Kids younger than 14 can bike on sidewalks

Saskatoon city council pedalled forward with two controversial changes to cycling rules.

Council voted narrowly on Monday to reject a restriction that would have required cyclists to use a protected bike lane on streets that have one and to approve an exemption allowing children younger than 14 to bike on sidewalks.

Despite the approval of the exemption for kids under 14, council also voted 6-3 to consult with the city’s business improvement districts on the possibility of restricting sidewalk cycling along busy corridors.

Coun. Mairin Loewen suggested further revisions to the bicycle bylaw may be necessary.

“I’m not confident that we’re thinking of everything today and that we’re going to get everything right today,” Loewen told council.

Councillors Randy Donauer, Darren Hill and Ann Iwanchuk voted against both the sidewalks rule and rejecting the mandatory bike lane use rule.

Coun. Bev Dubois also voted against allowing cyclists to ride on streets when a protected bike lane is available, an idea that had been previously backed by council.

Coun. Troy Davies and Coun. Zach Jeffries were absent from Monday’s council meeting.

Hill, Iwanchuk and Coun. Hilary Gough suggested further alterations of the existing rules, but their proposals were voted down.

Council rejected Iwanchuk’s proposed ban on sidewalk cycling in the business improvement districts 6-3 with her, Donauer and Dubois voting in favour.

Hill’s idea for two streets downtown — one north-south, the other east-west — where mandatory protected bike lane use would be enforced was voted down 7-2 with Hill and Coun. Cynthia Block in favour.

Gough’s pitch to allow all cyclists to ride on sidewalks where streets are hazardous was also defeated 7-2 with Loewen supporting Gough.

Gough’s other proposal to allow guardians of kids 14 and under to ride on sidewalks when accompanying youth on bikes lost 5-4 with Gough, Loewen, Mayor Charlie Clark and Coun. Sarina Gersher in favour.

“This is not how we make great transportation networks,” Hill lamented of the process.

“The point is, we need better infrastructure,” Gough said.

Dubois also asked about the possibility of a sidewalk cycling exemption for older adults, but she did not make a formal proposal.

Jim Arnold, a board member with Saskatoon Cycles, appeared on behalf of the cycling advocacy group.

He expressed some sympathy for council about the difficulty of updating the cycling bylaw, but he added that input offered from Saskatoon Cycles was based on the commitment by city hall to better cycling infrastructure.

Council voted last summer to remove a protected bike lane from Fourth Avenue downtown, although a fragmented lane on 23rd Street remains.

“We think a blanket prohibition (on sidewalk cycling) is unreasonable,” Arnold said. “We want to encourage cycling in Saskatoon and make it safe and make it possible.”

Saskatoon Cycles submitted a proposal to allow sidewalk cycling along seven major roads, including Eighth Street and 22nd Street.

Randy Pshebylo, executive director of the Riversdale business improvement district, cautioned council on the dangers of cycling on sidewalks.

Pshebylo said an older person who had been struck by a cyclist on the sidewalk along 20th Street spent three months in a wheelchair and six months off work.