Enhanced summer bike routes for 2022 now open

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/05/2022 (1485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg City Council has approved the enhanced summer bike routes for 2022. These routes opened on May 1 and will remain in place until Oct. 31.

Getting outside for fresh air and exercise has become even more important for community well being during the pandemic. The Enhanced Summer Bike Program (formerly known as Open Streets) is very popular with residents as it provides more accessible ways for people to get outside and get active safely.

Recognizing this, council voted to reopen 14 of last year’s routes along with two new ones. Speed limits on these routes will be reduced to 30 km/h from 50 km/h. Each route will have its own additional rules on weekends throughout July and August, and on weekends during May, June, September, and October. Please note that routes will not be fully operational until after the city’s cleanup operations.

These adjustments were made after public feedback last year. The measures aim to balance local access and a safe cycling environment for each street. For information on the program, check out the full list of open routes at winnipeg.ca/summerbikes

In Daniel McIntyre, we can enjoy the Wolseley Avenue route from Raglan Road to Maryland Street as well as two new routes — Ruby Street between Wolseley Avenue to Portage Avenue; and Banning Street from Portage Avenue to Notre Dame Avenue.

Providing safe cycling routes is an important step towards encouraging more people to use bikes as an everyday practice. A sustainable active transportation network is a key part of addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving the health of our community. In this year’s budget Winnipeg made a $8.9 million dollar investment into active transportation projects.

We all want our neighbourhoods and communities to be safe and work for everyone — whether you are walking, cycling, or driving a car. For our mental and physical health, let’s get outside, watch out for each other and enjoy this summer.