The bike lane saga in Winnipeg, like so many other places in Canada, continues to truck on.
Nearly two years after a fatal collision on Wellington Crescent sparked renewed calls for safer cycling infrastructure, the push for interim bike lanes is still tied up in delays and shifting plans.
What was initially expected to be a temporary cycling installation for spring 2025 has been slowed, paused, and reworked, according to reporting from CityNews.
2027 target date too far off
The focus was shifted away from a temporary pilot project and toward planning a permanent build, with construction targeted for 2027. Sounds great–but it is a considerable way away. That decision has frustrated cycling advocates, who say the need for immediate safety measures has not changed.
“I feel like a lot of neighbours feel disheartened, because we’ve seen shenanigans after shenanigans,” Joe Curnow with Neighbours for Safe Wellington Crescent, said.
Advocates are now preparing to return to City Hall on Thursday.
Councillor Janice Lukes has argued for moving directly to a long-term solution, saying she prefers to “rip the band-aid once,” even if the changes are significant for residents.
At the same time, University of Manitoba urban planning professor Dr. Richard Milgrom told CityNews that pilot projects can offer valuable real-world feedback before expensive permanent construction is locked in. He also noted that consultation and redesign processes can add months of delay. Which is a problem for riders in the meantime.
2027 is a long way away, advocates say. And in that time cyclists’ lives are threatened. 61-year-old Rob Jenner was fatally hit by a hit-and-run driver while riding to work in June 2024.
In December, a survey about the design idea gave a chance for locals to comment. Records showed at least 10 other run-ins between drivers and cyclists or walkers happened on that same section from 2012 to 2022.
74 per cent of respondents said they prefer a permanent design. A massive 83 per cent said the stretch is unsafe for cyclists.
In June 2025, a grassroots tribute on the road took place to draw attention to safer cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg. The popup lane took place exactly one year after Jenner’s death.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…