Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas is advocating for a pause in the provincial government’s intentions to remove local bike lanes. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen recently announced plans to introduce a bill this autumn, granting more authority to approve and eliminate bike lanes. Typically, decisions on implementing bike lanes are made by municipalities as they plan their transportation networks.
Farkas expressed concerns about the possibility of the Alberta government dismantling bike lanes utilized by school children for commuting and enhancing cyclist safety on roads. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing pedestrian safety, pointing out the increase in pedestrian fatalities in Calgary last year, the highest in police records since 1996.
The mayor highlighted his efforts to discuss pedestrian safety with Minister Dreeshen, which were postponed, leaving him awaiting further communication on the matter. Farkas criticized the government’s focus on “symbolic” issues like bike lanes, suggesting a diversion from more critical concerns.
Dreeshen had previously mentioned reviewing municipal bike lanes following public complaints about their placement and impact on parking and commute experiences. He clarified that while his government supports some bike lanes, poorly positioned lanes have prompted numerous complaints.
In response to Farkas’s apprehensions regarding the proposed legislation, Dreeshen emphasized concerns about municipal decisions conflicting with efforts to alleviate traffic congestion. Council member Nathaniel Schmidt, representing neighborhoods with significant bike lane presence, questioned the necessity of provincial intervention in bike lane matters in what he views as a minor issue.
The province’s proposed bill on bike lanes coincides with Ontario’s legal battle over similar legislation. The Ontario government faced a challenge to its plan to remove bike lanes in Toronto, raising constitutional safety concerns. Bike Calgary president Doug Clark criticized the provincial government’s involvement in local bike lane planning, advocating for increased connectivity and redundancy in Calgary’s cycling infrastructure for improved safety and network resilience.