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Widow of cyclist killed in hit-and-run pushes for speed-limit reduction as proposal moves ahead

‘I don’t want it to be too late for other families’

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/18/wellington-crescen...

THE widow of a cyclist killed on his way to work urged the city to reduce the speed limit on part of Wellington Crescent — where collisions and near misses continue — before tragedy strikes another family.

Rob Jenner, 61, was killed in a collision with a speeding vehicle while cycling to work on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street on June 6.

On Monday, Jenner’s wife urged the city centre community committee to take action.

“Although it’s too late for my husband, Rob Jenner, to benefit from separated bike lanes and lower speed limits on Wellington Crescent, I don’t want it to be too late for other families,” said Wendy Van Loon.

Van Loon said the area remains unsafe, though she believes a 30 km/h speed limit would reduce the risk, leading many drivers to slow down or avoid the route entirely.

“I’m hoping that the city will do something before another tragedy does occur … for all pedestrians, cyclists, neighbourhood people, transit users and even car drivers themselves,” Van Loon told reporters.

Beckham Severight, 19, pleaded guilty last month to dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident in the crash that killed Jenner. His sentencing date has not been set.

On Monday, the city centre committee voted in favour of reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h on Wellington Crescent, from River Avenue to Academy Road, until a protected bike lane is added along the route.

Any change to the speed limit would require full city council approval.

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said a “flood of calls” to her office noted road safety risks in the area warrant immediate attention.

“The motion (was) grounded in a whole host of dangerous situations. Accidents that get reported in my office on the routine, near misses that scare people,” said Rollins.

The councillor said bus stops have been damaged in crashes, while a fence at St. Mary’s Academy has been repeatedly hit by vehicles.

“The fence has got a car plowing through it and as soon as it’s fixed, it’s broken again,” said Rollins, noting two collisions were reported on Wellington the day Jenner died.

While acknowledging some people will “hate” the speed reduction, Rollins said she believes it would slow down many drivers at least to 40 km/h.

“I absolutely receive pushback from community when I make moves on 30 km (per hour speed limits). It’s not as popular as some might think, but I think the evidence points to (it being) the right thing to do to save lives and to keep the community safe,” she said.

While the vehicle that hit Jenner was travelling at least 159 km/h in a spot where the posted speed limit is 50 km/h, Rollins stressed the overall safety of the road would improve with a reduced speed limit.

During the committee meeting, area resident Steve West said he narrowly avoided being hit by a bus on Wellington in June.

“The weaving of traffic is a common and dangerous problem,” said West.

Van Loon and West both said they would prefer to see the 30 km/h speed limit applied permanently, even after any new bike lanes are in place.

Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said details about a future bike lane have yet to be determined and there is no set timeline to build one.

Cohoe said he would like to see vehicle lanes reduced to make room for a raised bike lane that creates a clear separation between modes of traffic on Wellington, which could prevent vehicles from weaving in and out of lanes used by cyclists.

“It (would) also provide better cues that you are in a slower speed zone as well,” he said.

Rollins originally pushed for the speed reduction to be implemented on a broader stretch of Wellington, from River Avenue to Kenaston Boulevard, but agreed to amend her motion after Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) expressed concerns about imposing the more extensive change without first receiving advice from city traffic experts.

“I’m shocked that we, as councillors, would decide to be traffic engineers. I think that’s quite a new step for me. I’m also a little shocked that there’s no referral to a (city staff) report,” said Orlikow.

In the summer, a seasonal bike route applies a 30 km/h speed limit to Wellington between Academy Road and Guelph Street, while the proposal would set a lower speed year-round until the new bike infrastructure is in place.

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