One Metre Rule
January2, 2014 By Bruce Owen Winnipeg Free Press MPI told to reinforce message to drivers, cyclists It doesn’t feel like bicycling weather now, but in a few months, thousands of cyclists will take to Winnipeg streets and resume the annual jostling between bicycles and vehicles. In a recent decision, the Public Utilities Board recommended Manitoba Public Insurance “reinforce” the message of a one-metre passing
MPI says it can’t lead road safety in Manitoba
In their final argument at the hearing on 2014 rates, MPI representatives told the PUB that MPI’s role in road safety is jurisdictionally “limited” to research and education. This is very different language from the “leadership” language on road safety MPI touts in their coporate vision statement: “MPI will lead driver and vehicle safety initiatives that reduce risk and protect Manitobans, their streets and
Setting the Stage for the 2014 City of Winnipeg Budget
As we get closer to 2014, planning for the 2014 City of Winnipeg budget is well under way. Bike Winnipeg continues to advocate for an increased emphasis on cycling infrastructure and programming in the city’s capital and operational budgets, and hopes that our written submission to the 2014 City of Winnipeg budget consultation process will be taken to heart as the budgets are finalized
Riding on federal coattails has to stop
Winnipeg cyclists, like Winnipeggers in general, can sometimes be too negative about their city. They feel Winnipeg is falling behind other parts of Canada, let alone other countries, in the worldwide movement to promote cycling and all forms of human-powered transportation. It turns out, however, we haven’t been waiting for the perfect conditions or government programs to start changing, as I found out when
Traffic bylaw Amendment – Parade Permits
Update – The Winnipeg Police Service has removed the proposed amendment from tomorrow’s EPC agenda. An information session is scheduled for 7pm tonight at Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse (91 Albert Street). Bike Winnipeg shares the concern expressed by many in Winnipeg’s cycling community that a proposed amendment to the City of Winnipeg’s traffic by-law 1573/77 seeking to include cyclists within the scope of the
Bike Friendly Business Network Launched
Our friends at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and Exchange District BIZ have launched a great new program that we wanted to let you know about. The Bike Friendly Business Network recognizes that cyclists are important customers that benefit local businesses, and offers cyclists rewards for patronizing bike friendly businesses. Bikes Mean Business It turns out that all that money cyclists save on transportation when
MPI & PUB refuse BW intervention on Road Safety
The Manitoba Public Utilities Board has refused Bike Winnipeg’s application for joint intervention with the Manitoba Consumers’ Association of Canada at the MPI hearing. Working with pro bono lawyer James Benson, a small group of Bike Winnipeg volunteers put a lot of time into preparing for the MPI hearing, which the PUB had indicated would include a significant focus on promoting safety on Manitoba roads.
2013 Winnipeg Bicycle Counts Report
Volunteers from Bike Winnipeg have been conducting spring counts of bicycle traffic since 2007 in order to provide solid information about the numbers of commuter cyclists in Winnipeg based on direct observation. During April, May and June of 2013 we completed 78 counts at 28 locations in Winnipeg. Since 2007 we have completed 462 counts at 84 locations. Download the complete Winnipeg Bicycle Counts
City’s plan for active transport revived
by Bartley Kives Winnipeg Free Press THE City of Winnipeg has revived a bike-and-pedestrian strategy the cancellation of which earlier this summer sparked an outcry from cycling activists. In July, Winnipeg’s public works department nixed a plan to spend $400,000 on an active-transportation master plan that would have been prepared by Vancouver consulting firm Urban Systems. The plan, initiated in the wake of a
Bike Winnnipeg’s Ongoing Fight for Road Safety
Bike Winnipeg has been working on many fronts to ensure Manitoba drivers get the right information about how to maneuver near cyclists on the road. We are currently struggling to play a stronger role in the Public Utilities Board (PUB) review of MPI’s services and rates. We are collaborating with the Consumers’ Association of Manitoba to bring up issues that are important not just