Local advocates are calling for an immediate lowering speed limit as the community mourns after a fatal crash last weekend.

Rodney Kennish has been advocating for safer cycling infrastructure and lower speeds. He says the news of a fatal car crash on Henderson Highway over the weekend has him in shock.

“It was basically my worst fear come true,” Kennish said. “Someone now has been taken from taking care of their family, being part of the community.”

“The speed of vehicles just needs to come down,” Kennish said.

According to data from Winnipeg police, since the beginning of 2026 there have been three fatal collisions in Winnipeg involving pedestrians compared to 11 fatal collisions out of over 151 collisions in 2025.

“We’ve seen an increase in not just fatal crashes, but also people injured. and when you are hit by a car even if you are not killed it can be life changing,” said Ian Walker, advocate, Safe Speeds Winnipeg.

The City of Winnipeg suggested dropping the default speed limit in Winnipeg to 40 kilometres per hour.

But some want to see it even lower and urge making infrastructure more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

“It’s narrower lanes, curb bumps — things that are designed so people don’t have to walk across six lanes,” Kennish said.

In March, the City’s executive policy committee voted in favour of lowering the default speed limit but said changing the speed signage is a costly fix and requested the province to make changes to the Highway Traffic Act.

Wednesday the city confirmed that the request has been sent to the province with no further updates.

Manitoba’s Minister of Transportation Lisa Naylor told CityNews that they are reviewing the proposal from the city, but that all municipalities have the power to change their own bylaws and do not need provincial approval.

Matthew Carwell, another advocate for lower speeds, said that the City can take actions to prevent loss of lives.

“There are plans, there is net zero strategy. They can be implemented. My question is why they aren’t,” Carwell said.

Winnipeg police on the scene of a fatal collision on Henderson Highway, April 19, 2026. (Steve Anderson, CityNews)