Cyclists are continuing to find excellent traction at City Hall, where Mayor Sam Katz’s cabinet has found another $500,000 to spend on bike corridors next year. Earlier this year, lobbying efforts by cycling and walking-trail groups helped convince the city to name planner Kevin Nixon the city’s first active-transportation co-ordinator, a new full-time position devoted to creating and connecting trails.

Then over the past two weeks, cycling and trail groups appeared before city council subcommittees to request more spending on commuter trails, stressing not just the environmental and health benefits, but the potential cost savings from reduced motor-vehicle wear-and-tear on roads.

While the 2008 capital budget already called for $1.5 million worth of spending on trails, council’s executive policy committee passed a budget amendment today calling for an additional $500,000 to be devoted to new active-transportation corridors.

The money will not flow until March, when Nixon is expected to complete a trail-creation report. But Katz said Nixon will need some money to work with once his plans are in place. “We all know we lag far behind the rest of Canada, if you take a look at the cycling infrastructure in other cities. We’re catching up, but we need to do more,” Katz said.

As recently as 2006, Winnipeg spent approximately $200,000 a year on trails. In 2007, that figure was increased to $1.5 million, with most of the money consumed by the creation of the Northeast Pioneers Greenway, the new commuter trail in East and North Kildonan.

The 2008 capital budget and six-year spending forecast calls for $1.5 million on spending to build new walkways and bike paths every year until 2013. The additional $500,000 announced on Wednesday is devoted to corridors, which could include new trails as well as new bike lanes on existing roads or more extra-wide curb lanes designed to be shared by cars and cyclists.

“The trails budget is useful for cyclists, but ultimately people start on the road,” said Anders Swanson, project co-ordinator for volunteer trail-advocacy group One Green City.

On Monday, a presentation by Swanson helped convince Katz’s cabinet to find a little extra cash in the tight capital budget.

“I’m not surprised. This is going to be very popular. With the price of gas, concerns about the environment and health issues like obesity and asthma, more and more people are cycling,” Swanson said.

In other capital budget amendments, EPC bumped up the city-wide accessibility program by $100,000, which means Winnipeg will spend $350,000 next year on the likes of new wheelchair ramps and curb cuts.

But EPC also cancelled a Public Works amendment that would have seen Panet Road and Molson Street added to the list of regional roads slated for improvements in 2008.

City council will debate the 2008 capital budget during a special session on Dec. 18.