Winnipeg councillor apologizes for 'poor choice of words' after taking heat for 'bicycle Nazi' comment

A Winnipeg city councillor has apologized after getting into hot water for a comment that he made about cycling advocates in a committee meeting this week.

Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt made the comment during a Tuesday meeting for the city's public works committee that discussed how to calm Osborne Street traffic in order to prevent a high number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths. 

Wyatt argued that increasing the size of the island on Osborne Street and River Avenue would help slow nearby traffic without having to remove the slip lane (the curved lane that allows motorists to move from Osborne onto River without entering an intersection).

"I think that is the issue, for the average people who don't show up to the committee," he said. "I realize the bicycle Nazi wants to take away all the lanes from the cars."

Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, was at the Tuesday meeting to advocate for improved walkability and safety for pedestrians and cyclists at Osborne and River.

In a Wednesday news release, the group called for Wyatt's removal from the public works standing committee, saying his comment violated the city council's code of conduct.

Wyatt's characterization of Cohoe and the community he represents is "deeply concerning," Bike Winnipeg said in the release.

In a statement issued late Wednesday afternoon, Wyatt said his comment was not directed at one person and was "a very poor choice of words, which I regret, and ... do wish to humbly apologize for."

Residents and business owners have complained to him about bike lanes taking away parking space in the city, he said.

Comment 'unacceptable': mayor

Hours earlier, Wyatt told reporters at city hall that he feels Bike Winnipeg is trying to make it more difficult for people to get around in Winnipeg by car, under the guise of advancing the interests of cyclists, but also said he understands that the wording he used was "terrible."

"'Nazi' means a dictator, to tell you how you're going to live your life," he said.

He also said his comment came "out of frustration."

"A number of us councillors have been advocating for bike paths to be built," including the Transcona Trail and the North Winnipeg Parkway, said Wyatt.

"What's frustrating is to hear Bike Winnipeg not necessarily representing those projects when they come forward, but want to represent closing of lanes to cars, such as closing Assiniboine Avenue at Main Street, or removing the slip lane in Osborne Village."

Mayor Scott Gillingham called Wyatt's comment "unacceptable."

"I hope he takes the opportunity to reflect … and in fact, to reach out and apologize to the group," Gillingham told CBC on Wednesday, before Wyatt issued his apology.

Gillingham said it's up to city council to determine who sits on city committees, but anyone with a complaint about a council member can make a report to the integrity commissioner.

He said he's always had a good relationship with Bike Winnipeg.

"Even when we don't always agree on city policy, we've always been able to have a good relationship."

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West), who chairs the public works committee, said she's going to file a report about Wyatt's comment to the city's integrity commissioner.

Lukes says there are a lot of moving parts to chairing meetings, and apologized for not hearing Wyatt's comment.

"I missed it, and I feel horrible that I missed it. I didn't hear it," she told CBC on Wednesday. "I don't want to say that I tune him out sometimes, but I guess I'm going to say that."

Lukes has since contacted Bike Winnipeg to apologize as the committee's chair, she said. 

She also said she wanted to see Wyatt apologize.

Wyatt told reporters that he understands that Bike Winnipeg is upset about his comment and wants him removed from the committee, but said the committee is "democratic — it represents all different views."

He was not aware of Lukes's plan to file a report to the integrity commissioner, but said he would "welcome any investigation by the integrity commissioner at any time."