Bicycle issues in Winnipeg

but their wharbagl is so much more painful to listen to.

I've received a message that it's been sent to Lou Gervino for review and that someone would respond soon.

Bike to the Future is trying to promote bike lanes around the city.
I had received an e-mail from them awhile ago asking me to support their initiative.
I replied with my disdain for the idea.

Today, I received another request from them, this time asking me to contact the city clerk's office to support them...THIS is what I sent the city clerk:

Hello,
I received an e-mail from Bike to the Future to contact you to support a bike lane on Sherbrook.

I am writing to tell you I think it's a terrible idea to put ANY bike lanes in ANYWHERE.
It is unnecessary expense for an idea that nobody uses.

INSTEAD, the funds allocated should be moved to create educational programs and enforcement of already existing laws.

Bicycles belong ON THE ROAD, yet if you go downtown you see a large MAJORITY of riders on the sidewalks.

Education programs should be created to teach riders and drivers what the rules ACTUALLY are, ie. cyclists are entitled to the right most lane (unless turning left), and that they also must remain OFF the sidewalks.

Somebody felt it important enough to put "No Skateboarding" signs all over the sidewalks of the city...the same should be done for bicycles, or at minimum a "Share the Road" sign should be installed.

The education is the most important part, but enforcement of those laws must also be done. Even if it's just written warnings from parking
officers or police officers to help educate riders of where they should/should not be riding.

The "bike lanes" popping up all around the city are useless. Most riders don't use them, and most drivers ignore them. And, like the lines for lanes which have to be painted EVERY year due to plowing and poor product selection...they will have to be maintained and reapplied EVERY year causing an even larger expense.

Thanks for your attention.
Alex

AA for mayor!

grumpy old man wrote:AA for mayor!

I can't run...not a citizen.

But I couldn't win anyway...I don't have a hyphenated name...and I don't wear pink suits.

The North American idea of bike lanes is certainly not as good as the approach of many European cities to paint them on sidewalks, thereby acknowledging the shared leg powered mode of transportation. I would welcome a narrowing of streets and widening of sidewalks/side bike trails as a means to reduce vehicle traffic in Winnipeg.

The time might not be right for that. I believe the density of European and Asian cities drives a significantly different dynamic when it comes to getting from point A to B.

Many cities cannot handle the mass of cars heading to a downtown and peeps are forced to find alternate methods. If Winnipeggers had to put away their cars you'd see greater reliance on transit and yes, bicycles.

IMHO...

Found these two videos on MPI site today. One was aired last night (hadn't seen it before).

Don't know how old they are...but glad to see them putting them out there.

Though they mention over and over about "share the road"...they don't seem to emphasize the biggest problem downtown with cyclists...which is for the IDIOTS to STAY OFF THE DAMN SIDEWALK!!!

That said...enjoy the videos:

http://www.mpi.mb.ca/videos/60sec/BicycleSafety.wmv
http://www.mpi.mb.ca/videos/60sec/Bicycles.wmv

Ok...so there's some discussions about transit, bikes, access around on other threads...but figured I'd dig this one up to focus on the bikes issue.

I heard an interview on CBC last week about a college student who was hired by the UofM to ride his bike from Manitoba E/W borders down the TransCanada Trail.

His job was to note areas that need improving, that are impassable, etc.
His interview indicated there were sections he had to portage his bike, and even walk through chest-high water carrying his bike during his journey.

So why wouldn't this be something done here in Winnipeg?

I know there was some GPS study done to try and map cycling routes...but I haven't seen the results of it yet. Has anyone else?

Where's the maps indicating where all the bike racks are? Where the safest routes & "bike friendly" locations may be?

gotta "love" the black dots of existing AT that are in the middle of nowhere and not connected to anything.

even funnier:

http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/PDF/NeighbourhoodTrafficCalmingCircles2010-07-28.pdf

Traffic "calming" circle? What kind of BS is this?

Circles have been proven to cause obstructions to view, driver road rage, serious vehicle collisions and are being REMOVED from most jurisdictions that have had them.

Yeah...looking those links Dean (thanks by the way)

And it seems the city's "solution" is still painting useless lines on streets and removing lanes for cars to drive in.

So they are throwing MILLIONS of dollars at creating an infrastructure that isn't going to work, and will be abandoned within a few years anyway.

The infrastructure exists already...there just needs to be the correct kind of enforcement and education to encourage cyclists to ride safely with vehicles.

I have no love for the circle myself. I am interested in getting that raised intersection in my area tho. Cant have a speed bump.. wonder if I can have a raised intersection.

that probably wouldn't be as bad...though plows might get confused the first time through.

Do you mean they're still spending millions of loonies in paint for lines that you can see only 4 months a year?

Those circle intersections are terrible for pedestrians.

"And it seems the city's "solution" is still painting useless lines on streets and removing lanes for cars to drive in."

see... but now you get it...remove the lanes for cars to drive in == WHY IS THERE SO MUCH TRAFFIC!!?!?!?!?!?! I DEMAND THE CITY DO SOMETHING.

well... we have this rapid transit idea... we could do that.....

http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/PDF/2010-03-25-Sherbrook-Maryland.pdf

Check this one out on Page 7.

Apparently they won't justify making a bike lane there...instead they are just going to put a green sign up that says "Bike Route".

Ok...so the signs cost about $40?

Why not just put those on every block (maybe even 2 per block) throughout the ENTIRE bike network. No line painting, no special plowing, no "infrastructure"...just put a sign up that says "BIKES GO HERE" like the one posted.

Save MILLIONS of dollars, and solve the WHOLE problem. Even better...put that sign up that says "Bikes/Pedestrians" with little arrows pointing at the road and sidewalk respectively...THAT could save MILLIONS more, and get many cyclists off the sidewalk who may be ignorant to the fact that they don't belong there.

Should the city actually WANT the bikes on the sidewalk at some point (safety, no shoulder, heavy traffic), they can just put a sign with both arrows pointing to the sidewalk.

INSTEAD...they are going to spend MILLIONS EVERY YEAR!!! on painting these STUPID lines all over the place.

The bicycle issue fades away every winter... Although, the same routes, if planned away from the streets can be easily used in the winter with cross-country skis.

Electrician wrote:The bicycle issue fades away every winter... Although, the same routes, if planned away from the streets can be easily used in the winter with cross-country skis.

would not really work well.. eventually bike paths cross streets and it kinda destroys your skis going over salt and gravel.

But skiing from, let's say, the Maples to StupidStore, is viable, and with a backpack, the groceries get home quicker and you get to do some exercise too.

there is no real access to super store that does not involve crossing roads, so I just cant see skis working.

In the Maples, roads are frozen stiff until Easter...
UNLESS GLOBAL WARMING has changed things over the years.
Then, I guess we can just go there with our bikes.

hey - I bike in the winter.

It's actually safer - people consider me a lunatic and give me a wider berth!

Biking in the winter is not that crazy...even in Manitoba.

If the roads are reasonably clear, and you're dressed properly (spandex does wonders) you can maneuver quite well.

It's that hidden ice, and splashing slush that gets to you.