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Cyclists upset as city backpedals on speed limit

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/04/15/cyclists-put-off-b...

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@freepress.mb.camailto:kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca