New one-way street and angled parking causing driver confusion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2017 (3223 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Changes brought some confusion Monday to Bannatyne Avenue.

The newly minted, one-way section on the 100 block of Bannatyne had Winnipeg drivers all turned around, as many found themselves face-to-face with oncoming traffic and headed in the wrong direction.

New one-way street signs were little deterrent and within a half-hour at lunchtime, four vehicles came down the street the wrong way — with one almost colliding with an on-coming car.

One driver who found herself driving in the wrong direction was Barb Hilderman, who knows the area well, as work often brings her down to the Exchange District neighbourhood.

“I’m down here all the time. This end has always operated as a two-way and I didn’t realize it was going to be hard-and-fast a one-way now,” she told a reporter as a car came down the street in the wrong direction.

“There goes somebody else,” she said. “If angled parking gets us more parking that’s fantastic, because it’s always short of spaces down here. But I think you’re going to see some people coming down the road who weren’t aware of the change.”

The move to a one-way street was brought about by a city pilot project which features back-in, angled parking stalls on the road. The project, which officially began Monday, is set to last for eight months.

Formerly a two-way street, the section of Bannatyne Avenue between Rorie Street and Waterfront Drive was turned into a one-way to accommodate the extra space needed for the angled parking stalls.

However, some drivers seemed frustrated and confused Monday, as one driver took his car into a back alley after realizing he was driving against traffic.

Another man pulled out of a parking lot in an SUV, only to realize he’d turned the wrong way and had to reverse his vehicle back into the lot before pulling out again.

For Ruth McKenzie, the second time was the charm.

“I did that (drove the wrong way) yesterday,” said McKenzie. “So I came the right way today.

“I didn’t really like the new parking. I’m wondering why they would want everyone to back in? I come from a town where we did angled parking, but you could pull-in. Pulling in seems easier than backing in.”

The city has said feedback and response from the public and area business owners will factor into whether or not the changes become permanent. Should it prove popular, it may serve as a springboard for taking the design to other areas.

There will be no parking violations given on the revamped section of Bannatyne for the next month, as a grace period for those unaware of the changes will take place. Afterwards, a $70 ticket will be the punishment for an infraction.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca