If you slow them (the cars), will they (the bikes), come?
That is the question posed by the Neighbourhood Greenways Reduced Speed Pilot Program, implementation of which has been completed.
The pilot has reduced speed limits and increased traffic calming on four of the city’s 11 neighbourhood greenways in a bid to evaluate how the measures impact cyclist experience.
“This is an important step for our cycling network,” said Chris Baker, Senior Active Transportation Planner.
Greenways are on-street routes designed to serve cyclists and pedestrians safely alongside motor vehicles. They typically include a range of treatments to achieve lower vehicle speeds and volumes ranging from signage, bike signals, and pavement markings to varying degrees of traffic calming.
While all of Winnipeg’s greenways currently operate at 50 km/h, reduced speed greenways have been very effective in cities like Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland.
“The goal of the pilot is to increase both the perception and reality of safety on the greenways,” said Baker.
The pilot is on now, on the following routes:
- Machray Avenue from Fife Street to Main Street
- Powers Street from Dufferin Avenue to Partridge Avenue
- Eugenie Street from St. Mary’s Road to Youville Street
- Warsaw Avenue from Thurso Street to Pembina Highway
It will be in place for a minimum of one year. We will loop back to residents along the route and all modes of road users in summer 2022 to learn about their experiences with and feedback on the pilot program.
This input, along with traffic data to be collected throughout the pilot, will help us make recommendations on the future of reduced speed greenways throughout Winnipeg.