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Wellington Crescent: a call for timely action
RACHAEL ALGUIRE
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2024/12/11/wellington-cre...
IMAGINE walking down Wellington Crescent, the sun setting over the river, as neighbours meet and catch up. Someone cycles by after picking up their child from school, safely seated on a cargo bike. Families stroll along the sidewalk, sharing a space where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can co-exist together. This could be the year-round reality of one of Winnipeg’s most iconic streets.
Wellington Crescent, linking a historic, high-density neighbourhood to a world-class park, is currently failing its community. Inconsistent speed limits and a racetrack-like design have turned what should be a safe, shared space into a death trap.
The city’s executive policy committee has voted down the motion to lower the speed limit to 30 km/h year-round but approved plans for temporary bike lanes, which will go before full city council on Dec. 12. There is still a chance to revisit the speed limit reduction, and it’s essential the city doesn’t let this opportunity slip away. Making this stretch of road safer for all residents aligns with over 20 years of city reports advocating for this change. It’s time for the city to follow its own recommendations. Reducing the speed limit isn’t just a good thing to do — it’s a moral obligation.
We know that speed limits and traffic-calmed streets save lives. This motion comes nearly six months after the death of Rob Jenner, a cyclist killed by a speeding driver on Wellington Crescent. His passing adds to the growing list of names: Tammy Bateman in Fort Rouge Park; Doris Porter on Harry Lazarenko Bridge; and Nardia Bedward standing at a bus stop on Portage Avenue. These are just a few of the 14 pedestrians and two cyclists killed by traffic violence on Winnipeg streets this year alone. These weren’t “accidents.” They were completely preventable and the result of deadly road designs and decades of neglect.
How many more lives will Mayor Scott Gilligham gamble with before taking action? He’s seen study, after study, after study calling for slower speeds. He’s witnessed the ghost bikes and grieving families, yet he continues to do nothing. Every preventable death on our streets is a direct result of his inaction. How many more ghost bikes must appear before he finally acts?
The May-to-October 30 km/h limit on part of Wellington Crescent has already shown that slower traffic makes the space a place people want to be, not just move through. Extending this limit year-round from Academy Road to River Avenue would make this a safer, more welcoming space for everyone. So, what are we waiting for?
The excuse that enforcing a 30 km/h speed limit is too difficult is weak. Well-designed traffic calming and permanent cycling infrastructure will narrow the road, making it impossible to speed. These measures are proven to work in cities worldwide, and it’s time Winnipeg followed suit. Frankly, I don’t want another ghost bike put up on my street. At the Nov. 29 public works meeting, deputy mayor Janice Lukes said it best as she advocated for the change: “People, it’s going to take you three more minutes in your nice heated car.”
City leaders love to talk about a sustainable, forward-thinking Winnipeg. Policies like Our-Winnipeg 2045 and the draft Transportation Master Plan: 2050 lay out a vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building active transportation networks and creating vibrant neighbourhoods. But these goals are too distant. This motion on Wellington should have been passed on June 7, 2024, the day after Rob Jenner’s death. Yet here we are, six months later, still begging for the bare minimum.
The 2022 Enhanced Summer Bike Route survey showed strong public support for lower speeds on Wellington Crescent. People want safer streets — it’s that simple. Yet, the time it takes for most drivers to go through the Tim Hortons drive-thru is often considered more important than the lives of people who move around the city outside of a car.
Young people in this city are watching. Cars are a luxury we cannot afford and do not want.
We’re tired of living in a city where cars are king and driving is the default. We want a Winnipeg that values people over vehicles — a city where streets are safe, livable and vibrant. The city needs to think bigger and believe in a future where personal vehicles are no longer the dominant form of transportation and the needs of real people are prioritized.
Every neighbourhood deserves 30 km/h speed limits year-round. Slower speeds in residential areas transform streets into vibrant, shared spaces. Streets become places for connection, not just thoroughfares for cars. This shift encourages local businesses to thrive, as people are more likely to linger and engage in the community. In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, this kind of third space is needed more than ever.
This isn’t just about Wellington Crescent. It’s about what kind of city Winnipeg wants to be. Will we start making choices that reflect the needs of all our residents — not just those who can afford cars? Or will we keep enabling individuals who feel entitled to speed down our streets at the expense of everyone else?
To city council: the time for half-measures, more studies and excuses is over. The future of our city depends on the choices we make today. Let’s make it a place where people come first.
Pass this motion, including the speed limit reduction, and show us you value human lives. You owe it to the people you serve to act decisively and prevent any further tragedies.
Rachael Alguire is a Wellington Crescent resident.