City boosts bike path plowing

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This article was published 01/11/2023 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Snow is expected to be removed from most active transportation routes in less than two days this winter, as the city adds special plows to its snow-clearing arsenal.

Avid cyclists hope more snow-free paths will mean fewer road rage incidents, as cyclists won’t be forced into the street.

Michael Cantor, the city’s manager of streets maintenance, said snow days for active transportation paths will be shorter, now that the city has added 15 new bike path and sidewalk snow-clearing machines to its fleet of 31.

Cantor said the extra machines, coupled with ones owned by private contractors, will allow the city to clear the sidewalks and paths along major streets and bus routes within 36 hours, if five centimetres of snow has fallen. Paths and sidewalks beside residential streets will be cleared in five days.

“These machines are like a small truck plow that has a blade at the front or a snow blower and they are both on these new units,” he said. “They can also pull sand behind them. They look exactly like a snow blower you use at home only they are bigger, wider and stronger.”

Cantor said the extra machines should allow the city to meet snow-clearance times mandated by council.

St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard, who regularly cycles to city hall from his ward, said he’s pleased the city has more capacity to clear bike paths because it is safer for cyclists and reduces road rage incidents.

But Allard said he has noticed a change in how cyclists are treated on the streets in recent years.

“I think attitudes are changing. There’s an understanding now that there are many road users, not only motorists, but also cyclists and pedestrians,” he said. “Yes, there are still some moments where a motorist, when there is no active transportation route or it hasn’t been plowed, gets upset and they honk or they come close, but I think public opinion is moving to a much greater appreciation for those who use active transportation.

“In general, we need to be kind to each other.”

Bike Winnipeg’s Mark Cohoe said he has also noticed more positive change in peoples’ attitudes while cycling.

He said it could be because there are more bike paths in the city — and more are on their way, including paths along River and Stradbrook avenues, as well as Goulet Street and University Crescent.

But there are still major gaps, Cohoe said, including Regent and Nairn avenues, where there aren’t dedicated bike paths.

Ian Walker, an elementary school teacher, said he was recently targeted in a road rage incident on Nairn.

“The driver in a pickup truck didn’t like I was taking the lane and he came up behind me and then went around me horn blaring, scaring me,” Walker said. “I then felt a bunch of liquid on me and thought it was a snowball. It turned out it was coffee. I had to go to a meeting with principals covered with coffee.

Walker said motorists have vented their rage at him in the past when he had to pedal on the street with no bike path, or when it was filled with snow.

Despite the recent incident on Nairn, Walker said it is still better to ride a bike now than a few years ago.

“I think it is getting better, honestly. I think people are more tolerant.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca