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Proposed downtown bike lanes would slash on-street parking: report

Cycling advocate says changes would make streets safer

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/07/17/proposed-downtown-...

NEW bike routes proposed for downtown Winnipeg could result in the removal of nearly 150 parking stalls.

The City of Winnipeg is sharing options for routes on St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue and Cumberland Avenue and William Stephenson Way, as part of the Centre-Plan 2050 vision to transform the city centre.

A cycling advocate said the proposed changes appear positive.

“These are pretty important east-west routes to get in, both the Notre Dame and Cumberland and the York/ St. Mary. So, it’s really critical that we do get those… it adds a fair bit of connectivity,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg.

City staff recommend one-way protected bike lanes on both St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue, which a report predicts would be easier for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely and have less impact on traffic flow than a two-way route.

The design would keep three vehicle lanes on each street.

The city also recommends a two-way protected bike lane for each of the north side of Cumberland Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue, which would lose one vehicle lane.

“One of the things I’m definitely happy to see in it is we’ve got enough width in there for people to be able to pass each other safely and that’s really critical, especially as we see more and more electric bikes… (add) more variation in speed,” said Cohoe.

Combined, the changes would remove 148 parking stalls from St. Mary, York, Notre Dame and Cumberland avenues.

Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said he is concerned small retail businesses and restaurants could lose customers due to the proposed parking stall reduction, as some folks seek closer parking elsewhere.

“For those businesses that really depend on short visits… like retail businesses, I really do think this would impact them,” said Browaty.

While he acknowledged the city wants Winnipeggers to rely more on active transportation and less on trips in their personal vehicles, the councillor said he’d prefer the city add more temporary, seasonal bike lanes from May to September and remove the barriers for the rest of the year.

“I really don’t believe a lot of the population are going to become winter cyclists… I don’t believe (enough) people are using these pieces of infrastructure in the fall or winter. So put the parking back (then),” he said.

However, council’s public works chairwoman welcomed the changes, noting the city’s Transportation Master Plan calls for more bike lanes and sidewalks.

“We’ve got a lot of missing gaps (in active transportation routes) downtown, so I think this is great,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West).

Lukes said reduced downtown parking could help attract new residents to the area as the city tries to make it more accessible by foot and by bike.

“Downtown needs to be a neighbourhood… It needs things like other neighbourhoods have, like bike lanes and connectivity and parks,” she said.

A city spokesman said Winnipeg’s active transportation planner was not available for an interview on Wednesday.

In an email, spokesman Kalen Qually noted 150 parking stalls would remain on St. Mary and York avenues after the proposed changes, along with “numerous off-street surface parking lots and parkades.”

Qually said there’s less demand for parking than in the past.

“Our analysis shows there are still less people driving (and parking) downtown for work and meetings now compared to five years ago due to remote-work options, and that has, in part, created opportunities to reallocate space within the right of way,” he wrote.

Since road reconstruction projects are planned for both St. Mary Avenue and York Avenue between 2025 and 2027, finalized bike lanes are expected to be included in that work. There is no timeline or funding approved for bike lanes on Notre Dame or Cumberland at this point.

The city has also completed designs to widen several sidewalks along William Stephenson Way and Waterfront Drive to become multi-use pathways, though the proposal also lacks dedicated funding and a target timeline. Further study is needed to address traffic concerns at the intersection of William Stephenson Way and Waterfront Drive, the city report notes.

The city is seeking public feedback on the changes before a final plan is approved.

Winnipeggers can attend pop-up events to weigh in, including one at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at True North Square’s outdoor plaza (223 Carlton St.) A second event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Central Park (367 Ellice Ave.), while residents can also register online to attend a Zoom event from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.camailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga