Sunday drivers get warning

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This article was published 25/05/2015 (4048 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Motorists on four Winnipeg streets got off with verbal warnings Sunday, but hefty fines loom for those who drive too far on them on restricted days.

A traffic bylaw introduced by the city last August will result in more action in the coming weeks as police begin to ticket those who drive more than one block on Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive, Wolseley Avenue and Scotia Street on Sundays and holidays.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., those streets are meant to be enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians with reduced traffic, Const. Jason Michalyshen said Sunday.

The dates are fixed, with the restrictions occurring annually from the Sunday preceding Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, including all Sundays and statutory holidays between those dates, regardless of weather.

Drivers face a fine of $90.22 for driving more than the allotted one block through the bike routes.

There were previously barricades up on the four streets, reminding drivers that roadways were for “local traffic only” on Sundays and holidays. The barricades were removed this year and replaced with white signs at intersections, which read, “Motor vehicle travel limited to one block, 8:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays.”

“I think over time there was a lot of confusion as to what those barricades meant,” Michalyshen said. “We have to realize there are people who live in this community and who have to gain access to their homes and so forth. But also, there are roadways like Wellington Crescent, Lyndale, Wolseley and Scotia, that are streets that people really like to enjoy on those Sundays and holidays, with reduced traffic and a little bit more tranquillity.”

Wellington Crescent was teeming with cyclists, joggers and pedestrians Sunday as police began their soft launch of the new bylaw program. Two officers stopped nearly 300 vehicles driving down Wellington at Oxford Street, alerting them to the Sunday road rules still in place, regardless of the lack of barricades. All got off with a verbal warning.

Chris Frayer was stopped by the traffic unit Sunday and said he didn’t know there were new signs replacing the barricades.

“I don’t know what the problem would be with barricades going up, honestly. It’s a pretty profound reminder that you’re not supposed to be doing this,” he said.

Frayer said he is in favour of the Sunday and holiday street closures, but could see police’s traffic ticketing being misinterpreted.

“They’re just going to get criticized as a cash grab, too, when they start cracking down on it, like another revenue generator,” Frayer said. “They have to really balance the public message.”

Laura Lazo and John Markham were walking their dog on Wellington Crescent when they saw police stopping vehicles. They’ve lived on Montrose Street for 15 years and don’t usually see this much action.

“Sometimes there will be someone going maybe more than a block, but it’s really slow, so it’s not a problem. But every now and then, there’s someone who’s really cruising down,” Markham said.

“I remember one time somebody swearing at me because I was riding my bike on a Sunday on the street,” Lazo said. “For me, this (bylaw) is an asset for Winnipeg.”

Not having the barricades in place to warn drivers of wrongdoing will take some getting used to, police and pedestrians realize. But having a clear-cut bylaw in place will help police respond to infractions fairly, said Michalyshen.

“By getting rid of that ambiguity, we have a little more teeth with respect to what we can do with that particular driver,” said Michalyshen. “Every situation is different, but again, this isn’t about ticketing. This isn’t about handing out a (hand) full of tickets. It’s about changing behaviours.”