Spring has arrived in Alberta, and with it comes a renewed focus on the province's bike lanes. The Danielle Smith government is preparing to introduce legislation that would give the province the power to remove existing bike lanes and block the creation of new ones. The move comes after years of complaints from motorists and businesses about the impact of bike lanes on traffic and parking.
New law expected this fall
The Alberta government is drafting a new law, expected to be introduced this fall, that would crack down on separated bike lanes, also known as cycle tracks. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen is leading the effort, which aims to bring what he calls "common sense" to bike lane policy.
Requirements for future bike lanes
Under the proposed law, local governments would be required to provide detailed studies on the impacts of any proposed bike lane that would remove driving or parking lanes. This includes analyzing effects on traffic flow, nearby roads, local businesses, and projected cyclist usage. Cities would need to justify the need for new bike lanes before they can be built.
Existing bike lanes could be removed
The legislation would also apply to existing bike lanes. Factors such as negative impacts on vehicle traffic, year-round cyclist numbers, growth in usage, effects on businesses, and community feedback would be considered when deciding whether to remove a bike lane.
Minister Dreeshen criticized city councils in Calgary and Edmonton for ignoring public opinion and pushing ahead with bike lanes without proper study. He stated, "This will hopefully go a long way to bring some sanity to the situation. Both Calgary and Edmonton know we're drafting legislation provincially that can actually rein in some of the silliness that happens when it comes to bike lanes."
The province has requested data from Calgary and Edmonton on their existing bike lanes and future plans. Dreeshen emphasized that with Alberta's population boom and increased vehicle traffic, the focus should be on expanding road capacity, not restricting it. "We need to have municipalities on the same page as the province," he said.
