Safe commuting by bicycle has increasingly been recognized as a major issue for Winnipeg cyclists, including U of M students. With the 2006 civic election coming up, political leaders are proposing ways to improve this method of transportation.

BIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK

On average, 175 cyclists are injured and two die each year, according to David Patten of Manitoba Public Insurance. The most common injuries are broken bones and head-related injuries. Moreover, 190 bicycles are damaged in motor vehicle collisions and the average cost of a bicycle claim is about $6,047.

The route from downtown to the U of M can be especially difficult. Mike McKee of the Manitoba Cycling Association described bikecommuting routes to the U of M as ìnon-existent.î

ìRight now the route that is designated to go up to the University of Manitoba from downtown is Pembina Highway,î said McKee. ìAnd you know as well as I do that anytime during rush hour it is absolutely ridiculous and itís not safe at all.î

Molly McCracken, co-ordinator of Bike to the Future, a recently formed community activist group, events and the Manitoba research associate for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, agrees: ìSome people were concerned that people were actually going to get killed off that route.î

In the efforts to encourage government officials to do something about Winnipegís current cycling infrastructure, Jeremy Hull of Prologica Research drafted the Winnipeg Cycle Commuter Survey to illustrate the attitudes Winnipeggers have on the existing bicycling infrastructure.

ìI think most people are afraid to get out on the streets and get on traffic and the condition of the road doesnít help,î said Hull.

According to the survey, which was published on Oct. 4, 2006, cyclists have expressed a number of city cycling concerns.

ìCar drivers, if they donít cycle much they donít have [an] appreciation of what the cyclists are dealing with so they kind of do things that are not so good for the cyclist,î explained Hull. ìSome of them are rude, but thatís a very small minority. Some of them are actually annoyed that the cyclist is on the street to begin with. So there are all kinds of attitude