Annual spring cleanup: Winnipeg prioritizing on-road bike lanes

With the warmer weather, more people are cycling around Winnipeg. And it might just be easier to get around the city this spring, as crews prioritize some active transportation routes during its annual cleanup.

If you’re travelling on two wheels, your ride around the city seems to be dependent on where you are.

“Some of the bike paths are haphazard, with a bunch of rubble. I noticed a lot of gravel and dirt piled up and sand­­ — easy wipeout,” said Shannon, a cyclist.

Wayne Skrynyk, another cyclist, told CityNews: “The ones downtown seem to be in good shape.”

Cyclist Cephas Wiebe added: “Mostly clean, there are a few spots that are bad here and there, but it has been a lot better than other years.”

Winnipeg’s spring cleanup officially started Sunday. The city is prioritizing on-road active transportation networks this year, cleaning them first.

“Every time I go by some gravel, I’m really worried I’m going to skid out, especially when I’m on a road bike,” said cyclist Benjamin Letkeman.

“A little dirty on the sides, sometimes I weave around puddles. It definitely would be nice if there were some cleanups on the bike paths themselves.”

According to the City of Winnipeg, it can have the on-road active transportation network cleared within two weeks, allowing cyclists to travel around the city safely earlier in the season.

“We were tackling most of them last week, but we will continue to do that this week and the following weeks so that Winnipeggers can actually start using those transportation facilities sooner than later,” said Michael Cantor, the manager of streets maintenance with the City of Winnipeg.

The reason for the prioritization of some active transportation routes is that spring cleanup usually takes about five to six weeks.

As cyclists hit the road when temperatures get warmer, the sand and debris from the winter loosen traction for them, making it dangerous to travel on a route that hasn’t been cleared off.

“Any amount that the city can get ahead of the game on this is better,” explained Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “I think that’s the stuff that people see. The city making an effort to encourage people to bike is actually going to make them more likely for them to get out there and enjoy the city on their bikes.”

About 500 workers along with more than 300 pieces of equipment will be hitting the streets this spring cleanup to clear Winnipeg’s roadways, bridges, sidewalks, and pathways.