• Objectives
  

• Active transportation
  

• Critical Mass
  

• Critical Mass in Winnipeg
  

• Winnipeg bicycle organizations
  

• References
  

Objective:

The main objective of this place study is to build awareness of alternative and active modes of transportation as a viable solution to over dependence on the automobile. This place study will focus primarily on bicycling and the organizations in Winnipeg that are taking an active stance to promote bicycling as a sustainable alternative mode of transportation. In addition this place study will explore the opportunities and constraints that exist in the city of Winnipeg associated with increasing active transportation initiatives and awareness in the city.

Recognizable short comings in Winnipeg’s bicycling system are a source of continued debate at both the municipal and community level. Inadequacies in suitable bicycle infrastructure and a general lack of courteously and understanding for the cities driving population makes commuting by bicycle not only challenging but also dangerous. Several immediately recognizable inadequacies include:

• Major roadways lack bicycle lanes, forcing bicyclers to share the road with fast moving vehicles and buses. This forces bicyclers to use ‘indirect’ routes in order to avoid traffic flows
  
• The city generally lacks end use facilities such as showers and bike racks needed to park and store one’s bicycle
• The overall poor maintenance of roadways and bicycle paths has resulted in substantive potholes, making bicycle navigation difficult
• Generally, the current infrastructure in the city makes Winnipeg a non bicycle friendly city, inconveniencing active commuters

Winnipeg, like many other urban centers, has seen an increased reliance on the automobile and continued decline on public transportation rider ship and the use of other alternative modes of transportation. This can be blamed at least partially on the deteriorating municipal infrastructure and general un-recognition in the majority of the population of active forms of transportation, including bicycling, as a suitable form of commuting. Winnipeg and the citizens promoting active transportation face additional challenges being a winter city, subsequently experiencing 6-8 months of winter annually. This presents unique challenges in convincing decision makers that the infrastructure needed for the development of active transportation networks, which are generally most widely used during warm summer months, are a wise investment. As a result, continued pressure and support from the general public is needed.

Several movements or groups of bicycle enthusiast have emerged in Winnipeg which promotes active bicycling transportation as a sustainable alternative to automobile commuting. Three primary groups have formed and include: Critical Mass, Spin, and Bike to the Future, each of which is discussed in subsequent pages.