As we enter the last few weeks of summer, we know many of you are looking forward to the “back to school” routines starting up. With sign-ups for activities and new schedules, our streets are about to get much busier.
Our friends at Winnipeg Transit rolled out their new network a few months ago, knowing the real test would come in September when everyone heads back to class. With so many more kids on the streets during peak times, our focus turns to road safety and design.
Two recent stories illustrate two very different approaches to this idea. The first, out of Helsinki, celebrates that city’s achievement of zero traffic deaths. According to a traffic engineer for the City of Helsinki, the top reason for this success is the reduction of speed limits to 30 kilometres per hour on more than half the city’s streets.
We’re still waiting to read the City of Winnipeg’s report on the effect 30 km/h zoneshave had in our several pilot neighbourhoods.
The other story, shared by Strong Towns, tragically highlights what happens when a city prioritizes car traffic above all else. (“The Road That Killed Legend Jenkins Was Working Exactly as Designed”).
While we have “Bike” in our name, and we continue to advocate for additions to Winnipeg’s active transportation network, we understand that a community designed for people ends up being safer for all vulnerable road users—whether they are walking, cycling, or rolling. Until there is a dedicated advocacy group for pedestrians, we will continue to push for changes that support everyone outside of a car.
If you are a member, thank you for your crucial support. If you’re not yet a member but want to help build a city where your kids can walk or bike to school safely, please consider supporting Bike Winnipeg.