Winnipeg bylaw to make driving on 4 city bike routes illegal

A new Winnipeg city bylaw would make driving in any of four bicycleroutes illegal for motorists.

ScottGretsingerbikes along the Wellington Crescent bike route every summer Sunday.

Barricades present indicate it is off-limits to cars.

Regardless,Gretsingersaid motorists are always driving along the route.

"Almost everybody breaks the rule, he said. I thought it was totally prohibited."

In reality it isnt completely restricted, but a proposed bylaw would make driving along the bike route an offence that would result in a $90 fine for drivers.

Wolseley Avenue,ScotiaStreetand Lyndale Drive are the otherbike routes in Winnipeg affected.

Residents onLyndalelike DaleMelansongot a letter about the proposed bylaw. If it comes into effect the barricades would be removed.

"I think they're probably going to pay a little bit less attention until they get caught and fined," saidMelanson.

The city spends roughly $35,000 annually hauling out and retrieving those barricades, but with the new bylaw they would only use signs and so wouldn't need to pay for those costs.

CityCoun. JohnOrlikowsaid Tuesday the bylaw could pass at city hall by the end of the month.

Its already taking too long in my opinion, so lets just get the bylaw done, saidOrlikow.

Gretsingerwondered whether replacing the barricades with signs would lead to an increased police presence in the area.

"I don't know how often the police or whatever are going to patrol this area, but it'd be nice to see."