Cyclist involved in collision says better bike infrastructure needed in Winnipeg

A Winnipeg cyclist found himself knocked to the ground after being struck by a car while riding in this protected bike lane. Now he’s calling for more to be done to keep riders in the city safe.

While he escaped with minor injuries, he says the incident could have been a life-altering for someone else.

“They were supposed to have yielded to me, but instead, they turned and smashed right into my bike and knocked me to the ground,” explained Evan Korsney.

Krosney has been a daily cyclist for roughly three years and says collisions like his are a sign the city has fallen behind when it comes to keeping cyclists safe, pointing to a lack of visibility in the intersections and traffic calming measures.

“This just goes to show a lot of the intersections where there are points of potential conflict, can be quite dangerous.”

Hit as he crossed Main Street on McDermot Avenue, he reported the collision to MPI and was cleared by a doctor, but he says not everyone would have fared so well after the crash.

“I was really fortunate in that I didn’t sustain any injuries or sprains, but I know for more vulnerable road users, a hit like this can be life-changing and it can really, really hurt,” said Korsney.

As more people begin pushing pedals in warm weather, Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, says it’s important both cyclists and drivers take care, as they want fewer vehicle-cyclist collisions this summer.

“It’s something we’re always hoping to see reduced.”

Cohoe said while physical markers are important, taking some extra time around intersections is one of the most effective ways to prevent collisions.

“It’s more than just signage. The signage helps. Green paint helps. But really what we want to do is enforce that reduced speed, work at getting increased visibility and increased separations.”

Cohoe acknowledged the city is working to improve cyclist safety, but stressed cyclists and pedestrians in Winnipeg are more prone to danger than those protected by a vehicle.

“The person on the bike, the person on foot, isn’t going to win in that collision. And even a close call – it could be a matter of inches or seconds – that was the difference between walking away with some bumps and bruises, versus hospitalization or a fatality.”

A City of Winnipeg statement wished Krosney a speedy recovery and said they never want to hear about people being injured on city streets. The city says improving safety and conditions for cyclists is a priority, pointing to the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan.

“The plan is the result of a two-year process that included strong data-driven analysis and a comprehensive and robust engagement process wherein thousands of Winnipeggers provided input about road safety and how they want to City to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the road.”

The plan will set the direction and pace of Winnipeg’s road safety investments for the next five years as the city works to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in fatal collisions and serious injuries by 2026, with initiatives including the upgrading of cycling infrastructure, supporting school cycling education programs, formalizing cycling infrastructure maintenance requirements and conducting cyclist conflict studies in the city.