Cyclists using sidewalks leaves blind woman scared for safety

A blind woman says she can't go for a walk without feeling threatened by cyclists zipping past her on the sidewalk in Winnipeg.

Janis Brackman lives in Winnipeg'sOsborne Village area. Every time she steps out her front door, she has to be just as on guard for bikes.

Her walks have turned into "worrying about what's coming behind me or towards me."

"Now that I've got to listen for the bikes I don't concentrate as well on the cane and the traffic sounds," she said.

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The situation has her husband, Alan Brackman, fuming.

"There's a complete disregard for pedestrians. It's a public safety issue," he said.

"What I'd really like to do is have them walk down the sidewalk with a cane, blindfolded and have bikes whiz past them."

Brackman worries one misstep to the left or right could put his wife and a cyclistin serious danger.

"If they fall off their bike and they fall on the roadside they could actually get killed," he said.

TheBrackman'shave had little luck politely reminding cyclists of the rules.Adult-sized bikes with a rear wheel diameter greater than410millimetresare not permitted on the sidewalk, according to the Highway Traffic Act.

"We haven't met anyone who has apologized they're not concerned," said Brackman.

The couple said they've witnessed cyclists of all ages using sidewalks in many parts of Winnipeg, from River Avenue to Corydon Avenue and River Heights.

"They can be anything from people who might be in their 50s or 60s to younger people in their teens, men and women, some wear helmets some do not," he said.

Const. Jason Michalyshen with the Winnipeg Police Servicesaid cracking down on cyclists using sidewalks is not a priority for the force right now.

"Were not involved in campaigns where we're targeting people who are riding on sidewalks," he said.

Michalyshenadded; however, anyone who notices a trend or repeat offenders should report it to the police non-emergency line.

"It's a concern," he said when people are not abiding by the Highway Traffic Act.

In 2015 Winnipegpolice handed out 191 tickets for cycling on the sidewalk. So far this year, officers have given out 11. The fine for the offence is $113.10.

Winnipeg cyclist mad with $111 fine for riding on sidewalk

Janis Brackman says trying to navigate the streets is frightening because of the number of bicycles on the sidewalk

8 years ago

Duration 1:52

A blind woman says she can't go for a walk without feeling threatened by cyclists zipping past her on the sidewalk in Winnipeg.