Campbell said they encourage healthy habits and reduce weight and related wear-and-tear on roads that contribute to potholes. There are no women currently vying for Mayor Scott Gillingham’s seat, but there are 16 female candidates running for Winnipeg City Council. Wiens, co-host off the Ballot Babes podcast, gave a callout on Sunday to all of the registrants who attended the Fancy Women Bike Ride. Steps from the Famous Five Monument, which depicts Nellie McClung and other prominent suffragists located on the west lawn of 450 Broadway, Wiens spoke about how transformative bikes have been for women throughout history. “The suffragettes got around on bikes because they didn’t have to ask their husbands to get the horses ready,” she said, calling these tools “the first vehicle that women could independently operate.” She noted bikes sparked outrage across society — “because, you know, the patriarchy” — as well as a new fashion trend because women started wearing bloomers instead of heavy skirts in order to pedal. Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie, 71, said she’s spent a lot of time biking in retirement because of the “freedom” it provides her and how it makes her feel “like a kid again.” The senior cyclist founded Cycling with Sarah, the first senior women’s cycling club in Manitoba that began about three years ago. There are now 70 women aged 55 and older who regularly participate in group rides and fundraising initiatives under her banner. The women rely on volunteers to lead, trail and keep an eye out for traffic on their routes, especially if there’s a gap in bike lanes. “Safe and connected cities and promoting different modes of active transportation, be it cycling, walking, busing — these are all important things for a healthy city,” said Sara MacArthur, a city planner who is mounting a campaign for River Heights-Fort Garry. The aspiring city councillor said improving “connectivity” in Winnipeg’s active transportation network is a key part of her platform. Orvie Dingwall, a candidate who is running to represent residents of North Kildonan, showed up to the event in a pink fringe shirt with matching earrings. “I’m a fancy lady who loves to bike so it’s great to be here with my people,” the university librarian said during a mid-ride interview. Dingwall and her two teenagers often rely on modes of active transportation, as well as Winnipeg Transit, to get around. Her commute to work by bus nearly doubled — from 40 minutes to 75 minutes — when routes underwent an overhaul last summer. If she is elected in the fall she said she will advocate for more frequent buses and protecting city parks. Women were eligible to vote in civic elections in Manitoba as early as 1887, but they could not hold office until 1916. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: West Kildonan Industrial residents call for speed bumps after child hit by truck (Aug15'26)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '26

15 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. West Kildonan Industrial residents call for speed bumps after child hit by truck https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/15/west-kildonan-ind… Residents in the West Kildonan Industrial neighbourhood are calling on the city to install speed bumps in their area after a child was hit and dragged by a vehicle Thursday. Katelyn Bemister lives near the area where the child — who was hospitalized as a result of the incident and has been upgraded to stable condition — was struck. She says people frequently speed in the area. “They’re going really fast, and they’re not really paying attention at all to the pedestrians in the area,” says Bemister. In video supplied to the Free Press by a resident, the child can be seen riding a bike down a sidewalk along the 500 block of North Point Boulevard. As the child crosses a back alley that intersects with the street, a truck hits them and drags them several feet. The truck stops briefly, but as bystanders approach it, the driver speeds off with its squealing tires captured in the video. North Point Boulevard, which was crawling with kids Friday, is close to a park and playground. Bemister, who is also a parent, says adding speed bumps would make her feel safer. Area resident Ailea Kathleen Palomar also says speeding is an issue in the neighbourhood, but noted the combination of tall fences and uncontrolled intersections are creating risks for pedestrians and motorists. “It’s not safe because you can’t see,” said Palomar. Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) said the city has been installing traffic-calming measures in the area and additional changes are coming. Sharma says the speed limit on Murray Avenue has already been reduced to 60 km/h from 70 km/h and a four-way stop sign at Mira Gate is now in place. A stop sign on Ferrier Street and Murray Avenue has recently been added. Other changes, like speed bumps and the implementation of additional stop signs are “on the table,” says Sharma, while a traffic-calming review is underway for North Point Boulevard between Lyra Gate and Mira Gate. “It’s a horrible incident that unfolded this week and when there’s issues that emerge around road safety, we need to find solutions.” Winnipeg police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection to the hit-and-run. He is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. He was released on an appearance notice with a court date. morgan.modjeski(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: Doug Ford wins big battle in his war against Toronto bike lanes (Aug15'26)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Aug '26

15 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Yikes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJh3VeqNHvY

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WFP: Drunk driver who killed cycling couple, orphaned their infant daughter, sentenced to eight years (Aug4'26)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Aug '26

04 Aug '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Drunk driver who killed cycling couple, orphaned their infant daughter, sentenced to eight years https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/04/drunk-driver-who-… A Winnipeg man responsible for a drunk-driving crash that killed two cyclists last summer and left their infant child an orphan has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Kuldeep Singh Gill was arrested Sept. 13 after fleeing from a high-speed collision on Kenaston Boulevard that killed 31-year-old Egor Popov and his 25-year-old common-law partner Kerry Ashley Bonner. Gill, 46, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of a collision. [SUPPLIED A memorial was set up on Kenaston Boulevard, close to where Kerry Ashley Bonner and Egor Popov were killed by a drunk driver.]<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…> SUPPLIED A memorial was set up on Kenaston Boulevard, close to where Kerry Ashley Bonner and Egor Popov were killed by a drunk driver. Gill, who has a prior conviction for impaired driving, made a conscious decision to drive drunk, knowing it made him a danger on the road, provincial court Judge David Ireland said at a sentencing hearing Tuesday. “His behaviour was morally repugnant,” Ireland said. “(Gill’s) driving record reflects someone who has flouted the law…. This was not an accident. A family has been destroyed and their child has been orphaned.” Gill, who has permanent resident status in Canada, faces likely deportation upon completing his sentence, which was jointly recommended by lawyers for the Crown and defence. According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court, Gill had consumed an “unknown amount” of alcohol while driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck along Kenaston Boulevard. Witnesses had already called police to report the vehicle driving erratically when Gill veered around slower moving traffic and onto the paved shoulder at the intersection of Enterprise Drive. Gill was still driving on the paved shoulder when he crashed into Bonner and Popov on their bicycles at approximately 9:15 p.m. Popov was pronounced dead at the scene while Bonner died in hospital a short time later. Truck driving 131 km/h at impact Gill, who had abandoned his vehicle and ran away, was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. as he walked in the area of Kenaston Boulevard and Scurfield Boulevard. Gill provided a breath sample and his blood-alcohol level was estimated to be as high as .137 at the time of the collision. Criminal charges are triggered for drivers with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. Police analyzed location data on Gill’s phone, which showed he had been in the vicinity of a Keewatin Street Liquor Mart earlier that afternoon. A review of security video at the store confirmed Gill had bought a bottle of 5-Star whisky at the store. Police found a partially consumed bottle of the same whisky in the centre console of Gill’s truck. An analysis of the truck’s crash data revealed Gill had been driving 131 km/h at the point of impact, 51 kilometres over the posted speed limit. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…]<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/445067…> Lifetime prohibition from driving In July 2016, Gill was driving a Jeep Wrangler at a high speed in a residential area when he drove onto a boulevard, struck a school zone sign and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop on a resident’s front lawn. He tried to run away, but was followed by witnesses until police arrived and arrested him. He later pleaded guilty to driving over .08 and was fined $1,500 and prohibited from driving for one year. In 2020, Gill was convicted of failing to comply with licence restrictions after driving without a licence and driving while suspended. Ireland on Tuesday prohibited Gill from driving in Canada for life. “He has not got the message in the past,” Ireland said. “The public deserves to be protected.” Orphaned daughter in foster care Popov’s death has been “soul crushing,” his sister Mariia Mirau wrote in a victim impact statement provided to court. Popov — who immigrated to Canada from Kyrgyzstan — and Bonner were parents to a nine-month-old girl at the time of their deaths. The girl is now in foster care. Popov’s mother, who lives in Montreal, quit her job following his death and has made repeated trips to Winnipeg seeking a court order granting her custody of his daughter. “The loss of her son is extremely painful for her… even more so having to go through a custody battle for her granddaughter while grieving,” Mirau wrote. dean.pritchard(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca>

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