Winnipeg cyclists push for safer bike lanes and streets as winter sets in

Local cyclists are calling on the city to step up maintenance of Winnipeg bike lanes this winter and ensure safe conditions for riders year-round. Sure, winter riding in the Manitoba city can be…well, cold. But that’s not the biggest challenge — it’s navigating streets shared with vehicles.

“I love cycling, but it can get tricky and sometimes dangerous,” Adam Johnston, a commuter who rides throughout the winter told CityNews. “Every trip home, you’re hoping to make it safely.”

Rodney Kennish says the right clothing and gear make riding in snow manageable, but driver behaviour is a constant worry. “There’s minimal respect for cyclists and the rules meant to keep us safe,” Kennish said.

Winnipeg has more than 400 km of cycling infrastructure. That includes multi-use paths and protected lanes. But many riders are still forced to share roads with cars once snow piles up. Lynda Van De Laar says ploughing often pushes snow into bike lanes, leaving them blocked for days. “Cyclists and pedestrians feel like second-class citizens sometimes,” she said.

A similar situation recently occurred in Guelph, Ont. In early December, the city will resume winter upkeep of its bike lanes after Mayor Cam Guthrie used his strong-mayor powers to amend the city’s 2026 budget. That reversed a plan that would have left lanes uncleared until April. The original $650,000 cut sparked immediate pushback from cyclists and councillors, including a protest ride through downtown Guelph

“It’s done — you have the bike lanes back maintained starting today,” Guthrie told CBC, noting residents and councillors raised safety concerns about leaving lanes unplowed.

Cycling advocates had warned that closing lanes would create a sketchy sitch for cyclists. It would force riders into traffic, create hazards, and even block storm drains. That would impact transit and street parking. At the time, David Shellnutt, a.ka. The Biking Lawyer, said the move would “increase conflict and the likelihood of serious injury.”