You may have heard that the City is developing Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies. Winnipeggers have been pitching in their two cents (or more) through online and telephone surveys, email responses to questions posted on the website, a stakeholder advisory committee, and a workshop.
At the recent Winter Cycling Congress, a member of the consulting team, Brian Patterson of Urban Systems, shared some interesting insights they picked up along the way.
Here are the top 10 highlights but you can learn lots more at the Open Houses on April 12th and April 15th:
1) Winnipeg has the second fastest growing cycling mode share in Canada (next to Rob Ford’s Toronto).
2) Almost half of Winnipeggers want to cycle more often.
3) Only 10% of Winnipeggers feel comfortable cycling in major roads with high traffic speeds and volumes; 38% feel comfortable on busy roads with bike lanes.
4) Nearly half of telephone survey respondents said they would cycle more or much more if physically separated bike lanes were provided on major streets.
5) Winnipeg’s existing AT network includes: 47% multi-use paths (paved); 15% bike boulevards; 11% multi-use paths (unpaved); 10% bike lanes; 9% sharrows; 4% Sunday street closures; 3% shoulder bikeway; and 1% cycle track. [Not sure what some of these are? Check out our guide on cycling infrastructure.]
6) Potential: The highest potential for increasing cycling is in the downtown core and several inner city neighbourhoods.
7) Purpose of cycling: Commute to work (32%); go to school (5%); shopping and errands (14%); recreation and leisure (23%); exercise (22%); to access transit (1%) and other (2%).
8) Destinations: Grocery store (23%); neighbourhood park (22%); downtown Winnipeg (22%); restaurant (15%); other (12%); children’s school (3%); place of worship (3%).
9) Interest in cycling: Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Winnipeggers are interested in cycling and fall into these categories –
- Strong and Fearless (2%) – cycle year-round; feel comfortable on any type of roadway; cycling is an important part of their life; average age 35; mostly male.
- Enthused and Confident (24%) – ride often during non-snow months (at least once every 2 weeks); cycling is an important part of their life; not comfortable on busy main roads and transit routes without bike lanes but comfortable if bike lanes provided; average age 41; mix of male and female.
- Interested but Concerned (37%) – ride infrequently during non-snow months (once every 3-4 weeks); not comfortable riding on any type of busy road or road with transit; mostly 30-49 years of age; more likely to be female.
10) Highest priorities identified: Snow removal for sidewalks; bicycle network connectivity; and separated cycling and pedestrian facilities.
Medium priorities identified: Infrastructure maintenance; snow removal for bike routes; pedestrian safety and security, infrastructure and crossings; road safety education for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; children as pedestrians, safe routes to school; and sidewalk connectivity.
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