Alternatives to driving gaining steam among residents

By Lethbridge Herald on March 30, 2022.

Ry Clarke – for the Lethbridge Herald

Canadians have been seeing fuel prices jump at the pumps in recent weeks, with gas in Lethbridge sitting around $1.69 per litre, skyrocketing from $1.47 cents per litre back in February. 

With prices on the rise more Albertans are looking at electric options for transportation. Some residents, like Doug Brearley, have made the switch to electric with an e-bike.

“The efficiency on time between having to stop at red lights, or waiting for pedestrians, it’s actually a lot faster for me to commute to work on my bike than it is to drive there and back.”

Last year Lethbridge City Council approved a pilot program in May enabling people to rent a battery-operated e-scooter to get around Lethbridge. On Tuesday, city council discussed an amendment to the Streets Bylaw (Bylaw 3446) to allow micro-mobility devices to be operated on sidewalks. The amendment would ensure the pilot project can start with minimal delay. 

Adam St. Amant, transportation engineer with the City of Lethbridge, says the City uses a cycling master plan, conducted back in 2017, to make cycling a more realistic transportation option in Lethbridge. 

“One of the projects that’s coming up for construction fairly soon will be the connection from 7 Ave up 7 St into the downtown core […] The idea is to build a connection from that bike boulevard up into the downtown and start connecting to businesses and destinations downtown to make it a little safer and more attractive to bike into the downtown.”

Going electric or switching to cycling also helps lower costs like vehicle maintenance and insurance rates. In Alberta car insurance can fluctuate depending on make, model, and driving records. 

“I would like to see more security to prevent [the bike] from getting stolen. That’s a big worry for me right now.” 

Brearley says it’s a new way to explore Lethbridge and allows him to take a break from the stresses of driving. “I did the finances between gas prices currently to date, and the amount of fuel that I consume, plus the total amount that I paid for the bike. Overall in comparison to gas prices it will pay itself off in just under two months.”

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