Bike to the future reports on cycling in winnipeg

Cyclists think the city has their heads in the cars

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

ILLUSTRATION TED BARKER

Cyclists in Winnipeg are working hard to get the government to consider the many ways they could improve cycling infrastructure in the city. Th e new group, Bike to the Future, has taken action by discussing, recording and delivering their ideas to the city and the province.

Over the summer, a group called Critical Mass campaigned worldwide to promote cycling and increase awareness of insuffi cient cycling infrastructures. Bike to the Future is a combination of those who were involved in Critical Mass as well as newcomers who want to make a diff erence in the issues Winnipeg cyclists have to deal with on a daily basis.

Molly McCracken, a co-ordinator for the Bike to the Future events, explained that the group exists to allow people to share their constructive ideas on how to make cycling better and safer in Winnipeg.

“Everybody has so many great ideas for making cycling better so we just wanted to create a base for people to share those views,” said McCracken.

On Sept. 20, Bike to the Future held a forum at the University of Winnipeg. About 100 people participated; ideas were discussed and three presentations were made, on the topics of cycling in other Canadian cities, the City of Winnipeg’s parkway system, and the active transportation study being conducted by the city.

According to McCracken, a facilitator took notes throughout all of the discussions and presentations and a report was developed with information from the evening.

On Sept. 26, about 30 cyclists got together and delivered the report to political representatives at the provincial legislature and city hall.

Th e report begins by pointing out that both the City and the province should “encourage and celebrate cycling as a healthy form of transportation,” as well as, “recognize the diversity of citizens who cycle for various reasons, from recreational to commuting, in the summer and winter.”

Th e bulk of the report included information from the three presentations and a breakdown of what people came up with during the 11 topics of discussion that included “What is your vision for cycling in Winnipeg?” “Dude, don’t steal my bike! What can be done?” and “Listening to cyclists! How are we going to make cycling a priority at city hall?”

Bike to the Futrure places emphasis on people seeing cycling as transportation, not just recreation. Suggestions were made for police and cyclists to work together, for more places to lock bikes to be provided, for better co-ordination between diff erent levels of government and to subsidize bus passes for people without cars.

Under the category of “Policy Changes,” Bike to the Future wanted “a mayor who bikes to work,” and under “Dreams” they included “close more streets to cars” and “make cars illegal.”

Th e day after the reports were delivered, the province announced $50 million in funding for Winnipeg roads. McCracken said Bike to the Future was very excited about the announcement.

“Th e city is a little bit more diffi cult,” she explained. She mentioned that Winnipeg’s mayor, Sam Katz, wasn’t around to accept the report and states that the city is “really big on bike trails,” which in her opinion, doesn’t cut it when someone is commuting.

“Bike paths are really nice for Sunday bikers but we also need to have commuting routes and bike lanes and secondary streets that have traffi c calming,” she said. “Th ere’s all these diff erent ways of doing it, but the city really has cars on their brains.”

Bike to the Future will continue to meet and discuss plans to improve cycling. Th ey are currently trying to keep up with the civic election and are encouraging candidates to commit to better bike route planning and safer cycling in Winnipeg.