Pedal power: designing effective cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg with lessons from Minneapolis

• Main Author: Harris, Dylan
• Other Authors: van Vliet, David (City Planning)
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: city planning; cycling; design; winter; active transportation; sustainable development; Winnipeg; Minneapolis
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/22202

The amount of cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg has drastically increased in recent years, yet network fragmentation and winter weather prevent many from considering cycling as a year round transportation option. This project explores what design characteristics exist in safe, efficient, accessible and resilient cycling networks in winter cities. This study conducted comparative analysis between Winnipeg and Minneapolis, Minnesota; another cold weather city, which has been recognized as one of the most bike friendly cities in the United States. Through key informant interviews, ethnography and visual analysis, recommendations have been developed which emphasize the importance of quality, connected infrastructure and consistent political support in improving the cycling network in Winnipeg. The research concludes successful cycling networks require context specific approaches to the physical, political and social landscapes in which they exist. Further, the research suggests engagement with network users is an effective way to improve cycling infrastructure design.