Speed limit proposed for bike paths

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/10/05/speed-limit-propos...

A WINNIPEG councillor’s bid to create a speed limit for bicycles, electric bikes and scooters on active- transportation pathways is raising questions of whether such a restriction would be adequately enforced.

Coun. Shawn Dobson argued a speed limit is necessary for the safety for all path users.

“I’m trying to be proactive on our pathways because we have a number of bicycles, e-bikes, etc., that are going too fast,” the St. James councillor said Thursday. “I could see this getting much worse.”

The potential for collisions increases with speed, he said, noting the growing use of e-bikes and scooters.

A motion raised by Dobson at city council’s Sept. 29 meeting asks city staff to study the matter and report back. The motion was referred to the public works committee’s Oct. 10 meeting for consideration.

“I just thought it made sense. We can’t turn them into raceways,” he said.

Dobson wants staff to look at what other cities are doing. Calgary has a speed limit of 20 km/h for its paths and sidewalks. Fines range between $100 and $400.

Dobson’s motion doesn’t recommend a specific speed limit or fine for Winnipeg.

“It could be 10, 20 km/h,” he said.

The limit would apply to bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices, according to the motion, which states many Winnipeggers are afraid to use pathways because they fear being in a collision.

Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act sets a restriction of 32 km/h when power-assisted bicycles are using an electric motor of up to 500 watts. The minimum driving age is 14. Helmets are required.

Only bicycles with a rear wheel diameter of 410 millimetres or less are allowed on sidewalks.

Enforcement of a city-imposed speed limit on pathways could be an issue, according to some cyclists and e-bike users, as well as public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes.

“The police have more important things to do,” said Jeff Bowes, manager of retailer EBike Winnipeg. He thinks a speed limit is a good idea.

Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said a speed restriction shouldn’t be viewed as the only solution for matters such as safety.

“It’s something we have to consider, but we have to consider carefully,” he said.

“We have to look for solutions that are going to work for us and be enforceable and manageable and fair.”

He would like cities to consider ways to integrate e-bikes into current and future active-transportation networks. The bikes exploded in popularity when many of Winnipeg’s paths were already in place or designed.

Bowes agreed Winnipeg must be more bike-friendly. He and Cohoe said a majority of people who would be affected by a speed limit ride responsibly.

Ian Walker, an e-bike user and spokesman for Safe Speeds Winnipeg, believes the increase in electric bicycles, coupled with limited space on paths, is leading to more complaints about speed.

There is a need for wider and more pathways, he said.

“Our paths are small. There is not a lot of space for passing, which is a problem,” said Walker.

He encouraged people to slow down when passing.

Lukes, who supports a speed limit on paths, recently discussed e-bikes with police after some residents contacted her with questions.

“It is definitely time to take a look at this and make a decision on what we’re going to do,” the deputy mayor said.

Whatever the city chooses to do, it must not discourage people from using bicycles or e-bikes, she said.

Lukes believes an effective education campaign would encourage a large majority of people to comply with a speed limit.

“I think, sometimes, things can self-enforce,” she said.

Safe Speeds Winnipeg has lobbied city council to reduce the speed limit for vehicles to 30 km/h on all residential streets. Doing so would reduce the risk of fatal or serious injury collisions, while encouraging more cyclists or e-bike riders to use the roads, it argues.

That proposal should be a higher priority for council than speed restrictions on paths, Walker said.

Dobson does not support lowering the speed limit for all residential streets.

“There’s no way people would follow that,” he said.

Last March, the city turned four streets into 30- or 40-km/h zones as part of a pilot project.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @chriskitching