Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg’s first-ever buffered bike lanes have been built on one of the city’s busiest commuter cycling thoroughfares to create a safer route for cyclists. The lanes marked by special polyposts, located on the east and west sides of Pembina Highway between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive, were officially opened today by Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux and Mayor Sam Katz.
“We are seeing more people choose Active Transportation options as a preferred way to do their daily commute,” said Lemieux, “It’s important that our roadways reflect this by having dedicated and safe sections of the road for cyclist. This Pembina design is unique and will be well utilized by local residents, university students and visitors to the new Investors Group Field.”
“Pembina Highway is a very busy thoroughfare and these new posts create a welcome physical barrier between cyclists and traffic,” said Mayor Katz. “With the addition of Pembina Highway to the City’s Active Transportation network, Winnipeg now has 392 kilometres of multi-use pathways and bike lanes. This expanding network makes cycling an attractive option for transportation, recreation or fitness.”
This buffered bike lane closes a critical gap in the City’s Active Transportation (AT) network and allows people to have a sustainable option to travel from downtown using AT facilities leading to Crescent Drive and to various areas in south Winnipeg, including the University of Manitoba. It also provides a connection to the Bishop Grandin Greenway and other AT facilities in the area.
Pembina Highway is a vital north-south link in the City of Winnipeg’s Regional Transportation Network connecting the University of Manitoba, the Central Business District, the Perimeter Highway and the Inner Ring Strategic Road Network. The buffered bike lanes give cyclists a dedicated space while respecting the many other users of Pembina Highway. The design was the result of a planning process involving various stakeholders and includes a wider reserved lane for cyclists.
This cycling facility features a unique bus stop design that illustrates the City’s commitment to balancing the needs of all users within our public rights-of-way. This bus stop island design features an elevated bike lane between the bus stop and the sidewalk that accommodates buses by not requiring them to pull out of their travelling lane or block cyclists. The bus stops also feature unique way-finding tactile surfaces to aid pedestrians of all abilities to navigate the bus stop area.
The project cost $4 million, with the City of Winnipeg contributing $3.5 million through the Capital Budget and the Province of Manitoba contributing $500,000 through the Road Improvements fund.