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This article was published 21/3/2016 (1643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

tony.zerucha@canstarnews.com

A relatively simple solution would encourage more people to ride their bicycles while reducing traffic on Regent Avenue, Bike Winnipeg maintains.

THE HERALD March 9, 2016 - Bike Winnipeg members Mark Cohoe (left) and Kevin Miller stand at Regent Avenue and Peguis Street, near Costco, the site of a break in Winnipeg's trail system. Cyclists are forced to travel dangerous stretches of Regent Avenue and Panet Road in order to reconnect with the trail system in Saint Boniface. A proposed solution is to connect the two sections of trail by running a path on the west side of the railway tracks between Regent and Mission.



The group wants to see the Transcona Trail extended to provide cyclists, rollerbladers and other active transportation users safe access into St. Boniface, from where they can link with trails taking them to south Winnipeg or downtown.



The Transcona Trail currently ends at Regent Avenue near Costco. A solution identified several years ago was to extend the trail south of Regent alongside the CN line to Panet Road near Mission Street.



The trail’s end at Regent Avenue limits its potential, Bike Winnipeg’s Kevin Miller said.



"The Transcona Trail is an exceptional recreational active living trail to serve the people of Transcona. From an active transportation view it gets you close."



"Here we’re dumped on Regent and they’re not getting us out of Transcona, Peguis and Harbourview South."



Forcing cyclists, rollerbladers and others either onto sidewalks or the busiest stretch of Regent Avenue discourages people from leading more active lives and increases traffic on the roads, Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said.



The commercial section of Regent Avenue is a perilous route for several reasons, he added. Traffic volumes are heavy and the speed limit is 60 kilometres per hour. Vehicles turning into and out of the many commercial access points pose additional risks.



The few cyclists choosing to brave Regent Avenue have to work their way across several lanes of traffic to turn left onto Panet Road, an industrial, pockmarked stretch with heavy truck traffic.

That route is not long, just dangerous, Cohoe said.



"It’s not the distance that’s the barrier it’s the traffic that’s the barrier."



Building such a path is an inexpensive option because of the short distance, Cohoe said. Its adjacency to the railway tracks means the land cannot be used for many other purposes. Aside from the CN, few landowners would be affected.



"We’re only talking a two-kilometre area," Miller said.



Cohoe said if two per cent of the provincial roadways budget was allocated to active transportation trails, the resulting $20 million could do wonders for Winnipeg and other urban areas.



"That would make a huge difference. It would allow Winnipeg to move forward with its strategy."



"We need to see matching funding from the province, and matching funding from the federal government. They certainly see the health and economic benefits."



Winnipeg is making small strides in becoming a more bike-friendly city, Cohoe said, noting more money was devoted to cycling and walking initiatives this year than at any point since 2010. But when compared to more proactive cities like Calgary and Vancouver the city is falling further behind.



"We’re not at the bottom of the pile but we certainly are not at the top either," Cohoe said.



Bike Winnipeg members will be asking provincial election candidates for their funding policy on active transportation, Cohoe and Miller said.