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Winnipeg Free Press > Local > Cyclists won't share roadway with cars: Katz

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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Cyclists won't share roadway with cars: Katz

Groups plan noon demonstration

By: Bartley Kives

25/06/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 16

WINNIPEG — The so-called gap in the bike-and-pedestrian path Winnipeg plans to build alongside the southwest rapid transit corridor will not force cyclists to share a narrow underpass with motor vehicles, the city's construction boss and Mayor Sam Katz insist in response to claims by a coalition of non-profit organizations.

Today, The Forks, the Winnipeg Trails Association and five other groups plan to hold a noon demonstration to decry a 500-metre gap in the active-transportation pathway that will run from Queen Elizabeth Way to Jubilee Avenue by 2011 and then on to the University of Manitoba by the middle of the next decade.

The $138-million city plan to build the 3.6-kilometre first phase of the southwest bus corridor includes a bike-and-pedestrian path dedicated entirely for people on foot, bikes or inline skates, except for a section in and around the Osborne Street CN Rail underpass south of Confusion Corner.

The Forks-led coalition claims the city and province have reneged on a promise to build a dedicated bike path alongside the forthcoming busway. But the so-called gap is only temporary -- and will not require cyclists to drive on any roads, said Brad Sacher, the acting director of Winnipeg's public works department.

When transportation engineers drew up the busway plans, the cost of a bike bridge over the CN Rail line turned out to be $20 million, given the height of the clearance required above moving trains, Sacher said.

An alternate plan to build a bike-and-pedestrian tunnel below the rail line would only cost $15 million, but would be pointless because the city is already planning to replace the Osborne underpass within five or 10 years, he added.

The city will build a dedicated active-transportation path through the underpass when it widens the Osborne underpass, he pledged. In the meantime, one of the sidewalks will be redesignated for cyclists and a new traffic signal for bikes and pedestrians will be built at Osborne Street, south of the underpass, said Sacher, noting cyclists will only have to stop once during the entire ride on the new pathway.

"The reality of this is (the gap is) only a stretch of 500 metres in a 3.6-kilometre section of the first phase and ultimately a 10-kilometre full phase," he said.

Spending $15 million on a temporary fix that will cost next to nothing within a decade would be a waste of money, added the mayor.

"I would like to think no level of government wants to take taxpayers' money and flush it down the toilet," said Katz, adding cyclists and pedestrians should appreciate the major strides Winnipeg has made in active transportation in recent years.

The mayor also said Winnipeg's streets are not as dangerous as some cyclists suggest. On Bike To Work Day on June 19, he got home from a trip to Israel and drove downtown and back from his home in Tuxedo without incident, he said.

"I'm here today talking to you. I'm not the most advanced cyclist. If I can do it at my age, then people can do it," he said.

Nevertheless, the city should have made more of an effort to communicate its plan to deal with the gap in the new active-transportation corridor, Winnipeg Trails Association director Janice Lukes said in an email.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2009 A4

16 Commentscomment icon

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avatar

I think all cars should come with big, sharp spikes on the steering wheel instead of airbags. The safer they make them, the more invulnerable people feel, and the more reckless they become. People are like that.

I am all for people biking! BUT FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS CARS!!!!! STOP at stop signs! STOP at red lights! Wear a helmet! DONT Squeeze between a turning car and the curb, then get mad when the turning car almost hits you!!!!! I am an environmentalist and I walk 30 blocks to work and 30 blocks home everyday, and cant stand the majority of people on bikes! If people drove cars how people bike it would be insanity! BUT, to the few people that bike safely on the main roads, thank you, but you cant blame the people in cars for getting mad when the majority of people on bikes just do there thing with zero regard for the cars around them! There needs to be some kind of law enforcement to cyclists too.... sorry, I know you are making a choice that is beneficial to us all, but you cant expect to do whatever you want and not have people get mad/hurt.

And it is not this mayors fault that this city was designed around cars. At least he is trying to fix the mistakes of the past. If you want to have all major city streets redesigned for cyclists, start paying into autopac!

Dear 'senior lady' what cyclists contribute are taxes and, in the near future, I most likely won't be one of the people burdening our ailing health care system by being fat, lazy and sedentary all my life(like I'm pretty sure the majority of the people so-weirdly-opposed to cycling are).

Hate? I'm sorry you are so angry Jay. My children cycle to and from school months out of each school year and I only wish the city would make proper bicycle paths so my children could be safe while cycling.

I hate the militant biking minority in this city. All they do is whine whine whine!

Re Mayor Katz's comment "The mayor also said Winnipeg's streets are not as dangerous as some cyclists suggest. On Bike To Work Day on June 19, he got home from a trip to Israel and drove downtown and back from his home in Tuxedo without incident, he said." Please tell the truth mayor, you felt " safe" riding to work because assigned Police Cycling officers escorted you to and from work. Can we all get that protective cocoon to make us feel safer from aggressive drivers ?

avatar

Ya.. 500 meters.. did ya see what it's all about? the rail is designed for cars, not for the sidewalk.. There's sharp pointy aluminum beams sticking out of the concrete, if you ride too close and hit one of those, it's major pain time.

Senior Lady: So if the car lanes are congested, why don't you get out of your car and use the bike/bus corridor yourself? It's ready and waiting.

@Senior Lady
The cyclist contributes by taking their bikes, not causing pollution, extending the life cycle of the roadways and pay taxes JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!

Why not do the safe thing and put the bicycle riders in with all the biggest traffic on the road, say maybe transit buses !
Oh, I forgot, those are called diamond lanes .
Now all the riders are dead, injured or scared to death - problem solved .

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