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On speed and citizen advocacy


— Presented to CoW’s Executive Policy Committee —

I’m a downtown resident and have used a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation year round since 2009.

I’m here in support of Item No. 4 Speed Limit Reduction on Wellington Crescent. Full stop. From where it starts to where it ends. And on Kingsway. And Grosvenor. And Stella. And Flora. And Manitoba. And Magnus. And… and... and....

Many previous delegates have demonstrated how such a change is both in compliance with City of Winnipeg’s own documents, plans and policies and how, overall, making changes to both laws and infrastructure to prioritize human life over commuter convenience serves a building more livable city for all residents.

Frankly, I’m offended that I need to be here. And I’m offended that all this effort is being expended over merely reducing the speed limit, not even spending money to adjust the infrastructure yet. I’m offended that all this effort is being expended over just one street in a privileged neighbourhood when there are dozens of unsafe streets, especially in lower income neighbourhoods, used by many people whose finances prevent them from joining the convenience class of car drivers.

It’s deeply troubling that it should take dozens of Winnipeggers showing up in force over the course of 4 meetings to convince our city to prioritize human life over the convenience – measured in seconds – of those whose unfettered use of fossil fuels contributes to the dismantling of the possibility for a future habitable earth.

I’m offended that we should be compelled to lay before you our personal testimonies of our terror at close brushes with death at the hands of speeding or inattentive motorists or worse the grief of lost loved ones in hopes that our heart-string-tugging pain will convince the apparatus of the City to make interests of citizens of this city a priority where a wealth of data has not.

  • 30 km/hr has been amply proven to save lives, reduce emissions and noise pollution...
  • 30 km/hr clearly complies with the city’s own stated ambitions to be a more livable city...
  • 30 km/hr also supports the city’s unactualized climate plans...

The trendlines for city planning worldwide lean in the direction of citywide reduced speed limits: Winnipeg is failing its opportunity to be at the beginning of this trend instead of dead last…

The majority of the “but what about”s are easily defeated by making choices that centre human safety, not commuter convenience.

14 pedestrians and 2 cyclists have been killed this year. Preventable deaths. And we’re sitting here still trying to convince you human safety ranks above seconds of convenience.

How many of those anticipated onerously slow trips down Wellington at 30 km/hr have we already spent listening to the dozen delegations at City Centre Committee, the more than 2 dozen at Public Works, and the nearly 5 dozen today?

I beg of you to do “all things necessary to implement the intent of the foregoing” -- without delay. And to make this but the first of a cascade of actions to reduce motorist speeds and protect pedestrians and cyclists in this city.

Thank you for your time.

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