Winnipeg | Everything Bicycles

[zalf]

I've been cycling to work this winter for the first time ever because there are now protected lanes reasonably well cleared of snow for the majority of the journey between my home and office.

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Gotta love these knucklehead cyclists who actually believe cycle paths should be cleared immediately as soon a a flake of snow hits the ground, all nine of them who use the cycle paths in the winter sure seem to get the media’s ear!

Atleast they’re putting their money where their mouth is since the cyclists themselves have taken initiative to shovel the pathways themselves. Definitely a commendable act.

It sucks because with how pleasant November has been so far I would’ve been able to ride my bike to campus quite easily had I not torn it too shreds this summer lol.

[rivercity]

I ride my bike to work all winter, as do several of my friends and colleagues. Perceptions are changing.

[bomberjet]

I'd ride my bike to work, summer or winter. But there's no way I'll do it with those knuckle head drivers on the road.

Once the missing pieces of the network are put in place, which there are currently no imminent plans for, I'd consider it.

[trueviking]

I love when drivers get upset that cyclists are upset about snow clearing. Pot calling kettle black.
The weather was perfect after a foot of snow fell. No excuse not to clear the five bike lanes we have in this city within a day or two. It would honestly take one guy a morning to do all of them. Ignore the suburban bike highways that nobody uses and concentrate on the inner city bike lanes that do get used. They were impassable until everyone complained and the next day they were done. Sucks that you have to complain to get action.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I love when drivers get upset that cyclists are upset about snow clearing. Pot calling kettle black.
The weather was perfect after a foot of snow fell. No excuse not to clear the five bike lanes we have in this city within a day or two. It would honestly take one guy a morning to do all of them. Ignore the suburban bike highways that nobody uses and concentrate on the inner city bike lanes that do get used. They were impassable until everyone complained and the next day they were done. Sucks that you have to complain to get action.

Looks like we have some common ground here. Bottom line though is that so few people use any of the bike lanes relative to the overall population isn't how tax dollars should be spent. Heck some of the over the top cycle advocates want bike lanes cleared before busy sidewalks that everyone uses and NEEDS to USE!

The city does need to prioritize resources and spending and clearing any bike lanes for the exclusive use of the miniscule bike commute population of a very distinct demographic (white males between 25-45) is counterproductive!

And yes I am a cyclist myself

[plrh]

The St Vital Bridge Rehabilitation Project is out for tender. Of note is that the sidewalks will be widened to become 3m wide multi-use paths. It looks like southbound to be completed in 2023 and northbound in 2024.

The design is to cantilever the new path outwards over the edge. Currently the sidewalks are 1.5m wide.

[esquire]

^ Great news... that is a win for AT network connectivity. Much safer than the current arrangement, and more efficient for most than taking the Elm Park Bridge.

[3de14eec6a]

That makes me happy. I've been more comfortable taking the road since the sidewalks are way too narrow if there is anyone else on them. Still plenty of significant route bridges that need an AT upgrade. But every one is good to hear.

[bomberjet]

IIRC the plan is to also reconfigure the interchange style ramps as well.

Here's what the plans looked like in March 2022.
https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/c...VB_StakeholderPresentation_March2022.pdf

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

IIRC the plan is to also reconfigure the interchange style ramps as well.

Interesting. I see the directional ramps will still be there, just in a more compact, urban format as compared to the highway style ones that exist now.

[bomberjet]

They're downgrading the speed from 70 to 60. So now the bus stops will be on Dunkirk as opposed to being down on the loop.

Less safe IMO as people will be up standing near the roadway. But I guess they think it's better for pedestrians/cyclists down in the ramp areas, with the path connectivity and such on both sides of the river.

[bussche]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

a very distinct demographic (white males between 25-45)

Ironically, the person who organized the bike lane cleaning that the article you undoubtedly saw was about and that triggered this comment, is a woman.

There are many women who winter bike.

I've biked to work all winter for the last 10 years and there has a been a huge increase in riders. Sometimes there are more cyclists on Assiniboine than cars.

There are only like a few hundred km of bike infra, many of them are shared with pedestrians. The "waste of tax dollars" argument is silly, the investment is minimal compared to what's spent on clearing the roads or even sidewalks.

It would be a bigger waste to invest in bike lanes and then not be able to use them 4-5 months of the year.

And if you feel like responding to that with "yes, there should be no bike lanes", how about we apply the same argument to golf courses, outdoor pools, tennis courts, etc etc etc.

[zalf]

If I am ever asked to summarize my city in a single photo, I'm using this.

[thebasketballgeek]

Was at the Forks today. I was shocked how many people were cycling but it looks like a ton of fun. Even seeing the bicycle counter there have already been almost 900 cyclists. The number might be skewed by pedestrians

I think Winnipeg is almost there as a winter cycling city. A few more inner city routes would do the trick. Those bike lanes on Marion, Provencher, Stradbrook, and River can’t come soon enough.

[zalf]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

[...] seeing the bicycle counter there have already been almost 900 cyclists. The number might be skewed by pedestrians

I doubt people are carrying enough change in their pockets to trigger the magnetic coils these days. In fact, I'd say that number is probably a slight underestimate. I know I've ridden my bike through there this winter and not triggered the counter, because I had mistakenly ridden on the sidewalk since it was tough to tell what was what under the snow.

[rivercity]

As a regular rider (daily to work) it’s getting there but there is still so much to be done re: snow clearing. Some of the “shared” sidewalks that connect key infrastructure are abysmal and downright dangerous to ride on.

[bomberjet]

https://engage.winnipeg.ca/river-stradbrook-wellington-road-renewal-and-protected-bike-lanes

Final design is out for bike lanes on River and Stradbrook.

[zalf]

I would have loved to have had this when I was living in the area. Always love a good protected lane. Happy to see some bike boxes too - turning left from Stradbrook to Nassau or to Scott was always hairy.

Removing the slip lanes at River & Nassau, River & Donald, and Stadbrook & Donald are nice touches too. I've had a few near misses at those as a pedestrian.

[trueviking]

I’m for bike lanes everywhere and always but these are yet again lanes from nowhere to nowhere. Without the bridge crossing the river these are useless bike lanes.