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WFP Opinion: Reopening Portage and Main would be good for downtown and suburbs (Sep18'18)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

*Reopening Portage and Main would be good for downtown and suburbs* *by Glen Murray* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/ reopening-intersection-good-for-downtown-and-suburbs-493636911.html What does Portage and Main have to be to serve Winnipeg well? Portage and Main is the intersection of Winnipeg’s two most important high streets. It is the very definition of the centre of the city; the crossroads of Winnipeg. What makes a great city is a combination of several factors. The most visible is a vibrant, healthy downtown brimming with businesses and exciting cultural experiences and extraordinarily beautiful historic streetscapes. City streets, especially a city’s high streets, are there for more than moving traffic; in fact, most predate the automobile. Great streets that are essential to a city’s economic success are first platforms for commerce and culture. Transportation systems are there to support these functions that make a street a destination. Streets and streetscapes are major determinants of the strength of a city’s economy, the value of its buildings and ability to attract and retain people and tourism. Downtowns are disproportionately important because most of us form our impression of a city based on the downtown. This core commercial area is very important to the city’s finances, as these properties are a disproportionately large part of the city’s tax base and pay the city a high return, given that they require little infrastructure and occupy a relatively small amount of land. It takes many hectares of suburban residential neighbourhoods to generate the revenues equivalent to a good-sized office building. So these characteristics of design, density and heritage determine the economic health and value of those buildings, which in turn affect the level of revenue they generate for both the building owners and the local municipality. A good urban renewal program grows the tax base and consequently reduces the tax burden on individual taxpayers and businesses. Generally successful urban renewal starts at the shoulder areas of the downtown and works to the centre. In Winnipeg’s case, The Forks, Waterfront Drive, Red River College's downtown campus and the Convention Centre are examples of starting at the periphery before moving toward the centre, Portage and Main. The second critical factor to restoring the economic health of a street or commercial cluster is a highly walkable and pedestrian-friendly environment. In Winnipeg, this was realized in the development and renewal of high-value, well-designed transit and pedestrian friendly corridors. Those projects included the Graham transit mall, the Provencher to Broadway pedestrian corridor, Waterfront Drive, Exchange District streetscaping, the beginning of interior corridors like the enclosed laneway at Red River College, the restoration of historic streetlights and sidewalks on Portage Avenue, and so on. The most critical, and the nexus of the system, was the renewal of the once-famous, now-infamous Portage and Main. There have been several hubs, or nodes, developed in the downtown. The baseball park, Waterfront Drive and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights cluster on the east side; the Centennial Concert Hall and theatre cluster, Red River College and Union Bank Tower on the north side; the Manitoba Hydro tower, Bell-MTS Centre, The Bay, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and its upcoming Inuit Art Centre, the Burton Cummings Theatre, True North Centre, Portage Place, University of Winnipeg’s campus, the Alt Hotel and Mountain Equipment Co-op on the west side; and the Fort Garry historic site, Fort Garry Hotel, the Forks Market and Children’s Museum on the south side. The power of these hubs, or nodes, created by private and public sector collaboration is the impact they have on all the buildings and storefronts between them. The strong street-level connections created by pedestrian traffic between these nodes is essential for retail businesses. This, in turn, builds the tax base to pay for the essential infrastructure to facilitate these connections or nodes and networks. Portage and Main is a critical node and a network in one, the most important synaptic nerve connection in the system. Restoring this intersection’s commercial, cultural and complete transportation functionality is the essential ingredient in the economic renewal of downtown. The debate over opening Portage and Main is tied up in the mistaken idea that one intersection should be or could be responsible for so much of the traffic flow. Before Portage Place cut off north-south traffic, there was a better distribution of traffic along streets such as Edmonton and Kennedy. In fact, improving transit infrastructure and restoring the functionality of the downtown street grid system would solve any marginal traffic issues created in opening up Portage and Main. Most importantly, restoring Portage and Main as the downtown pedestrian connector unlocks and restores the value and increases the income of properties up and down the two high streets. Currently, Portage and Main acts as an artificial border to the downtown and psychological barrier to the east. Opening the intersection to pedestrians will allow the spilling over of culture and commerce to Portage East and will unlock the further potential of our downtown. Finally, if you live in the suburbs and never drive through this intersection, why should it matter? In the 2000/2001 city budget, the growth in commercial assessment in the city turned a two per cent property tax cut for residential ratepayers into a four per cent cut. Turning up the downtown economic engine is building the urban commercial tax base, which in turn reduces the suburban residential tax burden. CentreVenture, the city’s downtown development corporation, has already spun out $600 million in new revenue to the city government from its strategic and restorative investments. While the referendum on Portage and Main is important, it is even more important to do a rigorous study of the economic impacts of a beautiful newly designed intersection versus the dog’s breakfast we now endure. It is time to develop a real strategy to unlock the value of Portage and Main’s potential. So, when you vote on opening Portage and Main, vote yes. You'll be voting to build the tax base and reduce the tax burden. *Glen R. Murray served as mayor of Winnipeg from 1998 to 2004, and before that was the city councillor for Fort Rouge ward for almost a decade. He was elected as a Liberal MPP in the Ontario provincial government in 2010, and served in several senior cabinet roles until his retirement in 2017.*

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WFP: Opening intersection good for economy, business groups say (Sep20'18)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

Opening intersection good for economy, business groups say https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/failure- to-open-portage-and-main-will-hurt-city-biz-owners-493766851.html KEY downtown stakeholders are throwing their weight behind the Coalition for Portage and Main, while pushing the message that a failure to reopen the intersection to foot traffic will stifle economic development. This week, two corner properties at the iconic Winnipeg intersection — James Richardson & Sons and Harvard Buildings Inc. — came out in favour of tearing down the barricades. That support was bolstered by ringing endorsements from the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Winnipeg. Both organizations said no Winnipegger should make up their mind on this issue without taking into account the opportunity it poses for economic growth. “Opening Portage and Main is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing for economic development. It’s the right thing for the city. We should encourage people to want more. Let’s not be entrenched in what was the best practice in the 1970s — it’s changed,” Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, said on Wednesday. “We need to keep investing in the future. When we stop, we’re not in neutral, we’re in reverse. We have to be looking towards what we can become... I think people should listen to all of the organizations coming out and saying this is the right decision. But I also think they should look inside and ask themselves what kind of city they want to live in.” Portage and Main has been closed to pedestrians since 1979. On Oct. 24, Winnipeggers will be asked about reopening the intersection on the municipal ballot. While the referendum on Portage and Main is non-binding, Mayor Brian Bowman and rival mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk — who is considered his main challenger — have both said they’ll respect the outcome. Harvard Buildings managing director Rosanne Hill Blaisdell said her company, which owns the building at 201 Portage Ave. as well as an adjacent empty lot, would like to invest more in the intersection, but its current setup has been a sticking point. “We have an empty lot that is adjacent to our current building and we would love to develop it. I think the single biggest impediment to us moving forward with a vision for development is the fact that people can’t get to it,” Blaisdell said. Her comments were made in a video testimonial filmed at the Coalition for Portage and Main campaign storefront in the underground at 201 Portage Ave. Volunteers have been staffing the storefront from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays in an effort to rally the “yes” vote in advance of the election. “Portage and Main, right now, it’s been left to disrepair. It lacks pedestrian vibrancy and activity. We really believe this corner is an iconic corner and a place that needs to be celebrated, developed and invested in long term. It’s the heart and soul of Winnipeg’s downtown,” Blaisdell said. ryan.thorpe(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe

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WFP: People first, not cars, says architect (Sep20'18)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Sep '18

20 Sep '18

Reopening Portage and Main dominates conference discussion People first, not cars, says architect https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/put- people-first-architect-tells-city-planning-conference-493776401.html MAKING cities livable requires planners and developers to focus on people rather than cars and highrise buildings. That was the message from Danish architect Jan Gehl and several others speakers as the city’s business, development and planning communities gathered at a half-day conference hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. Gehl, 82, established an international reputation as a city planner who “pedestrianized” some of world’s major cities, including Moscow and New York City. He incorporated design and planning that removed vehicles from downtown areas and returned public places to pedestrians and cyclists. He is the author of several influential books on planning, including Life Between Buildings; Public Spaces, Public Life; and one of his most recent, Cities For People, which has been published in 31 languages. During a 50-minute talk that was liberally sprinkled with humorous stories from his 60-year career, Gehl explored the evolution of city planning through the 20th century to today. After the Second World War, Gehl said, city planning was dominated by a preoccupation with the automobile and concrete buildings. Planners didn’t consider how people interacted with their surroundings. “The needs of the car became themajor thing,” Gehl said. “I hear the cars in Winnipeg are the most happiest cars in the world because you have three, four, five parking spaces for each car and that’s fantastic. I would love to be a car here.” Gehl was critical of architecture schools and professors who emphasize design and esthetics at the expense of people. “We knew nothing about what effect this had on people and people’s desire to go outside and use public spaces,” he said, telling the audience that he had a professor in architecture school who said, “A good housing area is something which looks good from a freeway. That was my training.” He credited the late city planner Jane Jacobs for sparking a revolution in urban planning by reacquainting planners and architects with the concept of designing streets and buildings for people. The morning session was dominated by advocates in favour of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians, including architect Brent Bellamy and former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray. Other speakers talked about suburban and urban development, including Eric Vogan, vice-president at homebuilder Qualico and president of the Urban Development Institute of Manitoba; City of Winnipeg chief planner Braden Smith; Jeannette Montufar, founding partner and CEP of MORR Transportation Consulting; and Hazel Borys, president and CEO of Place Makers, a planning firm with offices in Winnipeg, Calgary and several U.S. cities. Chamber president Loren Remillard said the event was held during the civic election campaign on purpose. “This is the time we should be talking about what kind of city we want to build — not for the next four years, but for the next 40 years,” Remillard said. “Today was all about talking about the big-picture issues. “Winnipeg is no different from any other city,” Remillard said. “Now is the time to ask the question: is Winnipeg for people?” Borys said streets are important, but places and destinations, such as downtown and walkable neighbourhoods, make a community valuable. “They are our cash cow,” Borys said. “I’m not going to be making the argument that we should do away with suburban development — that’s not going to happen in Winnipeg — but I think we need to get clear on the return to the city and how we can level the playing field so that both forms of development are enabled and fully supported.” Borys said urban development projects generate greater value for communities than suburban growth. He pointed out suburban housing costs more than twice as much as the equivalent space in urban areas. “While the suburbs are growing 150 per cent faster than cities in Canada, suburban dwellers pay only half the cost that city dwellers pay for roads” and other services, Borys said. “We simply can’t keep building low return places without having some cash cows downtown and notably distributed through our suburban fabric to up the ante.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Mayoral Fast Pitch and Forum: The Environmental Needs of Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 19 Sep '18

19 Sep '18

Hi everyone, In case you missed last night's Mayoral Fast Pitch and Forum: The Environmental Needs of Winnipeg*, *you can watch it in full HERE <http://greenactioncentre.ca/winnipeg-election/>, and there was plenty media coverage (CBC <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-election-forum-environment…> and Winnipeg Free Press <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/mayoral-candidates-tack…> ). Candidates spent 90 minutes talking about the environment and how they would transform Winnipeg into a sustainable city. They were each given an opportunity to share their 3 minute pitch, followed by 1-2 minutes to answer a series of questions. The evening wrapped up with a series of yes/no questions (*see results below*). The questions focused on organic waste diversion, water, *transportation*,* urban development and design*, single-use plastic, and Winnipeg’s climate action plan. The coalition of Environmental Organizations who hosted last night's event are compiling questions for an all-candidate (Mayoral and Councilor) survey to be posted by October 15th. [image: DaveElmore.png] *Support curbside organics collection*: Bowman: Yes Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: Yes Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes *Support $100M+ package of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, making it a top priority for federal funding*: Bowman: Yes and no Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: No Wilson: Yes Diack: No Machiraju: No Woodstock: Yes *Maintain provincial pesticide ban:* Bowman: Yes Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: Yes Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: No *Support winter maintenance of bike-lane infrastructure:* Bowman: Yes Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: No Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes *Support plastic bag ban:* Bowman: Yes Hayat: No Motkaluk: No Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes *Accept Our Winnipeg's sustainability principles:* Bowman: Yes Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: Yes Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes *Prioritize walking/cycling over vehicles:* Bowman: No Hayat: No Motkaluk: No Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes *Improve Winnipeg's tree canopy:* Bowman: Yes Hayat: Yes Motkaluk: Yes Wilson: Yes Diack: Yes Machiraju: Yes Woodstock: Yes -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Invitation: AGM at the Forks on Thursday September 27th.
by Anders Swanson 13 Sep '18

13 Sep '18

Hello friends and supporters in the exciting world of active transportation, *We have a special invitation for you! *You are cordially invited to celebrate our *AGM at the Forks at 6:30pm on Thursday September 27th. * *Come meet some colleagues, join us for refreshments and stick around for little bike/hike to see an outdoor movie. * *All details here. <http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/annual-general-meeting-2018/> * This is a chance for us to share what we do and we would love to see you there. This AGM is particularly special for us because its our very first one as a standalone organization. As you may know, Winnipeg Trails has been active since 2003 and doing amazing things operating under the umbrella of our friends at Rivers West Red River Corridor. Last year, when Rivers West was dissolved, we were asked to continue as an incorporated non-profit . We now have our own volunteer board and have been up to some exciting new things ever since. Building on our last strategic plan, we've growing remarkably, enabling us to take on new activities, reach new areas and communities, build capacity for staff, and contribute valuable new research and ideas. Come see. *OPTIONAL TRAIL COUNT:* Join us a little earlier that afternoon for a fun and meaningful group activity. During the afternoon rush hour, we'll do a little citizen science. Starting at ~3:30 we'll be meeting up at the Forks, fanning out to capture a moment in time on Winnipeg's trails. We'll be looking at trails and roads with bike lanes - counting people on bikes, pushing strollers, wheelchairs, skateboarding, jogging hikers and more! You may be surprised by what's out there. This helps gets us a baseline and builds a picture of the "other" kinds of transportation in Winnipeg. What's measured gets managed. We'd love to reward you with a *FREE BEER *at the AGM party for your trouble. If you'd like to count with us, let our coordinator, Colby Deighton, know by emailing coordinator(a)winnipegtrails.ca and give you a little info. RSVPs appreciated. Email Coordinator(a)WinnipegTrails.ca. Thanks! Anders

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AT Webinar: Placemaking in the Burbs | Wed, Sept 19th, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 13 Sep '18

13 Sep '18

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre boardroom <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth -- Webinar: Wed, Sept 19th, 2-3pm *Placemaking in the Burbs* This webinar will look at challenges the suburban communities of Newcastle, WA and Bellevue, WA face and recent projects to address them. Presenters will walk through existing conditions and challenges in the suburban environment, the impetus for the project, details on the public outreach process that engaged a wide-range of community members, the effort's final recommendations, and lessons learned. *Presenters:* - Sarah Saviskas & Kendra Breiland, Fehr & Peers - Thara Johnson, City of Newcastle - Kevin McDonald & Emil King, City of Bellevue -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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CBC coverage: Portage & Main Probe Poll
by Beth McKechnie 13 Sep '18

13 Sep '18

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-main-declini ng-support-for-opening-1.4818039 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-main-probe-poll-1.4818959 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/do-you-think-portage -and-main-should-be-reopened-to-pedestrians-1.4821170

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WFP: Don’t open Portage and Main: poll (Sep13'18)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Sep '18

13 Sep '18

Only 33 per cent of those polled support removing barricades at iconic intersection Don’t open Portage and Main: poll https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/poll- finds-winnipeggers-opposed-to-opening-portage-and-main-to- pedestrians-493058361.html THOSE hoping for Winnipeggers to come out in droves to vote in next month’s referendum in favour of reopening Portage and Main to foot traffic shouldn’t hold their breath. Winnipeggers are resoundingly opposed to the idea, according to a new Probe Research survey commissioned by CBC News. Sixty-seven per cent of people interviewed for the survey— which employed statistical weighting designed to make the results representative of Winnipeg’s voting-eligible population — oppose reopening the iconic intersection. Only 33 per cent of those polled support removing the barricades that have kept the Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection shuttered to pedestrians since 1979. The poll has a four per cent margin of error, according to Probe Research. “We’ve tracked this over the years. There has always been a majority who reject the reopening. I would have been surprised had this survey shown otherwise, because I haven’t seen that in 20 years,” Probe Research president Scott MacKay said Wednesday. “But now, this enthusiasm for reopening has declined to an all-time low. It seems people have really dug in on this and their views have hardened.” While many commentators have tried to draw fault lines in the debate— people who live downtown versus people who live in the suburbs, for example — the poll shows otherwise. “There really is no demographic group where you will find a majority of people favouring the reopening. That includes groups you might expect to favour the reopening,” MacKay said. “People who work and play downtown, go to a lot of concerts, sports events, live there and work there – even that group is not in favour of the reopening. So you have to ask: if not them, then who?” Mayor Brian Bowman, who has long been a vocal proponent of reopening the intersection, said he wasn’t surprised by the results of the survey. It has long been a polarizing topic people feel passionate about, he said. On Wednesday, he took the opportunity to reaffirm his promise to respect the outcome of the referendum — even though it’s non-binding. If the ‘no’ vote wins, he won’t bring the matter up again over his next term, if re-elected, Bowman added. “Voters are always right. They’ll have their say, and I’ll fully respect that.” Most people surveyed indicated there was little that will change their mind prior to the Oct. 24 referendum. Seventy-six per cent of respondents said their views on the matter were firmly entrenched. That isn’t good news for the Coalition for Portage and Main, the volunteer group behind the campaign to get the intersection reopened to pedestrians. Adam Dooley, a coalition spokesman, said while the survey results are disheartening, those involved with the campaign knew they were fighting an uphill battle — it’s just maybe more steep than they realized. “We respect people’s opinions, but we’re hopeful people will come out and make an informed vote. We know that they’re smart and they want what’s best for the city. We’re going to do our best to get the information out there,” Dooley said. “We take hope in the fact that when we speak to people and lay out the facts, we tend to get people to change their minds on this issue. So, hopefully, we’ll swing some votes. There’s still a lot of time between now and (civic) election day.” Brent Bellamy, a local architect and coalition spokesman, questions the fairness of putting the matter to a referendum, as much larger and more costly infrastructure projects don’t get such treatment. “There are very few public works projects that we could single out and put to a public vote that would receive a majority of public support,” Bellamy said in an email to the Free Press. He also pointed to other projects, including The Forks, Bell MTS Centre and Esplanade Riel, which faced significant opposition, but which people now recognize provide public value. After reviewing the results of the survey, MacKay said one question posed to respondents cuts to the heart of the matter. Pollsters asked respondents for their take on the following statement: the smooth flow of traffic downtown is more important than pedestrian access. Eighty-five per cent of people opposed to reopening the intersection agreed with the statement, while 76 per cent who want the intersection reopened disagreed. “That’s a competing vision about what a downtown should be about. For better or worse, the prevailing view is that it should be about cars. That’s the whole battleground right there,” MacKay explained. “It’s all about whether the car is king or not.” — with files from Carol Sanders and Aldo Santin ryan.thorpe(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe

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CBC: Pedestrian mall experiment starts in Winnipeg's Exchange District (Sep8'18)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Sep '18

09 Sep '18

Pedestrian mall experiment starts in Winnipeg's Exchange District Part of Albert Street to be closed off to traffic on Saturday afternoons this September https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-mall-experiment-exchange… A new pilot project is being launched in the Exchange District to see if Winnipeggers will embrace the idea of pedestrian-only streets. For every Saturday in September, one block of Albert Street between McDermot and Bannatyne avenues will be closed to traffic, creating a pedestrian mall. The experiment is an initiative of the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone, after the city approached the organization to conduct it. David Pensato, the executive director of the BIZ, said the idea has been floated for decades. The plan is to just try different things and see if it's something people enjoy, he said. <http://www.gomanitoba.ca> "We're not programming it like an event, because we do want it be an honest experiment of what the conditions would be like if the street was for pedestrians," he said. "We're not trying to compete with any of the businesses on the streets around there. What we're doing is we're inviting the businesses that are on Albert to come out onto the street." The area will be closed off to cars from noon to 5 p.m., with furniture, buskers and games set up for people to enjoy.

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WFP: WRENCH says bring your bikes to them— not the curb (
by Beth McKechnie 09 Sep '18

09 Sep '18

WRENCH says bring your bikes to them— not the curb Don’t do the right thing the wrong way, city group advises https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-group-hopes-youll-donate-your-… KETTLES, clothes, toaster ovens, furniture, books and more will be piled on curbs and lawns Saturday and Sunday, free for the taking as part of the city’s biannual Giveaway Weekend. Pat Krawec, co-executive director of the WRENCH (Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub), hopes bicycles will not be among the items in the pile. He is attempting to educate Winnipeggers about the benefits of taking bikes that have outlived their usefulness — whether they’re old, broken or have been outgrown — to one of the city’s three 4R Depots, rather than leaving them on the curb. The depots — located at 1777 Brady Rd., 1120 Pacific Ave. and 429 Panet Rd. — forward all bikes to the WRENCH, a non-profit charity at 1057 Logan Ave. that offers programs for schoolchildren and adults in bike repair, teaches people to build their own bicycles, and offers off-site tune-ups in the community. Services are by donation on a sliding scale, or can be paid for with volunteer hours at the shop. It also sells refurbished bicycles at its retail location at The Forks. “Why is doing the right thing sometimes the wrong thing?” Krawec said. “Manitobans are generous, it’s true. But putting your bike at the curb can actually act as a buffer for bike theft in two ways.” First, when unwanted bikes are regularly left out for anyone to take — whether it’s during a Giveaway Weekend or not — it offers thieves plausible deniability. “Another way it really promotes bike theft is it devalues the bicycle,” Krawec said. “People say, ‘Well, they’re not important. People leave them lying around, so it’s no big deal if I take one.’ That really contributes greatly to the problem.” Krawec said the current methamphetamine abuse epidemic in Winnipeg has led to a spike in bike theft. “Because we have an addiction crisis, those people are very vulnerable, and they’re going to be preyed upon by dealers and the people who run chop shops — they’re the people who profit (from theft).” With nine community bike shops— including the Bike Dump (631 Main St.) and Co-Op Vélo-Cité (190 Avenue de la Cathedrale) — Winnipeg is an international leader in this kind of programming. The city is also the first jurisdiction in Canada to forge an agreement with community bike shops to handle recycling. “One hundred per cent of the children’s bikes that go in (to the depots) get reused,” Krawec said. “And about 70 per cent of the adult bikes get reused or at least sorted for parts… A bike for the city is worth about 70 cents in dirty scrap. A bike for a community bike project is worth a minimum of $25 per unit. “It’s an instant way to add value into your community.” jill.wilson(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @dedaumier

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