The Alberta government is escalating its push for detailed data on Calgary’s bike-lane network, warning the city that new provincial legislation aimed at limiting lane reductions could be coming. The demand, highlighted in a Calgary Herald opinion column by Rick Bell, marks one of the Smith government’s most pointed interventions in municipal transportation planning to date.
Ongoing request for data
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen has pressed Calgary officials for months. He has been arguing the province needs usage and traffic-impact data before deciding whether to move ahead with rules that would restrict bike lanes that displace vehicle or parking lanes. According to Bell’s column, Dreeshen says the province wants the information immediately, not “next month” or “next year.”
Dreeshen said proposed legislation could also allow the removal of underperforming or traffic-impeding bike lanes: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” he said, adding it is “important the city provides the data in order to make an informed decision for taxpayers and drivers.”
Bell reported that Dreeshen recently raised the issue with Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, describing the mayor’s response as “noncommittal.” The minister said he hopes the incoming city council “sees the light,” expressing frustration that the province’s warnings have not registered with officials in Calgary or Edmonton.
Bike lanes are…social engineering?
Dreeshen argued that other provinces have implemented measures to prevent what he characterized as excessive or poorly planned bike-lane expansion. He criticized bike-lane policies as “social engineering” that attempts to “change people’s behaviour when they don’t want to change,” adding that taking away vehicle lanes and parking “is stupid.”
He suggested future legislation could be designed to ensure “that craziness doesn’t happen. That is to say, he is signalling the province’s readiness to act if Calgary does not provide the requested data.
Meanwhile, other cities face similar pressures regarding bike lanes. A new administration that was recently elected in Montreal wants to reduce or restrict future or existing bike lanes. Ontario has been facing a debacle through Premier Doug Ford which has threatened to cancel or remove bike lanes.
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