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WFP Editorial: Last-minute cancellations bad look for council (Jun14'25)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jun '25

14 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. EDITORIAL Last-minute cancellations bad look for council https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2025/06/14/last-minute… YOU have to ask if Winnipeg city council actually wants to hear from its citizens, or whether they just want the appearance of listening. That question of appearance versus reality was brought even more sharply into focus when roughly 30 people waiting to speak to the city’s public works committee about bike safety were abruptly told to go home Thursday and come back in July. “I’d like to suspend the rules to not hear any delegations today on that item because we’re laying it over. We’re going to be hearing all the details on July 3,” the committee’s chairwoman, Coun. Janice Lukes, said at the beginning of the meeting. The reason? A staff report on safety measures for Wellington Crescent bicycle users, due since April, still isn’t finished. Getting people to go through the registration process to present to a council committee and have them show up to be heard, only to hold a vote and temporarily cancel public input, is both insulting and counterproductive. It may well be that members of the council’s public works committee are correct that a discussion of bike lane policy would be much more informed if everyone had a chance to review the at-the-moment incomplete report on the issue before registering their ideas and concerns. Certainly, more information is always better than less. But at the same time, the committee had to have known long before Thursday that the report wasn’t going to be ready — and since those who want to speak to committees of council have to register in advance and provide their personal information, those who were interested in talking about bicycle safety on Wellington Crescent could have been contacted and advised of the need for a delay. (Anyone registering to speak to a council committee has to say what agenda item they wish to speak to, and whether they are for or against the proposal.) Instead, the presenters were left to wait until the day of the meeting to be told, in person, that their presentations had been delayed. (Council committees are already not particular respectful of the value of presenters’ time. The rules for speaking at a meeting state “All meetings of council and its committees take place in the council building at 510 Main St. Delegations should be present at the start of the meeting and remain in the gallery until their name is called.”) But this is just part of council’s apparent interest in having public input in name only — or at least in handy bite-sized pieces, easily digested (and perhaps rapidly excreted as well). Council has already cut the amount of time it lets citizens present their concerns from 10 minutes to five, saying that public input was making meetings run too long. (The same strictures do not apply to committee members, clear evidence of “do as I say, not as I do.”) The message is that councillors are more concerned about the value of their own time than they are about the time of the people those same councillors are selected to serve. In a time of growing citizen and voter apathy, council members should be doing absolutely everything they can to welcome and foster citizen engagement. The aim should always be to bring more people into the civic tent, not to make it more difficult and less productive to be able to make your position known to your elected officials. And yes, that is more difficult and takes more dedicated time and planning — right down to notifying people in advance when things change. Because things can change. But letting your guests know in advance that their event is cancelled is really only common courtesy.

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CBC: Makeshift bike lane set up on Wellington Crescent on anniversary of Winnipeg cyclist's death (Jun11'25)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '25

13 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-wellington-crescent-diy-bi…

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WFP: Dozens of delegates who planned to voice concerns over active transportation safety turned away (Jun13'25)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '25

13 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Dozens of delegates who planned to voice concerns over active transportation safety turned away Speakers furious after city delays hearing https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/12/speakers-furious-… DOZENS of delegates who signed up to speak on active transportation safety at City Hall Thursday were not heard, following a rare, last minute vote to cancel their time. About 30 people planned to weigh in on a delayed report on making bike travel safer on Wellington Crescent. Instead, their presentations were suddenly preempted by the public works committee decision. “I’d like to suspend the rules to not hear any delegations today on that item because we’re laying it over. We’re going to be hearing all the details on July 3,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, the committee’s chairwoman, at the start of the meeting. Lukes noted staff had asked for a one month extension to return with a safety plan for this year. The announcement was met with a few surprised laughs, at least one “boo” and some impolite language from people in the council chambers who were hoping to speak. Committee members asked security officers to step in after someone yelled out “bulls—t!” Couns. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert- Seine River) and Ross Eadie (Mynarski) joined Lukes to vote in favour of the change, while the committee’s third member, Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) was absent during the vote. Linda van de Laar, a nurse who planned to speak, yelled out that she had taken a day off to be there. Afterward, van de Laar said she isn’t able to return on July 3 because of work, and expressed concern the vote will set a precedent. “I wish that our city councillors would be doing this job because they want to represent residents. It seems like they don’t…. They just silenced (us) and it isn’t even the first time that they’ve silenced delegations,” she said. In March, council voted to reduce the time each public delegate can speak at hearings, committee meetings and council sessions to five minutes from 10, a move the city said would shorten meetings that sometimes start at 9:30 a.m. and drag on late into the night. Those who lost their chance to speak Thursday have been pushing for changes to Wellington Crescent since cyclist Rob Jenner was killed in a crash with a speeding driver in the area on June 6 last year. The group has called on council to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h on Wellington from River Avenue to the western end of Academy Road, which was rejected last year. Council instead ordered a staff report on options to make the streets safer for cyclists this year, which was first expected in April but has been delayed since that time. Lukes said Thursday’s decision was not the first time a standing policy committee opted not to hear delegates, though she did not offer other examples. She said delaying feedback to the next meeting makes sense, since a new proposal to make cycling safer isn’t available yet. “I thought people would be wasting their time,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The councillor said she’s received 35 to 40 emails and phone calls on the topic over the last few days, which included some “non-repeatable” comments, so feedback is still being heard. “I’m disappointed in some of the things that have been said to me and to the committee members…. (The delegates are) disappointed that we don’t have a plan in place,” said Lukes. She expects city staff will ultimately recommend creating a protected bike lane and reducing the street’s speed limit but stressed more time is needed for consultations. Another councillor said she was left with questions after witnessing the vote. “I’m going to listen to the rationale because I honestly couldn’t hear for the yelling, but, generally, when people take time off and the standing policy committee is there to hear, you hear them. It’s really important when people take time out for democracy to understand that that costs them time, it costs them money,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). In an email, city spokeswoman Julie Dooley said members of the public are welcome to speak to each report “when it actually appears on” a committee agenda. “As the report itself was not being presented today, the committee moved to not hear from registered delegates. This is not unprecedented,” Dooley wrote in an email. Committees that made similar decisions have typically done so verbally in the past, so staff can’t search for specific examples or provide the number of times the practice has previously taken place, the city later added. An active transportation advocate who regularly speaks at city hall said this is the first time she’s been unable to speak due to such a vote. “It seems very heavy-handed, and it seems a bit aggressive towards the community who has been patiently waiting for this report…. (You) take the day off work, or you get leave from work, you get child care. It is a big step to come down,” said Mel Marginet, a member of the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team. Marginet said she’s concerned the decision could set a precedent. “It is important for our democracy that people are allowed to come out and voice their support or opposition to things before city council,” she said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Analysis: Bike safety changes are overdue (Jun11'25)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '25

11 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bike safety changes are overdue LINDA VAN DE LAAR https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2025/06/11/bike-safety-c… JUNE 5 would have been Rob Jenner’s 62nd birthday. Instead of celebrating with him, we gathered where he died — on Wellington Crescent — to sing him “Happy Birthday” and remember a life taken too soon by road violence. This isn’t the way anyone should be commemorated. But for vulnerable road users in Winnipeg, it’s become heartbreakingly familiar. I didn’t know Rob personally. But as a fellow cyclist, I knew him. I’d pass him on Assiniboine Avenue. We’d exchange a greeting, a nod or a wave, the way cyclists are so closely connected, part of a community. For someone like me who cycles to work every day along one of Winnipeg’s major bike routes, Rob’s death is devastating. The city decided that green bike route signs would be enough to protect cyclists, but road signs don’t protect cyclists. Safe infrastructure and traffic calming measures do. As a nurse, advocating for safe infrastructure is my commitment to make this city healthier. I see the toll our car-dominated culture takes on people’s bodies and minds every day — rising rates of chronic illness related to our sedentary lifestyles. Cycling, walking and using public spaces are among the simplest, most powerful ways to build a healthier society. Like how I was connected to Rob without personally knowing him, sharing space through walking and cycling connects us. It makes us move, reduces emissions and builds safer, more vibrant communities. When our streets are hostile to vulnerable road users, we make our population sicker. Since Rob’s death, at least 12 pedestrians and another cyclist have been killed. Many others have been injured. Most of those stories don’t make the news. Like my partner, who lost his hearing because a driver did not stop at a signalized crosswalk. I believe our city leaders continue to fail us. I often feel like they treat parking spots as sacred and human life as expendable. In my opinion, they stall and postpone critical safety improvements like protected bike lanes and lower speed limits. It seems like they are afraid of the backlash from drivers instead of caring about my life and that of other vulnerable road users. I have had enough. I often hear Winnipeg was built for cars. Historically, pictures show that this is inaccurate. Winnipeg had beautiful streetcars, people walking and cycling. Decades of decisions made by councillors and mayors is what made Winnipeg into the car-dominated city it is today. But it is not too late to change this. Lives should matter more than speed. I can’t bring Rob back; it is too late for him. But I can honour his life by refusing to accept the status quo. I am demanding better from the people elected to represent me. I am asking all readers to demand better from their councillors too. Please call your councillors. Ask them why it’s taking so long to implement 30 km/h speed limits in residential neighbourhoods. Tell them to support protected bike lanes on Wellington Crescent. Insist they stop treating road deaths as inevitable, On June 12, two key motions that will make our streets safer might come before public works. I need everyone to show up, speak out and delegate. Together we can make our neighbourhoods places to connect again. These are our streets. And we owe it to Rob to fight like hell to reclaim them. Linda van de Laar is a registered nurse at St. Boniface General Hospital.

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City Update: Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project
by Beth McKechnie 09 Jun '25

09 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. [City of Winnipeg | Ville de Winnipeg]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project Project updates Still more work to do... The Wolseley Avenue Neighbourhood Greenway has been in place for around six months. Motor vehicle speeds and volumes have gone down. But we’re still seeing more vehicles than desired in the eastern part of the project area. Additionally, motor vehicle speeds in all four locations shows that the 85th percentile speed is still more than five kilometers an hour faster than the posted speed limit of 30 km/h. You can see the motor vehicle speeds and volumes for several years on the traffic count map below which also highlights the traffic calming infrastructure that was constructed on Wolseley Avenue. Both numbers remain higher than we’d like for a neighbourhood greenway. This could affect whether cyclists feel safe and comfortable. We’re planning a few more features along Wolseley Avenue this summer, including: * More visible paint markings (like centre-lane sharrows) * Speed reader boards to remind drivers to slow down * New Neighbourhood Greenway signs Once these new features are in place, we’ll measure traffic speeds and volumes again to see if numbers come down. We plan to come back this winter with a full year of data. At that time, we’ll also want to hear your feedback on how the greenway is working. In the meantime, if you have anything urgent to share with the project team, please email us at wolseleytodowntown(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:wolseleytodowntown@winnipeg.ca>. Map: 2025 conditions<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> View the latest conditions of the neighbourhood greenway Board: Summer updates<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Learn more about planned updates this summer Learn more about this project winnipeg.ca/wolseleytodowntown<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Contact us Email: City-Engage(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:City-Engage@winnipeg.ca> Phone: 204-986-4243 Connect with us: [Twitter]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[Facebook]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[YouTube]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[LinkedIn]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>[Instagram]<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> Share on X<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…> | Share on Facebook<https://communications.winnipeg.ca/ext/click/go/71ebfa129fce40624b3653ffef6…>

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WFP: ‘Reimagined’ 25-year city transportation master plan sets price tag at $4.7B (Jun7'25)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jun '25

07 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘Reimagined’ 25-year city transportation master plan sets price tag at $4.7B https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/06/reimagined-25-yea… A 25-YEAR transportation master plan designed to “reimagine” travel throughout Winnipeg would cost $4.7 billion to fully implement, though plenty of work remains to determine what will be funded when. Transportation 2050: Reimagining Mobility sets out the hefty cost estimate for all staffing, planning, design and capital costs needed to turn it into a reality. It’s unlikely the city would be able to cover the whole tab over the next 25 years, the head of council’s public works committee said. “We prioritize (projects) related to the money that we have … It’s good that they put a price tag on it just so people understand (the cost),” said Coun. Janice Lukes. Lukes (Waverley West) said some priorities will be covered by road and active transportation funding in current and future budgets, while partnerships with senior governments will help determine what else the city can afford. The staff report calls for funding to hire five new employees to implement the changes, which will be considered in the 2026 budget process. No other funding plan is recommended yet. Meanwhile, city staff are also proposing potential business studies to determine if the city should conduct pilot projects on designated truck lanes, popup active transportation infrastructure, secure bike parking, reduced parking on arterial roads and even autonomous buses. “Automated buses are ready for real-world testing and Winnipeg’s Southwest Transitway is an ideal testing location, as a fully separated right-of-way that experiences cold and winter conditions. Potentially, autonomous buses could be tested in this location outside of revenue service hours,” the staff report states. Lukes said she’s not convinced self-driving buses are in the city’s near future. “I don’t think we’re ready for it… we’ve got snow, we’ve got ice, we’ve got really varying road conditions,” she said. However, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he’s “very open” to exploring the idea. “Obviously, it has to be safe and all that analysis has to be done, but if it’s innovative and it can enhance the delivery of city services, then I’m all for it… I’m not about being innovative just for the sake of doing the latest thing. It’s got to enhance services for the people of Winnipeg,” said Gillingham. The mayor said the master plan aims to balance investments that support drivers as well as cyclists and pedestrians. “We do want to move people into more sustainable modes of transportation… by investing in our transit system to make it a better, more reliable, more frequent service, we believe that more people will choose transit,” he said. With a multibillion-dollar price tag, Gillingham noted the full master plan would take “a long, long time to fully implement.” Both the mayor and Lukes said the city should focus on improvements that support moving goods throughout and beyond the city to support economic growth. “We really need to look closely (at) investment in our trade routes. We talked about Kenaston/Route 90 and the upgrades that need to happen there, the Chief Peguis Trail extension, as well. Those are economic routes, those are trade routes (that are) really important to our community,” said Gillingham. Recent reports suggest extending Chief Peguis would cost $755 million, while revamping Kenaston Boulevard/ Route 90 would cost $586 million. “If we want to do new major upgrades like Kenaston, like Chief Peguis… we have to find external funding…. We’ll see what federal programs they come out with and how we can align those federal programs to our priorities,” said Lukes. In the report, city staff propose creating a funding strategy for a goods movement study and proposed truck route network by March 2026. Staff also suggest exploring future strategies on managing transportation demand, transit-oriented development and zero-emission vehicles. The strategy sets goals to ensure half of all trips are made using sustainable mobility options by 2050, active transportation is deemed a realistic option for everyday travel and people of all ages and abilities can safely move around. The plan also adds to Winnipeg’s decades-old debate over light rail transit, which the city has debated many times but never built. “The Transportation 2050 Plan directs the city to investigate when and where LRT might be needed in the future. High-capacity transit will be essential to increasing sustainable trips,” the report notes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepresss.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepresss.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Moving trucks off Graham Avenue part of proposed revamp (Jun7'25)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jun '25

07 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Moving trucks off Graham Avenue part of proposed revamp https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/06/moving-trucks-off… A NEW proposal would slow down traffic on parts of Graham Avenue and redirect trucks to other streets. A report calls for city council to reduce the speed limit on Graham to 30 km/h from 50 km/h between Vaughan and Carlton streets and remove the full time truck route designation. “Graham Avenue is going to become a very focal point for downtown. It’s going to become an area that will be activated … It’s going to become a much more people-oriented, populated, activity-oriented street and that’s been part of the downtown plan,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works. She noted Winnipeg Transit’s new primary network will move most transit service off Graham later this month, clearing the way for change. She expects a speed limit reduction would take a couple of months to implement. Lukes said the traditional reliance on the avenue as a key bus corridor, with some sections not even open to cars, means the changes shouldn’t create much commuter delay. The new rules should support a growing number of downtown residents, she said. “Downtown has to have neighbourhoods. It’s not just, go there, leave there. We’re putting a lot of housing in (that area),” said Lukes. Mayor Scott Gillingham said changes to Winnipeg Transit create an opportunity to transform the avenue. “It’s almost like Graham Avenue is a blank slate and it can be reimagined (to become) something really different and invigorating,” said Gillingham. The city’s key downtown vision, CentrePlan 2050, calls for an overhaul of Graham, suggesting it could become a cycling connection and open space. Gillingham said he’d like to see a pedestrian mall on the avenue and believes any driver delay from the changes would be limited. “When it’s such a short street, when you drive 30 km/h as opposed to 50, the difference on three or four blocks is seconds,” he said. Shifting buses elsewhere and reducing the speed limit could make the area easier to access, said one business owner. “Having cars added to Graham, I do think that’s probably a good idea and helpful for the local businesses. I think it was fairly chaotic having just buses ripping up and down Graham Avenue… As a general rule, I support speed reduction … I think having a calmer Graham Avenue is a good thing,” said Graham Bargen, co-owner of the Thom Bargen coffee shop at Kennedy Street and Graham Avenue. However, Bargen said he is concerned limiting truck traffic would create an obstacle for deliveries. “That will be an added challenge. We’re a coffee roaster and we receive pallets of coffee… we do need to be able to get product in and out,” he said. In a written statement, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ expressed support for the changes. “We believe these changes on Graham support the overall plan to improve safety, connectivity and vibrancy downtown. We’re looking forward to the transformation of this street into a pedestrian-friendly hub, where people can gather and connect,” wrote Kate Fenske, chief executive officer of the BIZ. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Cyclists mark anniversary of fatal collision (Jun7'25)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jun '25

07 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Cyclists mark anniversary of fatal collision Condemn city’s lack of action on safety improvements https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/06/cyclists-mark-ann… BRIGHT red balloons attached to the handlebars of a white “ghost bike” memorial Friday marked the one-year anniversary of a cycling enthusiast’s horrifying high-speed hit-and-run death on Wellington Crescent. Rob Jenner was on his way to work at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights when a 19-year-old man driving more than three times the 50 km/h speed limit hit the rear tire of Jenner’s bike throwing him several metres into the air at the intersection of Wellington and Cockburn Street. He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead one day after his 61st birthday. Anna Weier showed up at the corner Friday with her nine-year-old daughter Libby to join more than 30 others celebrating what would’ve been Jenner’s 62nd birthday Thursday, and demand action from the city to make the street safer for cyclists, after a report on biking infrastructure improvements was delayed a second time. “Rob Jenner’s death was really scary. It makes me really worried riding, especially with my kid,” said Weier. “We feel like the city isn’t listening to us that we want safe biking infrastructure now.” Jenner’s death ignited protests from members of Winnipeg’s cycling community about inadequate infrastructure and policies to protect riders. Advocates called for the speed limit to be reduced to 30 km/h, and for the city to install protected bike lanes on Wellington Crescent. Council’s executive policy committee rejected a lowered speed limit, but voted in December for city staff to report on other bike-safety solutions on the street. The report, delayed until this month, has been pushed back again after city staff requested a one-month extension for additional consultation on removing street parking and another look at the speed limit, said public works chair Janice Lukes. “I want the public service to get it right. We don’t want something put in that is going to again need adjustments, or again need tweaks or changes,” Lukes (Waverley West) said Friday. “There’s a lot of infrastructure we’d like to have in, but we can’t put it in overnight. We have to let them do their work.” She said active-transportation projects, such as building protected bike lanes, rarely get done in under a year. The effort to address concerns on Wellington Crescent is moving as quickly as it can, she said, adding she understands the urgency for cyclists. The proposed protected bike lane features barriers attached to the road instead of new curb construction to separate vehicles and bikes. Lukes said if council approves after receiving the report next month, she expects the project could be completed by the fall or next spring. She said the McDermot Avenue bike lane that was built in 2018, and described as “very similar” to the plan for Wellington Crescent, took three years to finish. “It’s too late for Rob (Jenner),” said Robyn Dyck, who was at the memorial Friday. “We will now have a whole summer without protection for cyclists. It’s infuriating.” In October, Beckham Severight pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of the accident. He was sentenced to three years in custody and banned from driving for five years. His then-roommate, Lyle Barker- Young, the lone passenger, who was leasing the vehicle, was charged with fleeing the scene and remains before the court. matthew.frank(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca> [https://winnipeg-can.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/ipad/html5.check.25012021/aja…]

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WFP: Pedestrian scramble gets Exchange test (Jun3'25)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Jun '25

03 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Pedestrian scramble gets Exchange test ‘We want to create a more walkable, livable city’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/02/pedestrian-scramb… READY. Set. Scramble. An Exchange District intersection was the scene of Winnipeg’s first pedestrian scramble as a pilot project to test the concept began Monday. Traffic signals at the King Street and Bannatyne Avenue intersection stop motor vehicles in all directions once per cycle allowing pedestrians to cross in any direction, except diagonally. Aro Van Dyck made the trek to the street corner to see the signals in action and try it for herself. “An improvement like this, I’m excited to see it. I’m someone who cares a lot about pedestrian safety,” said Van Dyck, who works downtown. The 32-year-old said she was disappointed when the city scuttled plans to put a scramble crossing at River Avenue and Osborne Street last year. She hopes the pilot project, which was approved in March, proves popular and scrambles become more common on city streets. The scramble includes new no-right-turn and no-left-turn signs, cameras to record vehicle near-misses with pedestrians and loudspeakers that broadcast “walk sign is on at both crossings.” The scramble is expected to reduce crossing times and improve safety for pedestrians with no vehicles in the intersection, said city worker Danae Penner, who was attaching signs to explain how the crossing works. “If pedestrians want to go kitty corner to the other side of the street, they don’t have to wait for two signals. They can make it all the way around,” said the road safety outreach co-ordinator. Coun. Vivian Santos said she hopes the crossing will drive more foot traffic to the area. “We want to create a more walkable, livable city,” Santos said. “It’s about building a people-first city, especially in the Exchange District.” Crossing diagonally wasn’t included in the plans for the new scramble, she said, because extensive work was necessary to make sidewalks more accessible for those with wheelchairs. The scramble cost $1,000 to put in place, a March report from the public works committee noted. Santos said the pilot will be in place until winter 2026. David Pensato, executive director of Exchange District BIZ, is curious how the pilot project’s results will influence the city’s approach to pedestrian crosses. He said the chosen intersection has already been an informal scramble crossing when traffic dies down. “It doesn’t take an urban planner or traffic engineer to note that while the Exchange is among the most walkable areas in the city, there’s certainly some pinch points where it becomes more complicated,” said Pensato. “We’re always looking to better enhance the pedestrian experience.” Dennis Boyko, owner of Red River Book Shop, was surprised the city selected King and Bannatyne for the pilot. The Arthur Street entrepreneur said there are more dangerous crossings that need more robust infrastructure to protect pedestrians in the Exchange. To commemorate the new crossing, sandwich shop King and Bannatyne created a special scrambled egg wrap that will be given away at the corner at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. The city has launched a survey for residents to provide feedback on the scramble at wfp.to/scramble<http://wfp.to/scramble>. A report on the pilot’s results is expected in 2026. matthew.frank(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: ‘Getting more butts on bikes’ (Jun2'25)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '25

02 Jun '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘Getting more butts on bikes’ Charleswood resident shares his passion for cycling through his volunteer work https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/06/02/getting-more-butt… DAVE Elmore recalls the ribbing he got as a teenager when many of his friends were buying their first cars and he bought a bike instead: a blue 10-speed CCM Turismo. “Cycling’s always been important to me,” he says. “It’s always been something I’ve done.” Today, the 70-year-old Charleswood resident shares his passion for cycling through his volunteer work as chairperson of Bike Week Winnipeg. The annual event features programming meant to encourage and engage cyclists. This year’s edition takes place June 8-14. “It’s all about getting more butts on bikes,” Elmore says. An engineer by training, Elmore was working as a project manager for the federal government when he started commuting to work by bike in the early 1990s. He co-founded the cycling advocacy group Bike to the Future, now known as Bike Winnipeg, in 2007. The following year, he helped start Bike to Work Day, an annual one-day event for bicycle commuters. In 2014, the event was rebranded as Bike Week. With the rebrand came an expanded mandate to engage cyclists of all kinds — whether they ride for everyday transportation, recreation or some other reason. Rather than create change through advocacy, Elmore says, Bike Week attempts to create cultural change by engaging riders, trying to get more people involved in cycling and growing their understanding that bicycles can be a part of the city’s transportation culture. While Bike to Work Day is still one of the week’s flagship events (it takes place June 10), this year’s Bike Week will feature numerous activities for people of all ages and abilities, including group rides, workshops, games and a wrap-up party on the legislative grounds on June 14. Last year’s Bike Week drew more than 14,000 people to 160 events over seven days, according to a report prepared by Fête Jockey Events Inc., which helps organize and manage Bike Week. Elmore expects similar numbers this year. Bike Week “adds to the culture and visibility of cycling across the city,” says Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “(It’s) creating those opportunities to give people that experience of cycling so they can get out there and imagine it as part of their everyday life,” he says. “It’s everyday people who are looking for those cycling opportunities — not just some radical core of people. It’s everyday folks. It’s our neighbours, our aunts, our uncles and our siblings that want to get out riding.” Cohoe praises Elmore’s efforts, describing the retiree as “tireless (and) ageless.” “(He’s) someone who’s committed a huge amount of time to making the city better, to helping us all be a little bit more environmentally friendly and sustainable, and someone who’s always ready to take on the task, big or small,” Cohoe says. “You get a smiling face, you get a hello and a warm welcome from Dave every time.” In addition to chairing Bike Week, Elmore is a mechanic at the WRENCH community bike shop, he teaches cycling skills to middle school students and he leads spin classes twice a week at the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. The grandfather of two rides to these volunteer commitments on one of his eight bikes — usually either his red Surly or chrome Sekine. “Ultimately I don’t look at any of them as work because I enjoy doing them, and I guess I’m seeing the benefits because I’m seeing more and more people on bikes,” Elmore says of his volunteer commitments. “The things that we’re doing as different organizations, whether it’s Bike Winnipeg or Bike Week, are making a difference in our city, and that keeps me going.” If you know a special volunteer, email aaron.epp(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca>. [https://winnipeg-can.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/ipad/html5.check.25012021/aja…]

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WFP: Businesses lose parking to buses (May22'25)
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '25

22 May '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Businesses lose parking to buses ‘The daily turnover of these ... spots generate substantial revenue’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/05/22/businesses-lose-p… MERCHANTS of Grosvenor Square are irate the city is relocating a bus stop along Grosvenor Avenue and removing several parking spaces they say are vital for business. “People tell me all the time, ‘I’ll come in if I can find parking,’ and this is going to seriously affect me,” said Chris Atkinson, owner of Lilac Bakery at 930 Grosvenor Ave. As part of Winnipeg Transit’s massive overhaul, all four current stops at the intersection of Grosvenor Avenue and Stafford Street will be removed and replaced with three new stops, including one in front of the bakery and several other shops. Atkinson estimates the new bus stop is taking away five parking stalls. City crews installed “no stopping” signage on the strip last week. “There was no consultation, no one had any idea this was even happening,” Atkinson said. Other businesses in Grosvenor Square include restaurants, a furniture store, boutique, dry-cleaning, a yoga studio and hair salon. Atkinson says much of his customer base park momentarily to pick up orders or a quick treat and he already competes for parking with the other businesses. The bakery has a few parking stalls in the back lane behind his shop but they are usually reserved for staff, he said. “We pay taxes and employ people. I’m all for active transportation but, unfortunately, we’re still a car-centric city and these spots are valuable,” Atkinson said. The bakery has seen increased walk-in traffic in recent years owing to a concentration of businesses moving into the area, but many still drive across town for a taste of Lilac’s coveted red velvet cake and other confections. A city spokesperson said parking would be reinstated where possible. Megan Benedictson said while some spaces would be removed in front of Lilac Bakery, an existing bus stop (northbound Stafford, near-side Academy) would be removed and parking added there. The new parking spaces will be a 20-metre walk from the front door of the bakery. Across the street at Metro Cleaners, owner Gus Lefas said the relocation of the bus stop means drivers will use his parking lot instead. Lefas has been at 917 Grosvenor Ave., since 1961 and has always had ample parking, but with the host of businesses now in the area, times have changed. He fears the new stop location will completely dry up Lilac’s business. “They can’t just move the stop 50 feet behind the houses? Won’t bother nobody, I don’t know why they’re doing this,” Lefas said. The city considered availability of space, transfer walking distance, pedestrian infrastructure, existing stop infrastructure, safety, adjacent land use and parking impacts in choosing where bus stops will go, Benedictson said. Atkinson wrote a letter to the mayor and area councillors Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) and John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) signed by six nearby businesses. “Unlike suburban areas where parking is ample, the Grosvenor Square merchants do not have that luxury and have relied on and built businesses with this parking in mind; we need it to survive. Most of us have no parking at all, outside street parking. The daily turnover of these mentioned parking spots generate substantial revenue for the neighbourhood businesses,” a portion of the letter states. Orlikow said while the stop isn’t in his constituency, he’s looking into the issue with Transit and exploring possible alternatives. He recognizes the imposition on business in the area. “This transit overhaul has been a massive project and you can’t consult absolutely everybody … but we’re making sure that transit understands the impact it’s going to have on those businesses and seeing if there’s any other viable options,” Orlikow said. The city’s new transit network is expected to go online June 29. On May 1, Transit posted the upcoming schedules online so residents can become familiar with the new routes. nicole.buffie(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca>

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ParticipACTION report on creating a social norm for physical activity
by Michelle Porter 16 May '25

16 May '25

Here is a new report from ParticipACTION<https://www.participaction.com/> about creating a social norm for societal physical activity: MOVING TOWARDS A NEW NORMAL<https://www.participaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Social_Climate_Pa…>. Some of this information is relevant to active transportation of course. Michelle Michelle M. Porter, PhD, Professor | Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management | Director, Centre on Aging | 338 Isbister Building | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg, MB CANADA | R3T 2N2 | (204) 474-8795 michelle.porter(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:michelle.porter@umanitoba.ca> | Centre on Aging | University of Manitoba (umanitoba.ca)<https://umanitoba.ca/centre-on-aging/> | https://bsky.app/profile/um-coa-porter.bsky.social | linkedin.com/in/michelle-porter-639890150<https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-porter-639890150>

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WFP: Cycling advocates say city wasted time on safety (May7'25)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '25

07 May '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Focus on unworkable bike path plan could have been better spent making roads safer, they say Cycling advocates say city wasted time on safety https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/05/06/no-speed-limits-f… Plus: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-cyclists-decry-delay-of-we… THE city will not set speed limits for bikes on active transportation paths, a decision cyclists say took valuable time away from real issues needed to make roads safer. More than a dozen cyclists gathered at city hall prior to a public works committee meeting Tuesday, displaying the white “ghost bike” that honours Rob Jenner, who was killed in a crash with a speeding vehicle on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street on June 6, 2024. During the meeting, members of the group urged the committee to urgently enact changes to make bike travel safer on Wellington. They argued key city staff should have been able to focus on that topic instead of researching options for an active transportation speed limit that officials ultimately deemed too difficult to enforce. “We would like to be here to talk about 30 km/h (speed limits) in residential areas … I do not want to be the next one killed on my way to work,” said Linda van de Laar. In December, city council ruled out calls to immediately reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h on Wellington Crescent, from River Avenue to the western end of Academy Road. At the time, some councillors cautioned against elected officials imposing the change without having city traffic experts study it first. Council did direct staff to report on solutions to improve cyclist safety on the route that can be implemented this year. That report was originally due in April but was delayed until June. “It’s (now) one month before the anniversary of Rob Jenner’s death and there’s no sense (that) the urgency to fix a hole in our infrastructure as significant and deadly as Wellington Crescent is shared by our city leaders … We won’t see action until past the time of year when Rob needed it,” said Andrew Kohan. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said future changes must be thoroughly studied before the city proposes a plan to alter Wellington. “It is a very, very high volume regional road, so the public service wants to make sure it’s safe and they’re going to take their time … They’re taking their time to do a proper, comprehensive outreach and review,” said Lukes. The Waverley West councillor said she expects city staff may recommend converting a lane of Wellington Crescent into a bike path and lowering the speed limit. Lukes said the city has spent millions of dollars on safer active transportation routes in recent years. “Is it balanced right now from vehicular use to active transportation? I’d say absolutely not. But we’re evolving. We can’t do it overnight,” she said. The cycling advocates did support a city staff recommendation to rule out setting a speed limit along active transportation paths for electronic bikes, scooters and other similar devices. Public works cast a final vote to follow that advice on Tuesday afternoon. According to a city report, the municipal government lacks the authority to set separate speed limits on paths that form part of a road, highway or street under the Manitoba Highway Traffic Act, meaning speed limits could only be added on completely separated paths. The report suggests any such speed limits would be difficult to implement. “(That) would require significant new signage, be difficult to enforce, and likely have low compliance among higher speed users,” it notes. Councillors ordered the report after some residents complained a growing number of motorized bikes were rushing past pedestrians at unsafe speeds, creating a growing safety hazard, said Lukes. She agreed a bike speed limit isn’t a promising option to address that concern. “I think we can use our police service for better things that are more urgent,” said Lukes. The report notes most bikes aren’t even equipped with speedometers and don’t require registration, making tickets difficult to issue. Instead, city staff plan to create an educational program to teach all users how to safely share active transportation paths, with a focus on bicycles and electronic devices yielding to pedestrians. The city’s pedestrian and cycling strategy may also be updated to require new paths to have separate spaces for electronic devices/bicycles and pedestrians “when possible and feasible.” If the above measures don’t work, the report suggests the city could start making paths wider to better accommodate multiple modes of travel. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Community members to lead Jane’s Walks throughout the city (May2'25)
by Beth McKechnie 02 May '25

02 May '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. A 21-gun salute for urban theorist Jane Jacobs Community members to lead Jane’s Walks throughout the city ● Friday-Sunday ● Various locations ● Free ● For more info see: wfp.to/janeswalk<http://wfp.to/janeswalk> AFTER her time meeting with the City of Winnipeg in the ’90s, the world’s most famous urban theorist Jane Jacobs was reportedly gifted a $10 watch with the city logo. “It’s so funny because it came in this fancy little box,” laughs Caitlin Broms-Jacobs, Jane’s granddaughter, an oboist living and working in Winnipeg. If this gift seems like a token of underappreciation, Winnipeg offers Jane something of a 21-gun salute this May. That’s the number of Jane’s Walks hosted in Winnipeg this year between Friday and Sunday during the annual festival of free, community led-walking tours inspired by Jacobs. Started by friends and colleagues of hers shortly after her death in 2006, the concept quickly spread to cities around the world — more than 500 of them to date, according to the fest’s Toronto- based steering committee. “It’s all very decentralized and self-organizing,” says Jim Jacobs, Jane’s son. He lives in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, where Caitlin grew up and Jane lived after emigrating to Canada from the United States in the late ’60s. “Its focus and value are not in promoting her thoughts or ideas… but to provide a soapbox,” he goes on. “People will say whatever they want to say and if the audience likes it, they’ll stay. And if they don’t, they’ll beat their feet!” This grassroots freedom is already in a certain Jacobian spirit. Jane Jacobs’ complex ideas evolved considerably after her 1961 classic The Death and Life of Great American Cities; the first book of many by a self-educated mother of three, which ultimately turned the urban-planning establishment on its head. (Although her son observes that establishment absorbed her ideas in ways that today sometimes amount to little more than window dressing — big shows of “community consultation,” for instance, that do little to shape planners’ schemes.) But certain throughlines tie this tapestry together. Jacobs championed vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods built on diversity, density and mixed-use development. She famously opposed top-down planning and urban renewal projects that she believed devastated communities. Instead, she emphasized local knowledge and organic interactions between everyday people in shaping successful urban life. If some of these ideas seem taken for granted today, it speaks to Jacobs’ towering influence — an influence resisted at first by an establishment more smitten with modernist visions that served “order and progress” at the expense of human-scale urbanism. Jane Jacobs became famous not just for her theories, but for her David-and-Goliath battles, waged with wit and grit, against powerful planners in New York and Toronto. It’s this plucky spirit from which local community organizer Michael Champagne and Jane’s Walk leader draws inspiration. “I know that too many people just drive down Selkirk Avenue or Main Street to get from one part of the city to the other,” says Champagne, who also organizes North End History, committed to social activist and heritage enterprises in the neighbourhood. He leads 100 Years of Main Street: Commerce and Community from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday and Selkirk Avenue: Yesterday & Tomorrow from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday. “These walks invite Winnipeggers to get out of their vehicles to see the vibrant local organizations, businesses and people that are here because, like Jane Jacobs, we believe our community problems can be answered when we’re together.” Other Jane’s Walks this year explore Old Saint Boniface, the Exchange District and the histories of its garment and grain industries, St Norbert’s forests and more. “These walks are a nice, hyper-localized opportunity for us to listen to and learn about the solutions that are working,” says Champagne. According to Broms-Jacobs, Jane left her tour of Winnipeg especially interested in the North End’s history and future — a locale that, for all the challenges it may face, has a strong neighbourhood identity encompassing a mosaic of social groups and uses. What would she make of present- day Winnipeg? “Jane observed from a political point of view that having a city’s government controlled by its suburbs is devastating to a city,” says Jim Jacobs. Notwithstanding, he has an optimistic vision of the city. “There are certain long-standing characteristics of Winnipeg that count in its favour, even if they’re under-exploited, like a lot of mixed use neighborhoods,” says Jim Jacobs. “And there are these older buildings, some of which provide lower rent and more flexibility, more flexibility for entrepreneurs, community groups and artists.” One of those artists is Broms-Jacobs, who performs with such organizations as the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Fierbois duo, often in the city’s older, more centrally located churches that now serve partially as music venues. “It’s an open-minded, artistic, sensitive town … new ideas can flourish because it’s not so crushingly expensive,” she says. “And in the (15 years) that I’ve been here, I’ve just noticed such an amazing increase in diversity in the way that Torontonians think of diversity — in the international sense.” To see the full list of Winnipeg’s 2025 Jane’s Walk and to register visit winnipegarts.ca/janes-walk. The events are all free. conrad.sweatman(a)winnipegfreepress.com<mailto:conrad.sweatman@winnipegfreepress.com>

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WFP: Online tool lets transit riders take incoming spine-and-feeder network for a spin (May1'25)
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '25

01 May '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Online tool lets transit riders take incoming spine-and-feeder network for a spin https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/05/01/online-tool-lets-… Winnipeggers can start planning for a massive transformation that’s set to alter virtually every bus route. Winnipeg Transit will launch a new primary transit network on June 29. On Thursday, transit posted the upcoming schedules online, so users can try out virtual trips and sort out their best options in advance. Mayor Scott Gillingham said the information will help prepare riders for the biggest single-day change in Winnipeg Transit’s history. “With this new network, you’ll be able to get anywhere in Winnipeg more easily on routes that are more frequent, more reliable and more direct. It means faster commutes, shorter wait times and better customer service… This is big. This is bold change,” said Gillingham. [On Thursday, Winnipeg Transit posted the upcoming schedules online, so users can try out virtual trips and sort out their best options in advance.]<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/322346…> On Thursday, Winnipeg Transit posted the upcoming schedules online, so users can try out virtual trips and sort out their best options in advance. Riders can visit Winnipeg Transit<https://www.winnipeg.ca/services-programs/transportation-roads-parking/tran…> to preview stops, routes, and trip plans. The new primary network will use a spine-and-feeder concept, where direct spines along major corridors are supported by a network of feeder routes throughout the city. “It’s a big change for passengers and we know how people like change,” joked Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works. “So, I think all the information we’re launching today, all the training that we’re offering, will help demystify this transformation.” Lukes (Waverley West) said some of the most frequent routes will have buses arrive so often that Winnipeggers can just show up at times without checking the schedule first. “It will make transit better, so much better that probably our next big issue will be overcrowding on the buses because that’s what we’re seeing with the Blue Line (now),” she said. Lukes said Winnipeg Transit’s Blue Line, which stretches from southwest Winnipeg to downtown, has operated in similar fashion to the new network since 2020, proving the concept works. To support the broader change, the councillor said “travel trainers” will help educate the public, including students and seniors groups, about the new system. Bus drivers will receive extra help when they sign up for specific routes in the next week or so, said Bjorn Radstrom, Winnipeg Transit’s manager of service development. “We want them to not just know the route they’re driving, but understand the entire network,” said Radstrom. Winnipeg Transit has had a shortage of drivers in recent years but heavy recruitment has recently paid off, with sufficient drivers now in place to carry out a full summer schedule, he said. “It’s looking better than it has in a very long time,” said Radstrom. Transit said bus routes are operating at six per cent below normal, but full service should be restored in the summer. Once the new network is implemented, a bus is expected to arrive every five to 15 minutes along each of the most frequent routes during peak periods, while connector route buses would come every 15 to 30 minutes, the city’s website says. Radstrom said the city hopes to release its fall schedule by July to allow more planning time for updated school routes. A transit advocate expects the new network will greatly improve service. “Frequent service helps so many people to be able to rely on the system because it reduces uncertainty and provides access to more buses more often, with shorter waits, faster transfers and increased reliability. There are sweeping benefits,” said Kyle Owens, president of Functional Transit Winnipeg. Owens said routes are all interconnected, so it makes sense to overhaul the system at once, while the early route notice will help users prepare for it. The new system will require more transfers on many routes, though these should be more reliable, while riders may have to adjust to community routes ending earlier in the evening, he said. “Fewer stops getting them across the city quickly is fantastic but (passengers) are going to need to anticipate when the feeder routes may end,” said Owens. The head of the union that represents transit drivers welcomed Thursday’s commitment to help prepare drivers for the new routes. In the meantime, he urged the public to be patient. “We are concerned about people being impatient with this change, taking out their frustrations on the others… riding the bus or our operators,” said Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505. Transit will provide drivers with business cards that contain QR codes that they can give to passengers to look up information en route, he said. “That’s something small and convenient that an operator can grab at the garage to hand out to anybody that they can’t give the answer to,” he said. Scott said driver staffing levels have greatly improved due to the ongoing “hiring blitz,” though about 80 more operators would be needed to meet the full service level in the fall. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Speed reduction coming to bike routes (Apr30'25)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '25

30 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. SPEED REDUCTION COMING TO BIKE ROUTES AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS must soon slow down to ease travel for cyclists as the weather warms up. Reduced speed limits will take effect on sections of four seasonal bike routes, beginning Thursday. Speeds will drop to the following limits: ● 30 km/h on Lyndale Drive, between Cromwell and Gauvin streets; ● 30 km/h on Wellington Crescent, from Academy Road to Academy Road at Maryland Street; ● 30 km/h on Churchill Drive between Hay Street and Jubilee Avenue; ● 40 km/h on Kilkenny Drive between Burgess Avenue and Kings Drive, and on Kings Drive between Kilkenny and Patricia Avenue. The speed reductions will remain in effect at all hours through late October.

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WFP: Bike registry sees promising signs of success (Apr24'25)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '25

24 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Bike registry sees promising signs of success https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/04/23/registry-sees-pro… A FREE-TO-USE bicycle registry is being credited with helping the city steer more stolen bikes back to their rightful owners. In April 2024, the City of Winnipeg began urging cyclists to register their bikes through the 529 Garage app. Between April and December, residents registered 6,325 bicycles. Last year, 1,440 bikes were stolen, 681 were recovered and 105 were returned to their owners, including 64 returned by the city’s bicycle recovery officer. “I think the numbers are really promising. Looking specifically at returns made from our bike recovery officer, going from 22 in 2023 up to 64 in 2024, to me, that’s a really good step in the right direction,” said Terry Cormier, the city’s licensing co-ordinator. In 2023, 1,451 bikes were stolen, 572 were recovered and 22 bikes were returned by the officer. Between 2020 and 2022, 12 to 15 stolen bikes were returned by the recovery officer to their owners each year. In 2024, another 29 bikes were returned by Winnipeg Police Service and 12 were returned by fellow users of the 529 Garage app. The number of bikes returned to owners by police and the public wasn’t available for previous years on Wednesday. Mayor Scott Gillingham, who championed the new registration system, welcomed its early signs of success. “It makes it much more difficult for (someone) to resell a bike if they steal (it) and a lot easier for our police and others to reunite that stolen bike with the owner … These numbers show that this registry is working,” said Gillingham. In one case, police were called to a store to reclaim a bike brought in for repair and make arrests, after a staff member confirmed through 529 Garage it was stolen, the mayor said. Cormier said the fact thousands of Winnipeggers registered for the app is also promising, though all local bike owners should do so. “If somebody reports their bike on the app as stolen, an alert goes out to (owners of) all bicycles registered in that area … This really enables us … to track stolen bikes and return them,” he said. A cycling advocate said he has heard anecdotal success stories linked to the app. “I think it does seem to be making an improvement,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. However, registration is just “one piece” of the response needed to address daunting levels of bike theft, he said. Cohoe said two of his bikes were stolen over the years, which he reported to police. Neither was returned. “We hear fear of theft is one of the things that prevents people from riding more,” he said. A total of 1,483 bikes were stolen in Winnipeg in 2020, followed by 1,572 in 2021, 1,674 in 2022, 1,451 in 2023 and 1,440 in 2024, according to Winnipeg Police Service data. Cohoe suspects the actual number is higher, suggesting many thefts go unreported. He’d like the city to require that new buildings include secure indoor bike parking areas, such as in multi-family and office structures, to help better prevent theft. Charles Feaver, chair of Bike Winnipeg’s bike theft prevention committee, said the app is reassuring some people. Feaver said it recently helped a cyclist whose expensive cargo bike was stolen get it back within a week. “It’s a bureaucratic chore that you’ve got to take a picture of your bike and figure out its serial number. But, if you do it, you have a chance of getting your bike back,” he said. “We’re (also) making people (aware) that half the bike thefts are normally from your own property … A lot of bikes are stolen unlocked from (inside) garages.” Gillingham said the city could consider requiring secure indoor bike parking in some buildings, though he believes demand for that feature is already leading it to be included more often. “Having secure bike storage … is something that’s really an attractive feature for building owners,” he said. The Winnipeg Police Service said no one was available to comment on bike theft Wednesday. When it began promoting 529 Garage, the city stopped accepting new registrations to its own online registry, which required a $7.35 fee. Serial numbers previously added to that registry will be checked to help reconnect owners with recovered bikes until May 1, 2026. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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FP Community Review: ‘Elmwood Guy’ to publish book on municipal finances
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '25

23 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ‘Elmwood Guy’ to publish book on municipal finances https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/east/2025/04/23/have-blog… When Michel Durand-Wood started a blog on municipal financial issues, he didn’t know where it would take him — but what a journey it has been. On May 20, Great Plains Press will publish You’ll Pay For This!, Durand-Wood’s first book, which is also the first in The City Project, a series edited by Durand-Wood and his wife Emma Durand-Wood, which will tackle “the components that go into making a thriving city.” “I never did think it would get to this,” laughed Durand-Wood. “I’d been sort of interested in city finances, following the closure of the Kelvin Community Centre in my neighbourhood. Why were we closing stuff and why was stuff not getting fixed? You have money for everything, you don’t need to prioritize things. So why don’t we have enough money?” Chair of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association, Durand-Wood has been involved in grassroots initiatives such as ReImagine Elmwood, which have had a direct positive impact on the neighbourhood he calls home. In 2018, in response to the failed referendum to open Portage and Main up to pedestrians, Durand-Wood launched the blog Dear-Winnipeg.com with the intent of debunking myths about municipal finance. “That was a wake-up call,” Durand-Wood, a father of three who blogs as the ‘Elmwood Guy’, said. “My goal was to educate my fellow Winnipeggers on the financial backdrop to all the policy decisions that we make in the city, be it transportation, or housing, or recreation.” Since then, Durand-Wood has written regularly on his blog, which has gained a broad readership not just locally, but also internationally. The blog has led to speaking engagements both in Winnipeg and beyond. (Interestingly, the city has since come around to opening Portage and Main to pedestrians.) “Now, probably 60 per cent who read the blog are from outside of Winnipeg,” Durand- Wood said. “That’s cool to see. We’re writing about Winnipeg, but it’s also writing about common struggles of the North American city.” You’ll Pay For This! will also be available in the U.S. and U.K. on June 24, proof that Winnipeg isn’t the only city grappling with institutional financial issues. The book, Durand-Wood explained, is intended to be an introduction to municipal finance for the layperson. “This, in broad terms, lays out the same topics I’ve been writing about, in a nice approachable book that you can get through on a Sunday afternoon and learn about how money flows through a city and what are the things we need to pay more attention to in order to have a city that can pay its expenses sustainably,” he said. “What are the things we need to understand, essentially, as the owners of the city? We’re not customers. We’re the owners, and we need to understand if our city is doing well or poorly, and if it’s the latter, how can we turn things around.” While Durand-Wood admits there is much to bemoan when it comes to the issues facing our city, he is ultimately hopeful. “We didn’t get here overnight, and we’re not going to get out of this overnight,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of effort, both individually and collectively. We can change how we approach things. The agency rests with us. We can do something about it. We can’t wait for someone to rescue us. Nobody is coming. If something is going to happen, it’s going to have to be us. Everyone has a role to play. It all adds up and works together.” The local launch of You’ll Pay For This! will be at McNally Robinson Booksellers (40001200 Grant Ave.) on Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. Hosted by Patty Wiens, a.k.a. the Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg, the event will feature games, a small talk from Durand-Wood, a Q& A period, and a book signing.

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Momentum Mag: Paris Proves the Power of Pedals: How Cycling Helped Cut Pollution in Half
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '25

17 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. It didn’t happen overnight, but Paris is forever changed, and now local residents of the French capital are reaping the rewards. Top of list? Cleaner air. A lot cleaner. Full Article<https://momentummag.com/paris-proves-the-power-of-pedals-how-cycling-helped…>

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WFP: Cyclists upset as city backpedals on speed limit (Apr16'25)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '25

16 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Cyclists upset as city backpedals on speed limit https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/04/15/cyclists-put-off-… CYCLISTS say they’re frustrated an interim solution to protect them on the section of Wellington Crescent where a cyclist died last year has been delayed by two months. The civic public works committee on Monday voted to let the civil service have more time to determine an interim solution “to improve safety for cyclists, ahead of a more permanent WalkBike design study for separated cycling infrastructure… to allow for consideration for initial implementation in 2025.” Patty Wiens, who was given the title Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg by BYCS, an Amsterdam organization made up of bike enthusiasts, and who is on the board of Bike Winnipeg, said cyclists are not happy. “We’re tired of waiting,” Wiens said on Tuesday. “June 6 is the one-year anniversary of Rob Jenner’s death and we feel this has been kicked down the road for some time. How much is a human life worth? What are we waiting for?” Wiens said the street needs protected bike lanes and a reduced speed limit. “It is a high-traffic corridor there,” she said. Wiens criticized public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes, who was the Winnipeg Trails co-ordinator before she was elected a decade ago. “People are dying,” she said. “(Lukes) is not an advocate. She is on the other side now.” Jenner, 61, was cycling on Wellington Crescent on June 6 when he was struck by a vehicle travelling 159 km/h per hour — more than three times the speed limit. Beckham Severight, 19, was sentenced last month to three years in custody and banned from driving for five years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision. In December, city council rejected a motion to reduce the year-round speed limit on Wellington Crescent, from River Avenue to Academy Road to 30 km/h from 50 km/h. Some councillors said they had misgivings about approving a speed limit change before consulting traffic experts. Instead, they asked for a report on how to make the street safer for cyclists. Lukes, who said she was taken aback by some of Wiens’ comments, continues to push for changes to make Wellington Crescent safer for cyclists. “If they think it’s so easy, put your name on the ballot,” she said. “This is a regional street, this isn’t just a residential street. They want to do it right, so if it takes another month to make it right, so be it.” Lukes said contrary to the belief of cycling advocates that the process is too slow, the opposite is true. “Never in my 10 years of advocating, as Winnipeg Trails co-ordinator, and 10 years being elected, have I ever seen such rapid action by the public service on such a major initiative as Wellington,” she said. “This is an incredibly fast turnaround.” “I say to advocates, change is coming. It will be in place in either June or July if council approves, and I fully expect a majority of council will approve.” Lukes said another study, whether to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h or 40 km/h on residential streets throughout the city, is expected to be discussed at the same committee meeting in two months. “I believe speed changes on Wellington are being recommended in the report,” she said. kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: City installing traffic-calming measures on River Heights street to slow rush-hour shortcut seekers (Apr8'25)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City installing traffic-calming measures on River Heights street to slow rush-hour shortcut seekers https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/04/08/city-installing-t… Several traffic-calming changes are headed to Cambridge Street following complaints that rush-hour drivers use the route as a shortcut. City staff will add new speed humps, traffic-calming curbs and turn restrictions to help reduce the speed of travel and the number of vehicles using the River Heights residential street. A long-term traffic management plan will be developed after those changes have been in place for about a year. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said she supports the upcoming changes. “I’ve parked on Cambridge, going to visit someone, and I was overwhelmed at the volume and speed (of traffic). (There are) many streets that we need to deal with that have this scenario,” said Lukes (Waverley West). “The key goal is to calm traffic down, slow the traffic down by changing the built environment.” This year, initial changes will add: permanent speed humps on Cambridge and Oxford streets between Academy Road and Corydon Avenue; temporary speed humps on Wilton Street; road narrowing with traffic-calming curbs at multiple points along Cambridge between Corydon and Grant avenues; a right-turn restriction for weekday-morning rush-hour heading northbound at Waverley Street/Mathers Avenue; and temporary speed humps in the back lane of Ebby Avenue. The councillor said the changes aim to avoid creating new traffic woes nearby, as many drivers in River Heights try to avoid congested main arteries such as Route 90. “When we put traffic calming on one street, traffic is like water — it will flow to the next street…. This is why it really took a while to really do an analysis on it to see how we could calm traffic with the least amount of neighbourhood impact,” said Lukes. The work will cost about $100,000, unless changes are made following public feedback. The changes will be funded within the department’s existing budget. The city plans to inform residents about the traffic-calming measures through postcards and an online survey. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca> X: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City employee charged with hit-and-run infractions (Apr8'25)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Apr '25

08 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City employee charged with hit-and-run infractions ‘Like a slap on the wrist,’ victim says https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/04/07/man-faces-traffic… A CITY of Winnipeg employee is facing three Highway Traffic Act charges in connection to an early morning hit-and-run that left a 25-year-old pedestrian with serious injuries. The vehicle involved in the March 15 collision at Osborne Street and Mulvey Avenue East was a Ford Transit panel van registered to the city, the Winnipeg Police Service said Monday. “It did take some time to conclusively identify the vehicle,” police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said. The collision happened at about 12:30 a.m., while the victim, Margaret (Macey) Cobiness, was trying to cross Mulvey in front of a stopped westbound van. After she was hit and knocked to the ground, the van’s driver turned and drove north on Osborne, without stopping at the scene, police said. The city employee faces charges of careless driving causing a life-threatening injury, failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian and failing to stop and provide particulars to an injured person. Cobiness, who suffered fractures to her pelvis, hip, collarbone and ribs as well as scrapes and bruises, had hoped for more serious charges. “I wasn’t too happy with the charges. It’s more like a slap on the wrist for him,” she told the Free Press. The City of Winnipeg wouldn’t provide details about the employee or his employment status following his arrest. “We are not able to comment further on this as it is a police and human resources matter,” city spokesman David Driedger wrote in an email. Cobiness was walking to a bar in Osborne Village to play pool when she was struck. She said she made eye contact with the van’s driver before stepping off the curb. After being run over, the driver backed up and drove over her a second time, she said. A suspect turned himself in at the police department’s downtown headquarters April 2, about two weeks after police issued a public appeal to help locate the vehicle involved and identify the alleged driver. “My understanding is that once the driver of that vehicle was established, they were co-operative,” Mc-Kinnon said. In the March 17 appeal, police encouraged the driver of a large white cargo-style van to call investigators in the traffic division. Cobiness said investigators informed her of the arrest, but didn’t know the suspect was a city worker. “The police said he turned himself in and he told the police he thought he hit a curb,” she said. The man was released on a court appearance notice, which police said was mandated by the provincial Highway Traffic Act. McKinnon said the charges that were laid are common for a hit-and-run. There was no evidence to substantiate any other charges or offences, she added. “There didn’t appear to be criminal negligence or malice attached to it. Once this goes to court, it will be established if the driver was aware (of the collision) or not,” McKinnon said. Cobiness, a mother of two, originally from Buffalo Point First Nation in southeastern Manitoba, spent about two weeks in hospital, where she underwent surgery for her injuries. She continues to recover physically and emotionally. Cobiness said she is using a wheelchair and walker, struggles to sleep at night and is still in pain. “I’m learning to walk again. I probably will never walk again properly. I’m not confident that it will be the same after,” she said. The city employee’s name was not released by police because the charges have not yet been formally laid. Police did not release his age. The information was held back for anonymity purposes, according to Mc-Kinnon. It was unclear if the City of Winnipeg van was equipped with GPS. McKinnon said surveillance video was part of the investigation. “It’s always common practice to involve solicitation of video, whether it’s private or public or city camera systems, as well as talk to a number of witnesses, to confirm and get more concrete information, which led to a licence plate and a registration leading to this vehicle,” she said. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Analysis: We can do better than ‘Just Slow Down’
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '25

05 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. We can do better than ‘Just Slow Down’ JEFFREY HODGINS https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2025/04/05/we-can-do-bet… THE Free Press story Speed hit 213 km/h, police say, published March 27, brought to mind an experience of my own. In 2017, I was hit head-on by a vehicle exceeding the speed limit on the same road, in the same area. The driver was suffering from a medical issue, and had accidentally locked his foot onto the gas pedal. I had minor injuries, but my 2004 Santa Fe and the front foyer of the Marigold restaurant didn’t make it; I never found out what happened to the driver. I was glad to see the driver of this most recent collision arrested, but what stood out to me is this: in an early online version of this article, the Winnipeg Police Service reminded us that collisions are not accidents: “If it is predictable, it is preventable.” Yes, occurrences of speeding, as well as collisions on many Winnipeg roads, are rather predictable. In fact, with how St. Mary’s Road was specifically engineered, they’re practically a yearly guarantee. A 17-year-old was killed in 2022 (‘ A terrible thing’: Teen dead after St. Mary’s Road crash, Oct. 19, 2022) a few streets over from the “notorious curve” where speeding caused another collision. What has changed since then? The twisted metal, broken glass and shattered plastic were swept away… and then? Forgotten. No lessons learned, no change to the road’s design, nothing. A child died and we so quickly forgot. The WPS stated in the aftermath of the March 26 collision, “The overall strategy of the Winnipeg Police Service continues to focus on making city streets safe for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. We all have a part to play in maintaining road safety and our message is simple: Just Slow Down.” But is it as simple as that? Sure, there would be a slight change if we even lowered the speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h; it’s better than nothing. But would this actually rectify the issue? Drivers could still feel comfortable driving to over twice or even three times the limit. The design of St. Mary’s Road, along with many other Winnipeg streets built in the post-streetcar era, prioritizes speed at the cost of safety to those inside or outside of a vehicle. These roads were built for vehicles to travel fast, not necessarily safely. Therein lies the issue with the “Just Slow Down” campaign. While well intentioned, it falls short by focusing solely on individual behaviour rather than the systemic issues that permit these collisions. You can tell a driver to slow down, but ultimately driving is a subconscious activity. Driving would be exhausting if every single operation of the vehicle required your full attention (this is why distracted driving is so common). I can guarantee there is no driver who obsessively checks their speedometer every few seconds to ensure they are driving at or under the limit. People will drive at the engineered “comfort” of the road. What we need are engineered roads that force drivers to be attentive — narrow or curved streets with visual/ physical cues to the driver to signal to them that it would be dangerous to themselves or their vehicle to go above the designed road speed. We need a team of traffic engineers to review crash data to see how improvements could be made to lower collisions and improve safety before more lives are taken or injuries occur. We need our city leaders to demand a true goal to put an end to traffic fatalities in our communities. These are commonplace in many other cities, but not Winnipeg. If we continue to build roads that encourage high speeds, we should not be surprised when drivers take advantage of them, predictably putting lives at risk. Jeffrey Hodgins is a lifelong Winnipeg resident, passionate about public safety and his community’s health.

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CBC What on Earth: How getting rid of mandatory parking minimums is helping the climate
by Beth McKechnie 03 Apr '25

03 Apr '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. How getting rid of mandatory parking minimums is helping the climate https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-parking-minimums-1.7500760 Last October, I was sitting on a streetcar, stopped at a light on Queen Street East in Toronto, when something caught my eye. It was a city notice about a proposed 60-storey condominium with 701 residences that would have parking for 701 bicycles — and just nine cars. I was surprised over just how few spaces there were for cars. Nine? For more than 700 units? I told my colleague Emily Chung, who wasn’t surprised at all. She explained that, until recently, the City of Toronto had mandatory parking minimums, where buildings were required to have a certain number of parking spaces depending on their size. It turns out that more and more cities in North America are removing these minimums<https://newsletters.cbc.ca/c/16HHa0vOOLSDg3mJW0PyXwlMXpl6i>. And the good news is that it’s great for the climate and the environment. Let’s talk about parking when it comes to condominiums and apartment buildings rather than above-ground parking for malls and homes, since big cities are continually building up rather than out. A 2022 study<https://newsletters.cbc.ca/c/16HHa0L0TVyuKtmxREHcslA9dcaKF> for the City of Vancouver estimated that a decrease of 10 underground parking spaces could reduce CO2 emissions between 50 tonnes to as high as 8,500 tonnes. They also noted that the minimum impact of constructing one parking space is almost equal to one year of the operation of a car, and the maximum impact is close to the operation of a car for close to 19 years. That’s a lot of CO2 emissions. “For each level of parking you remove, you can reduce the [greenhouse gas emissions] of a building by about 15 per cent,” said Shoshanna Saxe, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's department of civil and mineral engineering and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure. “The simplest, easiest thing you can do to make your building more sustainable is not have a whole bunch of underground parking.” Another study<https://newsletters.cbc.ca/c/16HHa10cZ5emeTmlNiyPXaOvsZ0p2>, by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that was released in 2024, noted that the environmental impacts of constructing underground parking spaces are far-reaching, including the displacement of soil that is taken elsewhere and potentially passing on dangerous microorganisms. And removing the soil also means a larger carbon footprint as these trucks may need to drive hundreds of kilometres to dispose of it. And let’s not forget that once the ground is dug up, trapped CO2 is also released into the atmosphere. Now, while cities across Canada and the U.S. are moving away from these parking minimums, they’re not doing so for the climate or the environment, Saxe noted. It’s the cost. A 2024 study<https://newsletters.cbc.ca/c/16HHa1fp4eUdJjm9IWqts02RILQ3p> by the Altus Group, which provides asset and fund information for commercial real estate, found that building underground parking in Vancouver ranges anywhere from $160 to $250 per square foot. For comparison, surface parking would cost between $12 to $25 per square foot. In Toronto, underground parking ranges $175 to $300 per square foot, while surface parking ranges from $15 to $30. Reducing parking minimums means housing becomes more affordable. “Before Toronto rolled back mandatory minimum parking requirements, you were seeing … lots of buildings where they had way more parking than anybody wanted,” Saxe said. “People just wouldn't claim them, and they have to be absorbed, in general, by the costs in the building.” The CMHC study also noted that there is less need for parking minimums, as our lifestyles have changed. More people are turning to ride shares, they noted. And after the COVID pandemic, more people are working from home, even if it’s only part of the time. Of course, getting rid of parking means there needs to be a robust transit system in place, something that some cities, like Toronto, are aiming to improve by building new transit lines. Bike lanes are another important factor, she noted. Finally, Saxe said that we need to stop making driving such an attractive method of getting around. “People behave within the system that we build for them. And so if we say this is a place you get to by parking, we signal it with providing a lot of parking,” she said. “Then we're incentivizing people to drive, which leads to more air pollution of all kinds.” Saxe said she is happy to see more cities move away from mandatory parking minimums. “I think that in many ways, while it was driven by cost, getting rid of mandatory minimums is one of the best sustainability policies that's been passed in many cities around North America in the last 10 years,” she said. — Nicole Mortillaro

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WFP: Business case for Chief Peguis Trail extension ordered (Mar29'25)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Mar '25

29 Mar '25

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. BUSINESS CASE FOR CHIEF PEGUIS TRAIL EXTENSION ORDERED https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2025/03/28/around-city-hall-9 A MAJOR road project that could cost more than $900 million is moving forward for further study. On Thursday night, city council voted to order an independent value for money assessment of the Chief Peguis Trail Extension and consider alternative delivery methods for the project. A report is due back in December. Extending the trail from Main Street to Brookside Boulevard would cost $755 million, plus $147 million in interest, if the city funds it solely through debt. In 2019, it was expected to cost $449 million, plus $38 million in interest (if funded by debt). Mayor Scott Gillingham has argued the project is worth its hefty tab, since it would better connect trade routes. Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) joined councillors John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) and Matt Allard (St. Boniface) to oppose moving the project forward, arguing the city has more pressing infrastructure priorities. “It’s not a need when we have crumbling infrastructure, like the Louise Bridge that could be closing any day now,” said Gilroy.

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