Bike Week sees pop-up lanes protect cyclists from vehicles on Winnipeg streets

The city experimented with pop-up protected bike lanes on several well-cycled Winnipeg streets Tuesday as part of Bike Week.

"The infrastructure that's being proposed here is perfect," said Gord Friesen, an inspector with the Winnipeg Police Service.

The city strung a line of pylons down Bannatyneand McDermotAvenues after months of public consultation about the future of Winnipeg cycling infrastructure.

"One of the things we did hear is safety is No. 1," saidTiffany Skomro,projectco-ordinatorfor the city's public works department.

Currently, bike lanes on McDermot and Bannatyne are separated by a white line of paint on the concrete, something advocates say doesn't necessarilykeep cyclists safe from vehicles.

In each case, there are sections of road where cyclists may have parked vehicles on one side of the lane and moving traffic on the other.

In the future, the city may move to a system of parking-protected lanes in high-traffic areas like in the coming West Alexander to East Exchange corridorthat would involve a physicalbarrier of some kind to keep cyclists isolated from vehicles.

"If you have separated infrastructure for people who are vulnerable road users, like cyclists, that just enhances the safety," Friesensaid.

Friesen is commander of the community support division, which works with schools to promote safety. He said separated bike lanes would lead greater numbers of kids and adults to ride in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg tests out pop up protected bike lanes

7 years ago

Duration 2:34

The city experimented with pop-up protected bike lanes on several well-cycled Winnipeg streets Tuesday as part of Bike Week.

"When we they do surveys of people, people of all ages, [about] why they choose not to cycle, it's because of the fear of interacting with the cars,"he said.

"You can teach someone how to cycle safely, how to put a helmet on their head, but when you have these big vehicles rushing past you, it's still unnerving for some people."

Bike Week ends Friday with the 10th annual Bike to Work Day in Winnipeg.