And the beat goes on. If you’re a regular reader of Canadian Cycling Magazine, you’ll know all about some of the friction when bike lanes are announced…and even worse, when installed.
Just like so many other places in Canada, there is some pushback going on in Calgary, according to a Global News report. A newly installed set of bike lanes in the northwest part of town has sparked a sharp divide, shall we say. In the Sunnyside community, residents seem to be split over whether the changes are a step forward or a misstep.
The locals on the lanes
The lanes, introduced in January along 7 Avenue N.W., run between Sunnyhill Lane and 9 Street, extending to 2 Avenue.
Resident Stephen Entwisle, who calls himself an “avid cyclist” (IYKYK), said the infrastructure feels excessive for a street that doesn’t see heavy traffic.
“For the people who actually live on 7th Avenue here, it is not only disruptive but has real potential to negatively affect property values,” Entwisle said to Global News.
He pointed to large concrete barriers as a daily inconvenience. Particularly, he said for older residents managing garbage bins. He also raised concerns about reduced parking and potential impacts on property values. He suggested less permanent measures, like speed bumps, could have been tested first.
Although, sure, speed bumps slow down drivers but they still don’t protect cyclists–the best thing is a bike lane, preferably separated. (Cuz paint ain’t infrastructure, as we all know.)
A welcome addition for cyclists
Others see the redesign differently. Robert Malcolm, a nearby resident and school council president, said narrowing the roadway has helped calm traffic, especially when drivers divert through the neighbourhood during construction on nearby routes. With an elementary school in the area, he thinks slower speeds are obviously a safety improvement.
Winter conditions also fuelled criticism, as snow left the lanes unusable at times. Christie Page of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Mobility Committee acknowledged early challenges, calling them “growing pains,” including initial confusion around parking signage. “It didn’t really open until January, which is a terrible time for the city to open a bike lane, and the snow crews hadn’t figured out how to remove the snow and there was some real issues with parking signage,” she said.
We’ve seen great progress in other parts of Canada when the bike lanes are plowed, too. When that happens, guess…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…