Empowering the next generation

The Forks

The next generation of local cyclists is taking to the streets — and rivers — of Winnipeg, and asking city officials to look out for them.

On Jan. 10, approximately 60 children and their caregivers took their bicycles onto the frozen river trail to participate in an inter-generational ride to encourage community building and promote safe active transportation.

“Riding on the rivers shows us how possible it is to ride as a family in Winnipeg’s winters when there is proper maintenance and good infrastructure,” said Joe Curnow, an organizer of the event and a parent of two young bike riders, aged two and five. “Without cars and unpredictable drivers, riding bikes can be safe, easy, and fun even in January.”

The ride on Jan. 10 was dubbed the Polar Bear Kidical Mass as a nod to the Critical Mass group rides, cycling activists around the globe have used for decades to build community and draw attention to the needs of cyclists. Participants rode the length of the Nestaweya River Trail, from The Forks Port Rink to Donald Street and back, before stopping to enjoy hot chocolate and plan child-led advocacy for better winter biking infrastructure.

“It was a really fun opportunity to introduce some young people to winter riding and some grown-ups. And to just spend time together on bikes,” Curnow said. “It was one of those interesting moments where you can see that you can ride bikes year round, if you have separated infrastructure that is maintained.”

Most of the young riders were between the ages of four and 10, according to Curnow.

“A lot of us did ride our bikes there, which was character-building because the streets and paths weren’t well-maintained,” Curnow said. “A number of kids, even five year olds, ride to school every day. They’ll say when the snow is deep and the curb cuts haven’t been cleared, it is a lot harder for them. When cars go fast, it can be really scary.”

Araya Carson, 10, took part in the ride with his father and younger sister, Umuna. A regular cyclist in the warmer months, it was the Riverview resident’s first winter ride.

“I think it’s really cool to be able to bike in the winter, way cooler than I thought it would be,” Carson said. “I thought it wouldn’t be fun. I thought you’d lose a lot of energy. But it turns out it was really fun.”

Having children participate not only in the ride, but in planning future advocacy was a key feature of the event, Curnow said.

“Kids are already thinking about this, and this is an opportunity to make space for them,” he said. “For parents, thinking of how to make things safer, is to make kids involved in every step. It does matter to them. They have ideas on how to make it more fun and more safe.”

“I think people should plow the snow, and maybe on new roads, add a lane so that its more safe for bikers,” Carson said.

Consistent and timely snow-clearing, and not just on major roads, is key to making Winnipeg a friendlier city for cyclists and pedestrians, Curnow said.

“I think that was very top-of-mind Saturday, when the snow was really mashed-potatoey,” Curnow noted. “That’s also tough for pedestrians. You can’t move around the city if snow clearing isn’t done consistently. But it’s game -changing if it is done consistently. Public works and the mayor’s office need to think about why that isn’t happening.”