Active Transportation

After a brief but great conversation with a Twitter follower, I decided to write about my views on active transportation as it currently stands in St Boniface and the City of Winnipeg and what my vision for the future of it looks like.  It seemed like the natural flow given my previous plan and vision for mass transit and how active transportation partners with that.

According to Census data, 32% of residents in St Boniface do not drive their own vehicles as their primary mode of transportation.  Nearly 10% of residents do not use a vehicle in any form be that as a driver, passenger or public transit user.  This lays out two very key points for consideration;  first, that there is an increasing reliance on active transportation as a part of our daily lives. The second is that since there are 32% of adult residents in St Boniface who are able to meet their transportation needs without driving themselves where they need to go, there are successful alternate methods currently being used. With proper analysis and execution of future plans, that number will only go up.  The keys to success are simple: start developing active transportation habits at a young age, and to provide and promote safe and efficient methods of active transport as part of the city's overall transportation plan.

As I mentioned, this begins by developing good habits toward active transportation.  For me, that goes back to a program I remember when I was attending elementary school, the bike safety program.  My first active transportation priority would be to lobby the Provincial Government to bring this program back to our elementary schools.  This program, for those unaware, promotes bike safety and proper training by students bringing their bicycles to school and undergoing an operator training program.  This includes using proper signals, emergency manoeuvers, bike maintenance and actual rider training to show how to safely operate a bicycle and integrate with the vehicle traffic on roads.  The Province has already started a push for bike safety with the bike helmet program and this would tie in very nicely at essentially no cost.  This program would become part of the physical education curriculum showcase cycling as a viable transportation method and a great way to promote healthy lifestyles in today’s youth.  I would also advocate for a bike donation programs to schools where people could donate a bicycle to a local school in exchange for a tax receipt, similar to the programs run by other non-profit organizations for donating cars, boats and other vehicles.  This would allow students who are unable to transport a bike to the school and underprivileged kids without a bicycle to still take part with their peers and learn an important life school and hopefully spur a love for cycling and healthy living.

The second part of my active transportation plan refers to our current infrastructure and ways to improve our active transportation system.  Winnipeg has a clear goal currently in place with a priority being placed on active transport and this can not change.  What is needed is expansion and proper consideration in future projects.  I believe that with every future roadway or transportation infrastructure project should be a dedicated assessment on how to improve active transportation needs.  A great example of this in action is the recently completed project on Sherbrook Avenue.  When the road was resurfaced, a dedicated portion of that project was focused on the safety and accessibility to those relying on active transportation and public transit.  The roadway was refinished making it safer and more enjoyable for passenger vehicles but in doing so, a dedicated bike lane with increased parking for neighbourhood businesses was also created on the same roadway.  Vehicles can now park on both sides of the road with the bike lane behind a row of parallel parking spots making it safer for motorists and cyclists alike.  This small adjustment to the roadway has made a huge difference for all commuters on that road and with more forward thinking when assessing new projects, we can promote the use of active transportation by dedicating safe ways to use it.  This addition was cost effective and done during a project that needed completion.  It was the perfect example of what can be achieved when we make active transportation a priority on future roadway projects.

It is imperative that we go further to tie active transportation and public transportation together in a stronger way.  This is simply done by the creation of more Park and Ride stations with a greater number of bike lockers at each.  Every Park and Ride would have an information booth to provide route assistance, a place to purchase fares (and hopefully one day LRT tokens) and act a deterrent toward criminal behaviour whether that is bike theft or vehicle break-ins. In addition, paths in and out of Park and Ride facilities that link to a network of paths and major routes with bike lanes, we can create a safer way for those using active transportation to travel.

Finally, with the focus on active transportation we need to focus on safety of both motorists and active transport users.  Winnipeg has become numb to headlines of pedestrians and cyclists involved in incidents with motor vehicles.  While finger pointing tends to go both ways, the easiest way to be proactive toward this happening is the enforcement of laws currently in place and review with amendments made where necessary. I know I can't go more than a day without seeing a motorist not respecting the space to which a cyclist is entitled. I also can't go more than a day without seeing a cyclist weaving through traffic and ignoring stop signs and red lights. On top of all that, we commonly have pedestrians jaywalking within sight of a crosswalk or other controlled crossing. This needs to stop in order to protect the safety of everyone involved.  With a great role from Winnipeg Police focused on enforcement of these rules for all parties involved, we can greatly reduce the injuries and fatalities that occur from reckless or careless behaviours.  It is a simple and logical step that once again promotes the safety of transportation in all of its forms.

Do you have ideas for what you would like to see with regard to active transportation?  Comments or concerns regarding my vision?  I encourage you to leave a comment or reach out to me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com .  If you like what you are reading and wish to support my campaign in any way, donation, yard sign or other forms, please let me know.  It is through a community vision and your help that we can make Winnipeg a better, safer place to live, work and play.