West Winnipeg resident fears stopped buses a neighbourhood danger

A Winnipeg woman fears idling buses in a no-parking zone near her home can obstruct drivers’ views and create a traffic risk.

Laurie McMillan said she’s complained about buses regularly stopping on Lumsden Avenue near Buchanan Boulevard since a near-collision took place at the site in the west Winnipeg Lakewood neighbourhood two years ago.

“I witnessed a mom on a bike with a toddler seat right behind her with a young one… and two kids on their bikes coming out of the back lane on Buchanan onto Lumsden where a bus was parked… blocking visibility… They almost got hit,” said McMillan. “The people on the bikes couldn’t see the oncoming traffic.”

She’s urged Winnipeg Transit to direct bus drivers to stop at the bus loop across the street, which is next to a washroom drivers regularly use.

Otherwise, she fears “it’s only a matter of time” before an accident happens.

“Every night, the kids are out playing… and the buses are still running. Maybe it’s a little bit of PTSD for me (after seeing the near-collision) but it just horrifies me every time the buses are parked there,” said McMillan.

In an email, Winnipeg Transit confirmed there are two no-parking signs on westbound Lumsden Avenue between Risbey Crescent and Buchanan Boulevard and drivers are generally advised to park in the bus loop, if possible.

“Winnipeg Transit instructed operators internally to park in the bus loop at Lumsden Avenue and Buchanan Boulevard when using the comfort station or idling. Winnipeg Transit also explained to operators, as well as the resident, that there will be times when buses need to stop at that location on the roadway,” wrote spokesman Brandon Logan.

For example, buses can still stop at the site when another bus is already in the nearby loop and can’t be safely passed, Logan wrote.

“In addition, when buses stop on the roadway, operators are doing so in a safe manner and they are able to do it legally, as they are not parking,” he wrote.

In another statement, city spokesman Adam Campbell noted stopped vehicles are considered parked if they are left unattended or remain stopped for more than five minutes.

Campbell said Transit is looking at “alternate locations” where bus operators could stop in the area.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said Transit requires multiple spaces for buses to park along routes, at times to ensure they aren’t too early for the next scheduled pickup.

Lukes (Waverley West) said all drivers have a responsibility to carefully move around stopped buses.

“You pass with caution… people have to drive to the road conditions. If they can’t see, they have to pass slowly and carefully,” she said.

The head of the union that represents Winnipeg Transit drivers echoed that thought.

“Any competent driver will slowly creep forward to ensure that the pathway is clear before they proceed out into the roadway, as is required by law,” said Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

The union leader said locations where drivers can stop for washroom breaks can be few and far between on many routes, leading drivers to rely regularly on a few known locations.

“We do have quite the shortage of washroom facilities. We have to rely on the generosity of businesses to allow our operators to use their washroom facilities (in some cases),” said Scott.

He stressed drivers aren’t breaking the rules to park at these spots, noting the city deems them an acceptable option in some cases.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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