City of Winnipeg consulting groups on new protected bike lanes coming to Osborne Village
The City of Winnipeg is moving forward on a project aimed at fixing roads and improving safety for cyclists in Osborne Village.
Construction is slated to start next spring or summer but the city is meeting this summer with businesses and property owners who may be impacted by changes.
Changes that will see protected bike lanes installed on River Avenue and Stradbrook Avenue.
“It would be about dang time to do that because that’s going to drive a wedge between people’s relationships with biking on the road versus choosing their car to get just around the neighbourhood here,” said Ryan Kaul, an Osborne Village resident and avid cyclist.
The preliminary design calls for one-way protected bike lanes on River and Stradbrook between Harkness Avenue and Wellington Crescent, with a small stretch of two-way riding on River from Bryce Street to Fort Rouge Park.
Wellington is also slated to get a one-way protected bike lane from River to Stradbrook.
“It makes a huge difference and I’m excited to see this,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “This is a big game changer, a big step forward for the city because it really builds on that connectivity.”
The plan doesn’t yet address the issue of safety and connectivity for cyclists crossing the Osborne Street Bridge to and from the city’s downtown.
The proposed link, a walk-bike bridge over the Assiniboine River between McFadyen Park downtown and Fort Rouge Park in Osborne Village, was referred to the unfunded project list where it remains.
Source: The City of Winnipeg
Sherri Rollins, city councillor for Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry, said the walk-bike bridge remains a priority and a plan for her as she seeks re-election in this fall’s municipal election.
“The protected bike lanes is exciting but also what’s exciting is that it is really a lead up to a pedestrian cycle bridge that Winnipeggers want,” Rollins said.
The City of Winnipeg anticipates the lanes will have a positive impact but recognizes there will be trade-offs especially when it comes to parking and loading zones. Those are issues the city said it’s working on with area businesses and property owners.
Upcoming meetings with these groups will be held to help officials better understand current parking and loading needs and develop plans to mitigate any issues.
Miguel Gonzalez lives in West Broadway and commutes into Osborne Village for work, usually by bike. He understands the loss of parking might upset some but feels the benefits of protected bike lanes will outweigh any loss of parking.
“I think the commute will just be a lot safer,” Gonzalez said. “A lot more streamlined as well.
"There’s already a lot of traffic in the area with foot traffic, bike traffic – especially in the summer. So I think it’ll just kind of liven up the area a little bit more.”
In addition to making the commute safer, Kaul hopes the road renewal makes his ride smoother.
“The last few years Stradbrook has been rattling bikes to pieces,” Kaul said. “I think myself and my partner have ruined a couple tires and rims.”
The city previously conducted public engagement on the project and said it heard from a wide range of Winnipeggers who expressed overwhelming support and desire for protected bike lanes on River and Stradbrook.
Lindsay Somers, executive director of the Osborne Village Biz, said she’ll be attending a consultation with project planners and local businesses next week to learn more about the project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.