Winnipeg Bike Count 2016
Bike Winnipeg’s bike counts from 2007 to 2016 indicate that:
- On a typical weekday in mid to late spring, an estimated 6,000 cyclists commuted in and out of the downtown area of Winnipeg, and throughout the entire city about 12,600 cyclists commuted on a given day. The total number of individual commuter cyclists in the city would be higher, given that not every cyclist commutes every day.
- After taking into account location, weather conditions, spring timing and time of day, commuter cycling in Winnipeg peaked in 2014 and has declined slightly over the past two years
- Even the limited construction of new cycling infrastructure that has occurred since 2009 had a positive impact on the numbers of cyclists in Winnipeg, but this growth has stalled. Growth in cycling numbers has taken place primarily at locations with new bike lanes and multi-user paths, and primarily during the period immediately following the introduction of new infrastructure. The locations with these new bicycle facilities have also seen a reduction in sidewalk riding. On the other hand, major bridges and underpasses that have not yet been improved or which do not have bike lanes continue to push cyclists onto the sidewalks, or to discourage them from riding at all.
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If anything, I think improving the cycling infrastructure is really important, so that more people would consider cycling to work!
12,600 cyclists in a city of 782,000. We are spending millions to put cycling infastructure in to service 1.6 percent of the population. AND thats only seasonal because the city has no way to clear bike lanes in the winter.
What would really make a difference is if the city would prioritize clearing sidewalks in winter so that the general population can use the bus. Getting off a bus in to an uncleared sidewalk forces everyone in to their cars. Most commuters don’t have the money to lay out $1500.00 for a fat tire all terrain bike that can be driven in winter.
Good points. Bicycling in a city such as Winnipeg, will never be significant. A large area with long commuting distances and long hard winters are huge deterrents. A small, vocal and dedicated minority has been successful in syphoning off funds for bicycles lanes et cetera that should have been spent on improvements in public transportation. Public transportation is the only transportation mode that can reduce dependence on private motor vehicle traffic.
KB, we spend less per trip providing people on cycling facilities than we do on transit subsidies. We have more than enough resources to provide for both, we just tend to prioritize expensive roadway expansion over both active transit and public transit expenditures. Cost per trip by car is far greater that cost per trip by either bike or public transit.