Over 40 delegates from Winnipeg’s cycling community, neighbourhood residents, and homeowners were at City Hall on Wednesday, calling for safer infrastructure on Wellington Crescent. Something they say, they’ve been waiting years for.
Wednesday, the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works heard from about 50 delegates on the motion by Councillor Janice Lukes. The motion on the bike lane pilot project for Wellington Crescent. The project still needs to go before the city council for approval.
“I want to rip the band-aid off once, because it’s going to be a big change for everyone,” said Lukes.
Councillor Janice Lukes. Chair of the policy committee on public works. (Nick Johnston, CityNews)
The project proposes temporary bike lanes with permanent protected infrastructure on the line for 2027.
The initial proposal was for temporary lanes to be installed this spring, followed by a preliminary design for permanent lanes. The city budgeted nearly $5.5 million for that in 2029.
“It makes me nervous to see the funding three years out. A lot can happen,” said Lukes.
A survey conducted by the city shows 83 per cent think that the section of Wellington is unsafe for cyclists, 48 per cent of residents surveyed think the pilot will impact the community in a negative way.
The motion also includes a recommendation to lower the base speed limit in the area to 40 kilometers per hour.
The report shows the bike lanes will reduce on-street parking on the stretch by 29 stalls on weekends and evenings. The pilot will cost $436,000, with funds already allocated through the Pedestrian and Cycling Program.
Councillor Russ Wyatt spoke in front of the committee on Wednesday morning, objecting to the motion and saying that other projects should be prioritized, referring to biking infrastructure in northeast Winnipeg that is disconnected from other bike lanes.
“What I find objectionable is that just because a bunch of noisy folks come out of Wellington Crescent and River Heights, that they can pound the table and all of a sudden jump the queue on everybody and get what they want,” said Wyatt.
Many of the delegates say, say they haven’t biked on Wellington Crescent since June of 2024, when a man was hit and killed by a person driving over the speed limit.
“For the lobby to wrap themselves around and use his coffin as a political battering ram – they should be ashamed of themselves,” said Wyatt.
Councillor Wyatt is calling for the community members to turn to the Local Improvement Levy, meaning the residents will have to pay for updates themselves.
Delegates advocated for temporary infrastructure for over a year now; however, that motion was delayed three times in 2025.
Matthew Carvell welcomes the permanent solution, but says the delays are unacceptable.
“I want to see safety on Wellington today, I don’t want to see it in two or three years,” said Carvell.
Matthew Carvell, Member of Neighbours for a Safe Wellington Crescent. (Nick Johnston, CityNews)
Bike Winnipeg released a statement Tuesday saying, “safety delayed is safety denied. Winnipeg residents deserve streets that protect human life now—not years from now.”
Carvell added, “My minor inconvenience of potentially 10 to 20 seconds is not worth it, is not greater than the value of someone’s safety along this path.”