One-way bike lanes on Wellington Crescent proposed at City Hall

Cyclists say a proposed safety plan for a Winnipeg street doesn’t go far enough to keep them safe. Jeff Keele explains.

Cyclists like Lorne Thompson must share the road with vehicles on this stretch of Wellington Crescent because there is no bike path.

“It’s easy where the bike paths are but it’s not so easy right here. You just have to be careful,” said Thompson.

Now there’s a pilot project proposal at City Hall to add one-way bike lanes on both sides of Wellington Crescent, between Academy Road and Stradbrook Avenue, using painted lanes, plastic bollards and adjustable concrete curbs.

These measures would be in place until the street is upgraded one day, and a permanent path is constructed — which would see the speed limit would drop from 50 to 40 km/h.

“It will provide safer biking facilities and it will connect key destinations and key pieces of existing infrastructure,” said Janice Lukes, chair of the Public Works Committee.

The new safety measures come following the death of cyclist Rob Jenner last year.

Cycling and safety advocates say the bike path is a step in the right direction but they’re not happy. It won’t be in place until next spring, however, they want it installed now.

“I’m not just disappointed, I’m angry,” said Linda van de Laar, a registered nurse.

“It’s really disappointing that we have to keep pushing these things. It feels like a lack of political will,” said Patty Wiens, a cycling advocate.

Advocates say that 40 km/h is still too fast, and that the speed should be 30 km/h.

“It’s just a very dangerous road, 40 is a compromise made by people who apparently never leave their car,” said van de Laar.

But this section of Wellington Crescent is a regional street with high traffic counts. The section there will see traffic lanes drop down from four to two lanes.

Thompson said he’s also a driver and isn’t convinced a bike path or a speed limit drop fits here.

“No, I don’t think so, I think 50 is a decent speed if people stay to that speed.”