BikeLanes

The city's priority on bike lanes has been a controversial and contentious issue for quite some time. The debate has been reignited recently around renewal plans for 132 Avenue and the possibility of creating two more bike lanes between 66th Street and 97th Street which would entail reducing car lanes from four to two. To those opposed to this possibility, "stay in your own lane" means leave the road system as is and don't gobble up more vehicle lanes for bike lanes.

"Stay in your own lane" took on another meaning when Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s transportation minister teamed up with Karen Principe to consider concerns regarding the new bike lanes along 132 Avenue. There are those who sense the province is overstepping their jurisdiction by getting involved in a city matter. Dreeshen counters that argument saying although the province supports bike lanes when they make sense, but does not support tax dollars being used to reduce road capacity needed to meet the growing demand all across the province.

The Victoria Promenade that runs along 100 Avenue, between 117 Street NW and 121 Street NW has one of the most picturesque views of the river valley. THe city has presented five bike lane options as part of the Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood renewal program and is asking residents to share feedback until December 13th.

Edmonton has spent millions to make biking safer and the City more "bike friendly". In August the City installed concrete bike lane dividers in the Hermitage area as a means to separate bike lanes from road traffic. Its only been about 1 month, and already the concrete bike lane dividers have proven not to be a long term solution. Many of the pylons have been knocked down and some of the concrete dividers are cracked and crumbling.

What caused the damage isn't known but Edmonton safe mobility director Jessica Lamarr said the damage has been assessed and scheduled for repair/replacement which is factored into the overall project cost.

A non-bike rider looks at how bike riders get blamed for everything because of the $100 million dollars the City spent on bike lanes. The author looked how the City justified their decision to spend more than $225 million for Rogers Place saying it would attract new development and business to the downtown core. Roger's Place presented a new ROI measuring stick that the author thought could also when considering the $100 million bike lanes.