Looking forward to support for cyclists

Re: Falls councillor wants to see more bike lanes, Jan. 15, by Ray Spiteri

Coun. Victor Pietrangelo’s endorsement for bicycle lanes will be met with a cheer from Niagara’s growing cycling community. He correctly identifies some of the constraints faced by staff tasked with suggesting modifications to existing infrastructure intent on motivating active transportation and ultimately improving the safety of all road users.

Another suggestion advanced in the article referred to “creating some type of rectangle or some type of square, so that at least we can allow people to travel, and then from there we can have off-shoots.” This may be interpreted that a network needs to be designed and, ultimately, implemented.

Good news, most of the planning has already been completed. In the mid-1990s, the city engaged Totten Sims Hubicki Associates (TSH) and Dillon Consulting to develop a trails and bikeway master plan.

The plan outlined a number of goals, primarily providing recreational opportunities, connecting places where people live and travel and minimize conflicts between modes of travel. The transportation master plan for the city was updated in 2005 and illustrates a network of on- and off-road opportunities for active transportation initiatives.

Niagara Region appears to be doing what it can with every road rehabilitation project it undertakes. Niagara Falls has stepped up with the design of arterial roads in new subdivisions as well. What is unclear from the article is the appetite of other members of council for the city to establish a budget for cycling infrastructure going forward.

As a concerned resident and fair weather cyclist, I look forward to their support and continued improvements in the years ahead.

Bob Romanuk Niagara Falls