Driving on bike routes to be costly

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This article was published 6/5/2015 (1533 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drivers face hefty fines later this month if they're caught driving too far in designated cycling routes.

A bylaw approved by city council last summer comes into effect May 17 and lasts until Thanksgiving Monday. The bylaw prohibits traffic from travelling more than one block on four Winnipeg roads, including Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street on Sundays and holidays.

Drivers will face a fine of $190.80 for driving more than the allotted one block through the bike routes.

The streets are part of the Sunday and holiday bike-route street closures — roads set apart for cyclists during the summer to encouraging biking. The streets are favourites for cyclists because of the picturesque routes.

River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow, whose ward includes Wellington Crescent, said the restrictions foster a sense of community for cyclists.

"It will provide a nice environment for families to get out on a Sunday, to take their kids on the street to bike or learn to bike. It allows people to connect in the neighbourhood," Orlikow said.

Drivers should expect a two-week phase-in period as police begin to educate the public, police Staff Sgt. Rob Riffel said.

"Our primary goal is to change driving behaviour. Officers may use discretion when issuing any offence notice," Riffel said.

"The police are not going to be draconian," Orlikow said. "For one day a week. I believe it's a good community-building thing."

Any inconvenience to homeowners in the area should be minimal at best, he said.

"If there is an inconvenience, it will be minor. It's only on the Sunday, they have access to their property at all times. They just have to tell visitors to go up the side street closest to them."

City spokeswoman Lisa Fraser said the city is making drivers aware through media releases and social media, as well as issuing letters to homeowners on the affected streets.

Traffic signs will be posted to let drivers know when they are entering a bike zone.

Before the bylaw, bike routes were not enforced. Barriers were put up to discourage traffic, but cyclists said they often found themselves surprised by cars.

"You'd see people who would simply drive normally through the street, and when they reached the barricade, they would thread their way through and carry on," said Shawn Kennedy, a cycling advocate.

He said there were huge risks to cyclists by people who disrespected the current bylaw.

Mark Kohoe from Bike Winnipeg said property owners might be surprised by the pleasant effect of the bylaw on the community.

"It's just more the through traffic that is dropping down," Kohoe said. "It might be kind of nice because you're not getting the though traffic you might otherwise be getting."

Sunday and holiday bike-route closures are in effect regardless of the weather every Sunday and holiday from May 17 to Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

kathleen.saylors@freepress,mb.ca