Community divided over Wellington Crescent enhanced bike lanes
Changes to cycling and pedestrian access along the Wellington Crescent open street could be on the way after complaints from residents to city hall.
But not all of the community members want to see the hours reduced.
Owen Preston lives on Wellington Crescent, and he and his family have been taking full advantage of the enhanced summer cycling route.
“The kids, we take them for bike rides almost every day. It really just helps get them out instead of being cooped up inside every day. It’s brought a real sense of safety to the neighbourhoods too,” said Preston.
The City of Winnipeg picked 13 routes, including Wellington Crescent, for its open streets program to help people stay active during COVID-19.
From April to November, the routes restrict vehicle travel to one block, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Sunday, in effort to provide more room for cyclists.
“The restrictions of having to only drive one block is not an issue at all for us.”
But not all the residents in the Wellington Crescent area feel the same.
City Councillor for River Heights and Fort Garry, John Orlikow put forward a motion to change times and dates that people could access the enhanced bike routes, after hearing complaints from residents that 14-hour daily restrictions were creating traffic concerns.
Wellington Crescent resident, Marco Essig said the city surveyed residents in the area last year to see if they were in favour of reduced traffic along Wellington.
“More than 80 per cent of the residents on the street were actually in favour of having the street closed,” said Essig. “Of course you always have a minority, but the people that voiced their concerns, some of them are not even residents on this street.”
On June 16, a city hall committee voted six to one in favour of reducing bike route hours along Wellington Crescent in September as opposed to November.
Councillor Scott Gillingham was one of the votes in favour, he said the motion was a compromise intended to please all parties.
“Councillor Orlikow is really aware of his community, what the needs are in his community, and I think he’s done a really good job of trying to come up with a middle ground here and I’m happy to support that.”
The proposed changes to the enhanced bike route along Wellington will go to city council for a final vote Thursday, June 24.
A petition to keep daily traffic out of Wellington is circulating, and residents are planning to speak in favour of the bike routes at the upcoming meeting.
Preston said he would like to see the enhanced bike routes continue even after the pandemic.
“The benefits we’ve seen so far with the increased sense of safety and community has been amazing,” said Preston.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.