Winnipeg councillor Janice Lukes is calling on the city to make temporary bike lanes along a 1-km stretch in the city permanent. Lukes is pushing for the infrastructure on Wellington Crescent to proceed immediately with a permanent design, as reported by the Winnipeg Free Press.

It’s a section of town that has been a focal point for cycling advocates for some time.

She argues that short-term lanes only offer marginal safety improvements and disrupt traffic . She also said it would clutter the unique character of the area.

Protecting vulnerable road-users

Lukes said a permanent design would protect both cyclists and pedestrians. The councillor is planning to bring a motion to the public works committee on March 4 to accelerate the project. The good news is a recent city staff report released is also in favour of her proposal. If approved, construction on permanent protected lanes could begin sooner than planned.

The push follows ongoing calls from the city’s cycling community, especially after 61-year-old Rob Jenner was fatally hit by a hit-and-run driver while riding to work in June 2024.

Survey says

In December, an online survey about the design idea gave a chance for locals to comment on the whole project. Records showed at least 10 other run-ins between drivers and cyclists or walkers happened on that same section from 2012 to 2022.

In the online survey, 74 per cent of respondents said they prefer a permanent design. A whopping 83 per cent said the stretch is unsafe for cyclists.

Back in June 2025, a grassroots tribute on the road took place to draw attention to safer cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg. The popup lane took place exactly one year after Jenner’s death.

Local volunteers used cinderblocks, wooden planks and green paint to create a temporary bike lane. It was promptly taken down by the city the same day.

“It shouldn’t be taking years and years,” organizer Michael, who declined to share his last name, said to CBC Radio. “A group of people put this together in an hour and a half. They did it just to show what could be done.”

With all the debacles about bike lanes raging from coast to coast (to coast), it’s good to see some (hopefully) good news.