Cycling coalition calls for protected bike paths
Posted Jun 25, 2014 08:42:27 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Halifax Cycling Coalition is calling for the city to build 100 kilometres of bike paths in the next 16 years as part of their “On Track For 2020” plan.
The group wants HRM to live up to its 2006 Regional Plan to double the number of people who cycle to work by the year 2026.
The coalition thinks protected bike lanes separated from car traffic by a physical barrier such as parked cars, plastic bollards, concrete planters, curbs, or green space is the way to accomplish this goal.
The group’s co-chair Ben Wedge told News 95.7 studies show the way to increase ridership and safety is to separate cars from bikes.
“Injury and collision rates dropping by over 90%, a reduction in head injuries,” explained Wedge. “Massive increases of participation in cycling, up to 200% within a year.”
Wedge said the city’s own research shows 40% of residents would want to ride if infrastructure was safer.
According to Wedge, the plan would cost about $110,000 per kilometre.
“That’s $2 million a year, which is roughly a quarter of the proposed active transportation spent,” said Wedge. “We also know that the city spends about 25 times that repaving roads every year in Halifax.”
Wedge added the Bayers Road widening project will cost the city around $20 million.
Wedge also pointed out the municipal road budget is paid for by property taxes, which means cyclists and drivers pay the same amount for infrastructure.
