Possible changes to Wellington Crescent as an 'Open Street' for cyclists
Changes could be coming to limit cyclist and pedestrian access to one of Winnipeg's most "Open Streets" routes, Wellington Crescent.
Currently, Wellington Crescent, from Academy Road to Guelph Street, is open to cyclists (and pedestrian using the median walkway) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, part of the expanded access to Sunday/Holiday Bike Routes program put in place in response to the pandemic. Motor vehicles are limited to one block of access under the same timeframe.
Linda Nugent, who lives along the stretch of Wellington Crescent, says there are some safety concerns for homeowners and cyclists alike.
"When you're backing out on to a street you have to be so careful as the driver," said Nugent, "But also the people on the street have to be just as vigilant."
Nugent is generally in favour of maintain cyclist and pedestrian access on Wellington Crescent.
"It’s really a matter of figuring out what is the safest for everyone in our community," she said.
Other homeowners, however, want to see immediate changes, some describing the limited access to cars on Wellington Crescent as form discrimination.
A collection of letters and statements put to the public works committee outlines the concerns of some homeowners, like Brent Trepel, who wrote that the current setup is a "human rights issue" that "favours able bodied cyclists to the detriment of people who are unable to ride bikes but can only enjoy the street by motor vehicle".
Gail Asper wrote that it is it is "simply unfair to ban all vehicles from having any opportunity to experience Winnipeg’s most beautiful street" and that the prioritized access to cyclists is "discriminating against thousands of Winnipeggers."
Brenlee Carrington-Trepel, who collected statements from homeowners, declined an interview with CTV News.
Some homeowners said that they have been verbally assaulted by cyclists for trying to get in and out of their driveways.
The public works committee did agree to request the removal of Wellington Crescent (and Kings Drive from Kilkenny Drive to Patricia Avenue) from the list of Sunday/Holiday Bike Routes, which will next be put before the executive policy committee.
The discussion was originally started by a motion submitted by area councillor John Orlikow, which intended to only allow the public works director, with input from the relevant city councillor, to change the times and dates pedestrians and cyclists can access bike routes like this stretch of Wellington Crescent.
Cyclists going down Wellington Crescent seen on June 10
Orlikow said the motion was all about providing flexibility as the economy starts to reopen in the months to come.
“When we get to Code Orange, do we need to adjust it? I would say we probably do,” said Orlikow on Thursday.
But Orlikow said he wanted to wait until usage data, outlining who is using the street and at what times, came before any actual changes were implemented to Wellington Crescent.
He is also aware of altercations between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.
“Cyclists feeling threatened by cars, pedestrians feeling threatened by cars, car people feeling threatened by cyclists," said Orlikow, "There has been conflict on the street about trying to fix that mix and match.”
Some pedestrians and cyclists who use Wellington Crescent certainly want to maintain the current level of access afforded to them.
Vic Keller uses the bike route almost every day and wants to see it kept open to cyclists.
"It needs to be kept open so that we can utilize seven days a week," said Keller. "It’s incredible to be able to get out and enjoy our city area like this."
Kim Ewert lives just off Wellington Crescent and also hopes it remains open.
"I really like it the way it is now," said Ewer. "I’ve grown up in this area where it’s usually been Sundays and holidays and I see how much use it’s getting."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.