View Single Post
  #283  
Old Posted Feb 9, 2019, 6:56 AM
Bdog's Avatar
Bdog Bdog is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 2,228
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreyGarden View Post
This post could be posted here or in the Exchange District thread. I saw this recent article on CTV Winnipeg about the bike lanes in the Exchange.

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/concerns...ange-1.4279683

I, like most of the people on this forum support the implementation of protected bike lanes in our city and think there should be a lot more then there currently is. The network needs to be better. In the community I keep hearing about how bike lanes are good for small, local, urban businesses like Lennard Taylor;

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlton.../#5470264e641e

https://www.ibigroup.com/ibi-ideas/b...mall-business/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle30365164/

So I was disappointed to see that Lennard Taylor said that the bike lanes have been hurting his bottom line and that apparently a lot of his neighbours have had the same experience. He went on to say that the exchange has gone downhill and even called for the lanes to be removed in the winter time - which I think is a terrible idea. To me the Exchange has continued to improve, not as quickly as I think it could be but I wouldn't say its gone "downhill." I use these bike lanes and support them and the businesses in the area, but its unfortunate that they're hurting right now. I'm having trouble making sense of the situation. Is it just that they haven't been open long enough?

I'm curious to get everyone's take on it, I might have some assumptions that need challenging.
This isn't unique to Lennard Taylor. There are others who have spoken about this publicly, and many who won't speak on it publicly because they know speaking out against bike lanes might alienate some of their clientele. I know some personally who say sales have been down as much as 20 to 30 percent, and they attribute much of it to the bike lanes. The issues have to do with less parking and loading, and the drawn out construction period, seemingly the entire season.

There's a difference between theory and reality. It's easy to post an infograph that shows that "bike friendly areas see sales double in the first year", but that's not always what we see in real life. I'm hoping to see those who advocate so passionately for year-round protected lanes step up and support these local businesses fully. Some good friends are literally banking on it.
Reply With Quote