Survey seeks input on opening some bike lanes to other users
Potential changes to the city’s transportation bylaw could see skateboards and scooters allowed in some bike lanes, while mandating more room for passing on Calgary roads.
In a notice of motion filed in July, Coun. Evan Woolley asked city administration to review bylaw rules around “personal mobility devices” such as scooters, skateboards, wheelchairs, roller skates and electric bicycles.
The city is looking for feedback from Calgarians on the proposed changes, which include allowing mobility devices to be used in public spaces and on downtown cycle tracks.
The amendments would also create a “safe passing law,” requiring anyone on city roads to give at least one metre of space between themselves and anyone else on the road before passing, allow electric pedal assist bicycles on Calgary Transit and let cyclists yield instead of coming to a full stop when entering or exiting a roadway or sidewalk.
Calgarians can share their views on the potential changes through an online survey until Dec. 9, and the results will help inform administration on what, if any, changes go before council.
Coun. Shane Keating, the chair of the city’s transportation committee, said some of the changes — such as allowing cyclists to make turn signals with both arms instead of just the left — are “just common sense,” while other issues will take more convincing to get the councillor on side.
He said skateboards, scooters and other mobility devices are “a great recreation,” but he isn’t convinced there is enough demand from commuters to allow the selfpropelled vehicles on cycle track infrastructure, adding he would need to see the survey results before weighing in.
“The bikes I can see as an actual mode of transportation to get you to and from work, (but) is a skateboard or a longboard going to do that in significant enough numbers to warrant the changes? That one, I don’t know yet,” Keating said.
“And if we’re going to go through the process of dedicating space on the roads to allow (mobility devices) here or there or wherever, I’d have to feel it’s justified.”
If approved, the changes would also allow mobility devices in downtown public spaces such as Olympic Plaza, Stephen Avenue Walk and Barclay Mall, and would allow mobility aids — such as electric scooters and wheelchairs — to use the cycle tracks.
Online public engagement on the bylaw tweaks ends in December, with a report on the survey findings going to council in January.
Bike lanes and creation of the downtown cycle track have been hot-button issues for city council in recent years.
A poll earlier this year by the Angus Reid Institute found Calgarians are split on whether there are enough separated bike lanes in the city: 37 per cent said there are too many, while 38 per cent said there aren’t enough.
Thirty per cent of those surveyed said they were in support of the bike lane infrastructure downtown, while 13 per cent weren’t sure.
For more information on the proposed bylaw changes visit engage.calgary.ca/transportationbylaw.