Why not design back lanes downtown to accomodate bikes?
By Lethbridge Herald on August 10, 2024.
Editor:
Over the last several months, I have read in the Roast and Toasts or the editorials of the Lethbridge Herald, the pros and cons of bike paths in the down town area of Lethbridge.
It is rather obvious to me that the people who submit the cons either don’t own a bike or they don’t ride one as opposed to the pro people who do own and ride their bikes in the city.
My wife and I own an e-bike and ride it everywhere in our fair city and we thoroughly enjoy it. We know that we are putting our lives at risk however, riding on the streets and we don’t like to ride on the sidewalks if possible.
I was not aware until I read an article in the Lethbridge Herald by a fellow biker who indicated that it is against a city bylaw for anyone over 14 years of age to ride on the sidewalks.
Bikes and pedestrians don’t mix that well and, in most incidences, should a collision happen, it would be the pedestrian that would get hurt the most. I have recently noticed several bikes riding on the sidewalks downtown.
So why not have the back lanes in the downtown area redesigned by the city and businesses to accommodate bicycles?
The time has come for us to support the development designated areas everywhere in our city to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians and automobiles together in a safe environment.
We have paved trails right now all over Lethbridge that can be and are easily shared with bikes and pedestrians.
They only need a center line painted to indicate two- way traffic. There are thousands of towns and cities throughout the world that live in harmony with bikes, pedestrians and automobiles and that is why I’m in favour of being proactive and support the city in their quest for more safe, environmentally sustainable transportation options for all users.
Kent Perry
Lethbridge
13-12
Bike lanes are a pain in the —! Terribly expensive to incorporate on city streets that have been designed for motor traffic only. You will lose parking that your downtown merchants need. Dangerous for novice cyclists and not wanted by the pro riders. Tough on drivers in narrowed traffic lanes. In my city, the proliferation of bike lanes has cost millions of dollars for the benefit of only a small percentage of the population who, when it rains or snows, are back in their automobiles. Don’t waste your tax dollars.
i think the idea is to encourage more biking and discourage our penchant for driving cars for every little outing.
I wonder how many budget lines at the City ‘benefit only a small percentage of the population’?
The point is that our municipal government act on the vision articulated in the MDP. And part of that is to offer transportation options in addition to the single-occupancy motor vehicle.
seems a thought worthy suggestion. many of our lanes downtown cover several or most blocks, not requiring a maze solving skill set.
as for bikes on sidewalks and bikes also not following basic road rules, such as riding on one’s right hand side of the road – ticket, as often as it takes.