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WFP OpEd: Closing Corydon to traffic will be good for business (Jun25'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '26

25 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Closing Corydon to traffic will be good for business KELE SCHRECKENBACH https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/06/25/closing-coryd… LAST week, the City of Winnipeg and Corydon Avenue BIZ announced that a stretch of Corydon Avenue between Daly and Lilac streets will be closed to car traffic on Sundays from July 5 through Sept. 6, the day before Labour Day. This is a great move for the city. However, one concern brought up when people hear about such initiatives is “What about the businesses? Won’t they suffer from reduced visits and lose revenue because people are unable to reach them by car?” The short answer to this question is “no.” Businesses not only do not go under, they usually end up doing better than before the initiative was announced. I would like to present two case studies to prove this: Copenhagen, in Denmark, and Groningen, in the Netherlands. In 1962, Copenhagen closed the Strøget, an area of shops in the city centre, to drivers and car traffic. Business owners were very unhappy, thinking they would lose lots of customers. It got so bad that the man who proposed the project, Alfred Wassard, the lead city planner of Copenhagen at the time, got death threats and had to travel with bodyguards. What was the result of the pedestrianization? The shops are still there and in fact doing better than ever. Huge brands such as Hermes, Gucci and Louis Vuitton have opened stores there, which points to how much business is done. The street is also a popular tourist attraction in and of itself. Groningen started its pedestrianization in 1977; in its case, it blocked cars from the entire city centre. While the reactions were thankfully less extreme (no death threats), people were still unhappy. Drivers complained, and businesses worried about losing customers, especially those from out of town. As with Copenhagen, Groningen went ahead with its plan. After about four years, a study measured the effects of the blocking of cars. It found, as in Copenhagen, that a large majority of businesses had not lost foot traffic. People switched to visiting via public transit and bike and enjoyed walking around the area even more when there weren’t as many cars driving through. The common thread between these two cities, and the Open Corydon initiative, is that despite initial reactions and predictions that businesses will be negatively impacted, the opposite usually happens. Not just in Europe, either. Montreal recently started pedestrianizing some of its streets, to great success. Look up pictures of Mont-Royal Avenue, Duluth Avenue and Promenade Wellington, for example, and you’ll see the charm and beauty that can be achieved by such a policy. If Montreal isn’t close enough, let me present a case in Winnipeg. The example I want to point to isn’t directly a pedestrianized street, but the St. Norbert Farmer’s Market. The market opened in 1988 with eight vendors and has grown to over 200 vendors after being open for about 38 years. It’s fair to say a lot of Winnipeggers have gone and checked out the market. If that includes you, you’ll know that the market gives you a taste of what a pedestrianized street can feel like. It’s a very nice place to be, even if you don’t plan on spending any money; simply spending time outside in an area filled with people is refreshing. I can understand if you are not convinced. I also tend to believe things only when I see them. But let me remind you that just a 700-metre stretch of Corydon will be closed to traffic on Sundays from July to early September — for 10 days in total. If the initiative is a total disaster we move on. If that’s the case, the city and the Corydon businesses will survive. If it’s a success, we can expand it to more streets (Osborne Street or Pembina Highway come to mind as potential examples) or make it more frequent (or even permanent) on Corydon. In short, while there will be concerns expressed about the closure of Corydon Avenue, this is an amazing step for the city. Plenty of other cities around the world have done this, with success. Let’s hope Winnipeg continues moving in this direction for years to come. Kele Schreckenbach is a student at the University of Manitoba with an interest in urban planning and city design.

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WFP: Troubled Transit needs province to come to its rescue (Jun25'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '26

25 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Troubled Transit needs province to come to its rescue OPINION - DAN LETT https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2026/06/24/winnipeg-transits-route-… WINNIPEG Transit is drowning in a sea of self-created misadventure. As outlined in a “state of the system” report released this week on the first anniversary of Winnipeg Transit’s complete overhaul, the negatives profoundly overwhelm the positives. The much-touted reimagination of routes and schedules has been a disaster, turning off more riders than it has attracted. Now, public transit in Manitoba’s capital city is teetering on the edge of destruction: it is short on buses and drivers, security remains a persistent issue, ridership is tanking and the city is facing an $18-million deficit on transit operations. The big question is, who will come to Winnipeg Transit’s rescue? (Spoiler alert: the “who” in this equation is, obviously, the provincial NDP government.) The province does have a responsibility to help fund transit, and for good reason. The city is revenue-poor and, with ridership declining, it’s unlikely property taxpayers would welcome an increased burden just to keep Winnipeg Transit running. Unfortunately for riders and advocates, Premier Wab Kinew has been cool to the idea of doing anything bold to bolster funding for public transit in the capital city. It should be noted, for fairness, that the province will provide $42 million this year to help cover the estimated $264-million Winnipeg Transit operating budget. It has also provided tens of millions of additional dollars to help buy new buses. However, the problem is that as costs have gone up, the province’s overall contribution to operating expenses has remained flat. With inflation up and with ridership down, the city is trapped in a vicious cycle of underfunding. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the city’s public works committee, conceded this week additional investment is needed to bring the new system to optimal performance. However, the Waverley West councillor — who announced Wednesday she won’t seek re-election in the fall — said instead of doing all of the needed enhancements now to attract people who’ve turned to other forms of transportation, the city will have to “pick what we can afford.” That statement is the equivalent of an emergency flare, fired southwest from city hall in the direction of the legislature. Will the province respond? The Kinew government is in the process of unleashing a $10-million initiative to provide free youth transit passes across Manitoba that provincial policymakers believe could push more money to cash-strapped municipalities; it remains to be seen if the result is any net new money for them. For the program to fulfil its promise, it would have to convince youth who are not currently using transit to give it a try. If the new passes are snapped up only by youth already paying for passes, then it’s a revenue wash for struggling municipal transit services. Could there be more funding, even on an emergency basis? There is absolutely no indication that Kinew is planning to bestow a whack of additional money to placate frustrated riders, even in a city where the NDP won 29 of 32 seats in the last election. NDP sources say the premier is frustrated over the way the city has managed the rollout of the new routes and schedules and is, in fact, a little perplexed about why the project was undertaken, at all. That is likely a good question to ask, given that it appears the city never had the money to deliver on all of the new features it promised. Some of the technology that was acquired to improve overall service — particularly GPS tracking to allow real-time information on bus locations — failed early on and wasn’t reliably operational for more than four months. In a world where it’s possible to follow, in real time, the delivery of a pizza or the arrival of a ride-booking vehicle, the failure to provide up-to-date information on city buses would appear to be an extraordinary shortcoming. Other touted upgrades, such as a modern tap-and-go payment system, were pushed back, as well. The city didn’t issue a request for proposals for a new payment system until December, months after the overhauled route map was unveiled. The current payment system — paper tickets, cash and the much-loathed Peggo card — is a huge turnoff for many people who might be persuaded to take a bus, but don’t want to contend with the current fare-payment frustration. The real tragedy here is that there were real improvements that have been obscured by the rollout’s shortcomings. Kyle Owens, president of the advocacy group Functional Transit Winnipeg, told the Free Press that initial complaints about the frequency of buses on main routes and inadequate night-time service have, largely, been addressed. If you can take the good things that happened in the rollout, move quickly to smooth out the rough spots and find the money to make taking the bus a more attractive commuting option, it’s entirely possible that Winnipeg Transit’s tattered brand can be repaired. Unfortunately, the only way that is going to happen is with help from the Kinew government. Left on its own, the city will not have the money to make the necessary improvements. The province should remember this: if transit implodes, there will be more than enough blame to go around. Even for the premier. dan.lett(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Transit upgrades could cost $16M (Jun24'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '26

25 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Funding and additional staff needed to comply with province’s new accessibility standards Transit upgrades could cost $16M https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/23/winnipeg-transit-… WINNIPEG Transit says it will need millions of dollars in new funding and additional staff to comply with Manitoba’s new Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation, which takes effect on Jan. 1. A report before the city’s public works committee estimates the transit service will require about $11.3 million in operating funding, $5.4 million in capital funding and up to 12.5 additional full-time positions over the next five years to meet the province’s accessibility requirements. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee, said she’s looking to the province to provide more funding. Former premier Brian Pallister’s Progressive Conservative government scrapped a 50-50 funding agreement for Transit in 2016, which had been in place since the 1970s. The city has received a flat $42 million annually since, which critics have argued is a funding cut, due to inflation. “I’m really hoping that the province will come to the table to help us with this,” Lukes (Waverley West) said Tuesday. “We don’t share in the growth. We just don’t.” Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard sees things differently. “We’ve increased support for municipalities year after year because we know strong communities depend on reliable, stable and predictable funding increases,” Simard said in an emailed statement to the Free Press Tuesday. “Our 2026 budget included making transit free for kids, which not only is an investment in transit across Manitoba, it helps families with the cost of living while encouraging more people to use public transit.” The ATSR, enacted under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, sets new standards for conventional transit and Winnipeg Transit Plus, including staff training, support for riders with disabilities, public reporting requirements and upgraded vehicle accessibility standards. “There are lots of really great things coming for Winnipeg Transit, for accessibility, for conventional and para-transit, so it’s a very positive story … really removing barriers for transportation, which is the goal of Winnipeg Transit,” said Teresa Platt, the city’s manager of client services. Manitoba will join Ontario as provinces with accessibility regulations. Transit has already met many of the regulation’s requirements, but several major initiatives remain unfunded, including expanded Transit Plus service, faster eligibility decisions, a support- person program and transit-stop upgrades. The ATSR requires para-transit service to operate hours comparable to conventional transit and eligibility decisions to be made within 14 days. Transit Plus currently takes about 30 business days to process applications. Appeals would also need to be decided within 30 days. The report also says as many as 1,100 transit stops may require accessibility upgrades, with common barriers including inadequate snow clearing, blocked curb cuts, inaccessible sidewalks, construction detours and inconsistent stop layouts. “It mentions that 1,100 stops do not meet the new accessibility requirements. That is a shocking statement that tells us how crucial an infrastructure investment gap we’re seeing,” said Kyle Owens, president of Functional Transit Winnipeg. “It is understandable that with new expectations, some stops might not meet those standards. But 1,100 stops shows us how profoundly Manitobans are being underserved by accessibility to transit.” At current funding levels, Transit says it can upgrade about 50 stops per year, pushing a completion time to 2050. Transit says increasing annual funding for stop upgrades could dramatically shorten the timeline, from roughly 22 years under current funding levels to as little as seven years with additional investment. While the regulation does not set a deadline for stop upgrades, Transit recommends accelerating the work to align with the 2042 vehicle accessibility deadline. The ATSR also requires support persons to travel free of charge. Transit currently does not operate a general support-person program and says it would need to create an application and identification-card system to administer one. The service estimates the change would reduce annual fare revenue by about $45,000 on conventional transit and $10,000 on Transit Plus. Separate from the funding requested to comply with the province’s new accessibility regulations, Transit is also seeking additional funding to overhaul the Transit Plus service, which will go before city council. The Transit Plus overhaul would require a phased increase in spending, from about $632,000 in 2027 to nearly $7.9 million annually by 2031, largely driven by additional staffing, contractor hours and technology upgrades. The current adopted 2026 budget for the Transit Plus service is $13.3 million and includes 46 dedicated full-time equivalent positions. An additional 8.5 FTEs would be required for Phase 1, along with three more in Phase 2 and one in Phase 3. The proposed overhaul would replace the current medical-based eligibility system with one based on a person’s ability to use conventional transit. It would also relax some service rules, increase carry-on limits and introduce a “family of services” model allowing riders to combine Transit Plus, conventional transit and on-request service within a single trip. Transit estimates the changes could increase Transit Plus ridership by up to 20 per cent, with annual trips rising from about 312,000 in 2025 to nearly 486,000 by 2031. To handle that growth, the report calls for additional contracted service hours, technology upgrades and new staff, including travel trainers, administrative support workers and customer service personnel. The changes would be rolled out between 2027 and 2029. Officials say the plan would modernize Transit Plus and improve accessibility, but warn that significant new funding will be needed to keep pace with growing demand and to maintain service levels. The funding requests come as Winnipeg Transit faces broader financial pressures. Last month, the service projected an $18.4-million revenue shortfall following last year’s network redesign. — With files from Joyanne Pursaga scott.billeck(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: A year later, fixes to Transit a year away (Jun24'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '26

25 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Rollout ‘a nightmare,’ changes coming in 2027 A year later, fixes to Transit a year away https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/23/overhauled-transi… THE introduction of Winnipeg Transit’s long-awaited network overhaul last June — designed to provide faster, more reliable service and increase ridership — got off to a rocky start. “Honestly, it was a nightmare…. A lot of people couldn’t connect, they couldn’t get the (bus) times (right), we couldn’t get data,” Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said Tuesday after the city released a “state of the system” report on the new network’s first year. “That was a big hump to start and I think it was very unfortunate because I think it set a very bad tone.” Instead of convincing more Winnipeggers to leave their vehicles at home and take the bus, the changes led to a sharp decline in ridership and revenue, among other things, and has the people behind the redesign proposing improvements. Almost immediately after the new system’s rollout on June 29, 2025 — which changed almost every bus route — the companion GPS system failed, leading Transit to post incorrect arrival times. At the peak of the problem, almost a quarter of bus location reports were incorrect. The problem was fixed by November, Transit reported. Riders complained that buses stopped running too early for them to return home from work or school, involved too many transfers and made their commute times much longer. Improvements tied to that feedback followed, including adding additional night-time service and increasing frequency, the report says. “The state of the transit system has dramatically improved since we launched it and I do think it’s still got a ways to go,” said Lukes. The report looks at how the system fared over the winter and spring, though the GPS issue prevented some information from being properly tracked last summer and fall. “Overall, I’d say it’s working pretty well … but there’s a lot of small details we still need to work on,” said Bjorn Radstrom, Winnipeg Transit’s manager of service development. For example, the rapid transit Blue Line was on time only 66.6 per cent on weekdays last winter, falling below a 75 per cent target. To be considered on time, a bus must arrive from one minute before to five minutes after its scheduled time. Radstrom said that target will be tough to meet until downtown rapid transit infrastructure is built. Meanwhile, the key crosstown D12 route — which connects The Forks to the airport, was on time 72.3 per cent on weekdays, but fell to 28.8 per cent on Saturdays during the winter. Radstrom said it appears that route became much more punctual after scheduling changes took effect in April, although data is still being gathered. The report found much better on-time winter results for the F7 St. Anne’s-Provencher on Saturdays (78.9 per cent), D10 Panet-Adsum on Saturdays (76 per cent) and 31 Waterfront- North Main on Sundays (75.8 per cent). Transit did not provide an overall on-time average for its routes, as improving the system requires a more detailed look at specific trips, said Radstrom. The latest report proposes another round of updates to the network, pending city council and 2027 budget approvals. The proposals would: change connector route 22 Portage to pass through the Grace Hospital site; add three extra half-trips per evening to community route 671 Dalhousie; add two extra half-trips to community route 672 Killarney; shift some early morning trips on the 672 Killarney to the peak afternoon period; add an extra bus at afternoon peak hours for community route 677 Wilkes; and shift some trips on limited-span Route 889 Sherbrook-Pembina Express from the morning peak period to midday. Winnipeg Transit is also making a second request for city council to fund additional service from Linden Woods to Oak Park and Shaftesbury high schools, extend service to Festival Drive and extend service to Highland Pointe. Implementing all of the proposed changes would require 16.5 more full time staff positions and cost the city $1.15 million in 2027 (when changes would take effect between June and September) and about $2.5 million in each of the following four years. “We’re listening to all the complaints and the feedback that people have, we’re verifying that through the data we’re collecting…. We really are working all the time at improving (the service),” said Radstrom. While Lukes said she’d like to implement all proposed changes, she noted the city could have to “pick what we can afford.” A group that lobbies for more frequent transit wants all of the proposed changes in place sooner. “The city should expedite that spending immediately,” said Kyle Owens, president of Functional Transit Winnipeg. “We can’t afford to wait another year of declining ridership. We need to get that service immediately to address people’s frustrations.” Winnipeg Transit expects to earn $18.4 million less from rider fares this year than the 2026 budget predicted, owing to issues with the new network, fare-evaders and a decline in the numbers of international students and foreign workers (who tend to be frequent riders). Owens said the new network brought some huge improvements by ramping up frequency on main bus routes, and he credited Transit for expanding night-time service following complaints. However, a lack of other investments means too many people are left dissatisfied, he said. “For people taking that (D12) route (on Saturday), there was a 70 per cent chance of their route not being on time,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC: Manitoba city sets laws for e-scooters, e-bikes but police won't chase anyone down … yet
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '26

25 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Morden believed to be 1st Manitoba municipality to establish own rules ahead of a provincial law https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/laws-ebikes-morden-manitoba-9.72403…

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WFP: Summer debut of Open Corydon (Jun20'26)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '26

24 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘We have a lot to offer’: street-closure Sundays put pedestrians at heart of local BIZ initiative Summer debut of Open Corydon https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/06/19/summer-debut-of-open-… MORE patio space, live music and pizza slices to-go are slated for Corydon Avenue this summer — but cars aren’t invited. Only on Sundays, starting July 5, Corydon will be closed to vehicles between Daly and Lilac streets from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Taking up the road and sidewalks, Winnipeg organizers hope, will be pedestrians and businesses showcasing their wares. It’s a first-of-its-kind initiative for the Corydon Avenue Business Improvement Zone. Open Corydon, as it’s called, is set to run until Sept. 6. “The winters are so dark here. Having fun, summer things to do is the best part about being here,” said Brodie Young, a Corydon Avenue BIZ board member. “Hopefully, it’ll be a great thing for all the businesses, and Corydon in general.” At least 15 businesses will participate during the first Sunday. Entrepreneurs are considering how they’ll change their operations. If business is good, Wingz Bar and Lounge might add patio seats. The basement eatery opened five months ago. It has three outdoor tables on ground level. It lacks the funds to expand, but if there’s patio demand, “then we’re going to do something about it,” said manager Umair Khatri. Wingz chose 725 Corydon Ave. because the Little Italy strip is busy. Khatri worries the vehicle diversion will stunt business. “Where will the cars park?” he said. It’s not a concern for Heather Wasson, a Honey Bunny Pastry Shop employee. The bakery plans to increase its Sunday staff, anticipating more walk-in traffic. Customers will likely hear live music as they trek the four-block strip. A shuttle will run continuously between Confusion Corner and Stafford Street, taking Daly Street and Jessie Avenue. The local BIZ tapped Ugly Duckling Productions to lead Open Corydon. It got a use of streets permit from the City of Winnipeg. Honey Bunny’s customers are often pedestrians, Wasson said, adding there’s limited street parking in front of the Corydon Avenue shop. “I think it’s kind of cool to make it more walkable, (to) properly do almost a market of small stores,” Wasson said. Honey Bunny may set up a patio this summer, she added. Nearby, Tommy’s Pizzeria is preparing to sell pizza by the slice through a window facing Corydon. “It could be really fun for people to walk down the street with pizza,” said owner Thomas Schneider. He’s sold individual slices in the past, though it’s been years since the last time. Restarting has coincidentally aligned with Open Corydon. Staffing up to meet Sunday demand will be intentional, Schneider said. “I’m just excited to see what could happen,” he added. “Bringing some life back to Corydon. It’s kind of slowed down a little bit over the years.” There’s been a noticeable drop since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Open Corydon follows a dismal start to patio season. Cold temperatures lingered into spring; June has brought torrential rain. “Every time we lose a week of weather in our industry, it’s major,” said Shaun Jeffrey, executive director of the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association. Open Corydon comes at a “great time,” he added. It’ll be weather-dependent — the BIZ will likely cancel on rainy weekends, Young said. The new venture has been in the works for a while, he said. Longer stretches of Corydon Avenue have closed to vehicles, in the past, for events. “I think you’ll get the whole neighbourhood out,” said Gerald Buchan, who’s lived in the area for 18 years. “(These are) great things to get people from the neighbourhood to come out.” Corydon residents may be inconvenienced, however, Jeffrey noted. Signs will be placed around the road closure, telling motorists to use Stafford Street to Grant Avenue to Pembina Highway as an alternate path. Winnipeg Transit line D19 Corydon will also be rerouted. The city will provide detour information on Transit’s website in coming weeks, a spokesperson said. The number of businesses directly impacted by Open Corydon wasn’t available by end of day Friday. “We have a lot to offer as a small city,” said Danielle Fontaine Koslowsky, an employee at A Little Art Boutique, which is on the strip. “(It) helps to funnel some of that energy into a specific day, to kind of help people remember that we do … have a lot that you can explore here.” Winnipeg has seasonal bike routes with vehicle barricades along stretches of Wellington Crescent and Churchill, Lyndale and Kilkenny/Kings drives. gabrielle.piche(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP: City scrambles to cross out scramble crossing (Jun24'26)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '26

24 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City scrambles to cross out scramble crossing https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/23/city-crosses-out-… WINNIPEG’S experiment with a pedestrian scramble crossing is coming to an end. In June 2025, the city began a pedestrian scramble pilot project, which gave all motor vehicles a red light to let pedestrians cross the street in both directions at the same time at one intersection. While some scrambles also let pedestrians cross diagonally, Winnipeg’s did not. The test of the intersection at King Street and Bannatyne Avenue will soon end, however, and return signals to standard operations, a city report notes. “It was only moderately effective at this location because it was not used often enough. Pedestrian scrambles work best in places with much higher pedestrian traffic,” a city report notes. No other pedestrian scrambles, which aim to improve pedestrian safety, are planned at this point. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said it makes sense to move on from the idea for now. “There is no intersection in the City of Winnipeg that would optimize what a pedestrian scramble is meant to do. When you’ve got a city with a population far greater than Winnipeg, they work,” said Lukes (Waverley West). “There’s no intersection in Winnipeg that has 2,000 people an hour and that’s what pedestrian scrambles are supposed to support.” The intersection in question had about 2,000 pedestrians over 12 hours during the study. The city report notes using pedestrian scrambles at intersections without very high pedestrian traffic can “increase delay for all users, reduce compliance, and limit the intended safety benefits.” While the report found some pedestrians felt safer with the scramble, others felt the intersection had been safe prior to the pilot project. City staff also found the intersection had a good safety record before the pilot, noting it had only one pedestrian collision in the last 10 years. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC article: '3 C’s’ of bike etiquette key as Winnipeggers share bike paths
by Patman, David 23 Jun '26

23 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. '3 C’s’ of bike etiquette key as Winnipeggers share bike paths | CBC News<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/3-c-s-bike-etiquette-shared-paths-9…> '3 C’s’ of bike etiquette key as Winnipeggers share bike paths ‘Just about everything but a car uses these multi-use paths,’ says Bike Winnipeg board member Trinity Kakegamic · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2026 5:00 AM CDT As more Winnipeg residents return to the city’s multi-use bike paths this summer, prioritizing bike etiquette is essential for everyone’s safety. With rising cost of living and fuel prices, active transportation can be an attractive alternative. About six per cent — roughly 51,000 Winnipeg residents — used active transportation to get to work in 2025, according to Statistics Canada. Ian McCausland, a board member of Bike Winnipeg, described a close call with an electric bike user in an interview with CBC Up to Speed last Tuesday. It prompted him to make a social media post about proper bike etiquette. The incident “really highlighted the fact that there is a lot of people on these multi-use paths who need to be reminded about the kind of etiquette that they need to employ to make sure that every user of these paths remains safe,” McCausland said. He emphasized that the variety of transportation used on multi-use paths means “everyone [has] to get along nice” and be mindful of each other’s safety. “Just about everything but a car uses these multi-use paths,” he said. They can be used by bikes, e-bikes, scooters, joggers, rollerbladers, parents with strollers and everything in between. That mix of active transportation can increase the risk of potential incidents, especially on highly-used paths. Multi-use paths make up 27 per cent of municipal cycling infrastructure, while painted bike lanes account for 26 per cent, according to a February 2025 report from Statistics Canada. McCausland says it can be “scary” when people whiz past without any form of communication. Failing to give a heads-up to others on multi-use paths can lead to collisions. “When you’re startled sometimes you can move in the wrong direction and that can … create, you know, an incident where somebody could get hurt,” said McCausland. The best way to avoid startling others, McCausland says, is to announce your presence with a bell or your voice by saying you’re passing on the left, and to slow down as you approach. This advice is especially important for those riding e-bikes. The federal government caps e-bike motor assistance at 32 kilometres per hour, though riders can continue pedalling at that speed or faster. McCausland says the rise in e-bikes reflects growing interest in active transportation, but many users may not have had a chance to learn proper etiquette. “There’s a lot of room in this space for education,” said McCausland. Increasing trends in micromobility — small, low-speed vehicles designed for personal use — led to Bill 43, The Highway Traffic Amendment and Drivers and Vehicles Amendment, and Winnipeg is considering developing its own bylaw changes eventually. Bill 43, which was passed on June 1 but is not yet law, includes details like speed limits, age restrictions, and usage guidelines for e-scooters and other devices. ‘Sidewalks are for walking’ Dave Elmore, one of the founding directors of Bike Winnipeg, says when he teaches bike etiquette he refers to the “three C’s”: co-operation, communication and courtesy. “If we were all just to be courteous and co-operate with each other, we would have … far fewer issues,” Elmore said. He says one of the best ways to alert others on multi-use paths is by using a bike bell. While some riders call out, that can sometimes startle pedestrians — especially older ones — if they suddenly hear shouting from behind. If a rider doesn’t have a bell, feels uncomfortable calling out, or encounters someone wearing headphones, Elmore says the safest approach is to slow down and give plenty of space when passing. In Manitoba, it’s against the law to ride on sidewalks unless the bike has wheels 16 inches in diameter or smaller — tire sizes commonly designed for kids aged four to six. Despite this, some cyclists use sidewalks because of concerns about collisions with cars on the road. “When I teach people, I say to them, ‘if you’re going to ride on the sidewalk, then ride at pedestrian speed — and if you’re going at pedestrian speed, then why are you on your bike in the first place? You might as well just walk’,” Elmore said. He says he likes to say “sidewalks are for walking, it’s in the name.” Elmore says etiquette itself hasn’t necessarily changed, but rather there’s been an increase of people using active transportation. For Elmore, ongoing education is key. “I think that … communication, like getting the information out there, explaining to people why it’s important,” he said. The most important part of bike etiquette is keeping the conversation going and educating those who may not be as familiar with the rules, said Elmore. As more Winnipeg residents look to active transportation, both experts say small habits — like slowing down, signalling and staying aware — can make a big difference in keeping shared paths safe.

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WFP: Pedestrian initiative coming to Corydon (Jun19'26)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jun '26

19 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. PEDESTRIAN INITIATIVE COMING TO CORYDON THE City of Winnipeg and Corydon Avenue BIZ have announced a portion of Corydon Avenue will close every Sunday for the summer to create a “vibrant, car-free urban oasis.” Beginning July 5 through Sept. 6, Corydon Avenue will close to vehicle traffic between Lilac Street and Daly Street on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. so restaurants can extend their patios to the streets and pedestrians can walk through the area freely. A news release from Corydon Avenue BIZ states there will also be curated art installations. The initiative aims to bring an “eclectic, festival-like atmosphere” to Corydon Village, the release says. Marked detours for motorists will be in place during the closures.

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WFP: Inaugural summit looks to forge new paths (Jun18'26)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Jun '26

18 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Trails sector discusses climate change, outdated infrastructure and uncertain funding Inaugural summit looks to forge new paths https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2026/06/17/inaugural-trail-summit-l… IN Manitoba, thousands of kilometres of trails wind through a range of landscapes, including prairie, forest, sand dunes and provincial parks, passing through communities and campgrounds. And behind every stretch is significant work to keep them maintained and accessible. Across the country, trails are under growing pressure from climate change, aging infrastructure, increased use and uncertain funding — pressures that inspired trail leaders, advocates, researchers and policymakers from 10 provinces and two territories to gather in Winnipeg this week for the first Canadian Trail Summit. Hosted by Trans Canada Trail, the national charity that stewards Canada’s 28,000-kilometre trail system, the four-day summit features keynote talks, technical workshops, field trips and sessions on conservation, accessibility, tourism and innovation. “It’s the first trail summit that we’ve had across the country, and Winnipeg is the centre of Canada — it’s a great meeting spot, it’s been a meeting spot for people for thousands of years, so I think there’s a lot of meaning to this being the first place,” said Jeana Manning, president of Trails Manitoba. Manitoba has a strong network of trails that support a range of activities — skiing, snowmobiling, running, walking and mountain biking — but they are not immune to challenges. Flooding has closed all trails in Beaudry Provincial Park and damaged a boardwalk in Spruce Woods, shoreline erosion has restricted part of the Black Wolf Trail in Hecla/Grindstone, and low water levels have limited access in Turtle Mountain. Wildfire damage has also forced long-term closures, including the Mantario Trail in Whiteshell Provincial Park and trail systems in Nopiming park. Restoration projects are currently underway. Manning said “a ton” of work goes into trail upkeep. “You have to go through a lot of legwork, and that’s often dependent on volunteers.” In 2020 and 2021, the provincial government established an endowment and spend-down fund for trail investments that provided about $1.4 million annually. She said the fund has been reduced to about $200,000 a year in granting funds — “which isn’t enough to accomplish our vision, which is a Manitoba where everyone is connected to trails.” Despite the funding constraints, the Trails Manitoba grant program, funded by the provincial government in 2021, has invested about $6 million over five years in trail projects across the province. Manning said funding has helped leverage roughly $26 million in trail development over that period. Manning added there has been growing demand for more backcountry hiking options in the province, prompting action at the provincial level. To mark 2026 Manitoba Trails Day on June 6, the Manitoba government announced the opening of two new backcountry campsites on the Black Wolf Trail in Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park. “We want to reduce that demand by providing more supply,” she said. Ashleigh Hall, manager of Manitoba’s provincial trails office, says the province is a leader in the trail sector. “I’m pretty sure (we are) the only provincial or territorial government that has an office dedicated to trails, and we have lots of great partnerships with trail organizations and the government as well,” she said. “I think trails are really growing in Manitoba.” Hall said the next phase of work is focused on expanding and improving the system, including identifying opportunities for more multi-day trail routes, strengthening mapping and trail database information, and better understanding how and when people use trails. She said that data will help inform planning and decision-making on trail development and maintenance. “Trails have a kind of magical ability to provide benefits like health, economic and social benefits across daily life and quality of life,” Hall said. “In Manitoba, we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of that in all seasons.” Manning said a summit presentation on Wednesday about the health benefits of trails inspired her to work with the provincial health department, Doctors Manitoba and other health partners on a more co-ordinated approach in recognition of trails as critical infrastructure for both human health and the natural environment. “I think one of the biggest benefits (of the summit) is just building community and those connections with other people who are doing similar work,” she said. zoe.pierce(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca>

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