Winnipeg city council has voted to scrap a plan to install a temporary bike lane on Wellington Crescent and instead begin work to design permanent infrastructure originally planned for 2029, with the goal of starting construction next year.

Road safety advocates had urged the city to make improvements to the section of Wellington Crescent east of Academy Road after cyclist Rob Jenner was hit and killed in 2024.

Lucky Adams, one of dozens of advocates who showed up to Thursday’s meeting wearing red, said they were disappointed at the outcome. 

“It’s very disappointing given how urgent it is needed to put safer infrastructure on Wellington Crescent,” Adams said. 

City staff had recommended installing temporary lanes between Stradbrook Avenue and Academy this spring, using painted lines and flexible plastic posts to separate cyclists from vehicle traffic. The plan also called for the speed limit along that section of Wellington to be reduced to 40 kilometres per hour.

Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins brought forward a motion at the meeting, trying to salvage parts of the city’s original plan.

“Something was supposed to happen this year,” she said.

“We thought 2026 would deliver real on-the-ground progress to make Wellington Crescent safer and more comfortable for people walking and biking. And yet, here we are.”

Council voted 10-6 to approve part of Rollins’ motion, which lowered the speed limit to 40 km/h on Wellington from Academy to Stradbrook, and on sections of Stradbrook and River Avenue from Wellington to Nassau Street. 

Adams had “mixed feelings” about that vote. While Adams was pleased the speed limit reduction passed, another part of Rollins’ motion that would have closed several left-turn lanes along Wellington failed to pass in a tie vote.

“It’s an unsatisfying result. It’s not enough to make Wellington a safe space for cyclists and pedestrians, but it is an improvement,” Adams said.

The permanent bike lane is expected to cost $5.9 million. 

Request heading to province

Councillors also voted 13-3 to ask the Manitoba government to change the Highway Traffic Act to allow the city to set its own default residential speed limit.

City staff recommended lowering the speed limit on local and collector residential streets to 40 km/h. Currently, the city would need to pass bylaws and install signs on each individual street in order to lower the speed limit, at an estimated cost of $8 million to $10 million.

Some on council, such as North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, have called the idea a huge mistake, arguing most serious traffic injuries occur on larger regional roads.

Mayor Gillingham says he wants the province to change the law before having a debate about lowering the speed limit in the city.