Halifax Active Transportation

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

I can't resist - David Hendsbee, known zealot and leftie, supported the Agricola motion.

I suppose I should have said "zealots and jackasses".

[Dmajackson]

Both ATAC (Active Transportation Advisory Committee) and TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee) have recommended the Windsor Street Bikeway as the first phase of the North-South Peninsula Connector.

[Dmajackson]

COLTA needs more volunteers to accelerate trail development
Ken Partridge
Published on June 10, 2013

The Chain of Lakes Trail Association (COLTA) is facing a problem that confronts many volunteer organizations.

There are lots of people interested in the trail and what happens on it, but there aren’t that many willing to actually step up and directly participate in the trail’s management.

As of its 2013 annual general meeting, COLTA had just 13 paid members despite there being 100 names on its contact list; most of that paid 13 are made up by members of the Association’s board of directors.

...

COLTA hopes to capitalize on its usage rates and increase the Association’s visibility by focusing this year’s efforts on the creation of a trailhead along Joseph Howe Drive, across from the Atlantic Superstore site. The project calls for the construction of a plaza with interpretive/trailhead signage, lighting, trees and landscaping, benches, waste receptacles and bike racks. There would also be a direct connection to the nearby community along Percy Street.

...

Read More: theburnsidenews.com

[Dmajackson]

Bike Lanes installed on the Windsor Vernon Seymour Bikeway
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Halifax Regional Municipality Press Release

Starting tonight, Wednesday, October 2, 2013, Phase One of the Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway, will be installed. The work is scheduled to take place over two to four days during the evening and overnight hours. This is dependent on the weather. While the work is taking place, there may be minor traffic disruptions.

On June 25, 2013, Regional Council approved the development of the route as a central north-south cycling corridor on the peninsula. This phase consists of painted bike lanes on Windsor Street, extending from the intersection of Bayers Road and Young Street, south to the intersection of Welsford Street. Eventually, this will be a 3 km route that will provide a connected spine through the centre of the Halifax peninsula.

There will be are a number of changes associated with the installation of the bike lane, including the elimination of on-street parking on this section of Windsor Street. To help compensate for the reduction in on-street parking on Windsor Street, parking restriction changes will be made on some side streets to provide increased time limited parking for residents, guests and business customers. The streets include Welsford, Williams, Lawrence, Duncan, Summit and Windsor Terrace. Additional side street parking may be added in the future subject to usage and requests, and on the ability of each street to accommodate additional parking

There will also be modifications to some of the signalized intersections along the route. In particular, road users will note new shared lane signage and pavement markings at the intersection of Chebucto Road/Cunard Street and Windsor Street where the bike lane will be interrupted.

The Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway is one part of HRM’s Active Transportation Functional Plan. The plan identifies a number of streets for consideration for bike routes on the peninsula. Since the approval of the plan, new bike lanes have been added on a small section of Windsor Street north of Young Street, a section of Lower Water Street, and on Bell Road and South Park Streets. Segments of Active Transportation Greenway have been built adjacent to Barrington Street, Beaufort Avenue and Trollope Street. While these facilities are beneficial, a key objective in the next few years will be to connect these segments and further develop the on-road cycling network. The Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway will help in attaining this objective.

Information Page

I am so happy to see this going through. While the bike lanes will only be painted (no physical separation) they will go up to the intersections at Almon and North Streets which is a step up from existing bike lanes around HRM. The St. Pat's AT connection will be built next year and if policy is approved the Vernon-Seymour section will be upgraded from a signed bike route to a Local Street Bikeway. I haven't seen the plans for awhile now but I think the new AT Plan will include cross-connections at Welsford Street (to the mid-Commons crosswalk on Robie Street), University Avenue, and Almon Street.

[visualman57]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Bike Lanes installed on the Windsor Vernon Seymour Bikeway
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Halifax Regional Municipality Press Release

Starting tonight, Wednesday, October 2, 2013, Phase One of the Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway, will be installed. The work is scheduled to take place over two to four days during the evening and overnight hours. This is dependent on the weather. While the work is taking place, there may be minor traffic disruptions.

On June 25, 2013, Regional Council approved the development of the route as a central north-south cycling corridor on the peninsula. This phase consists of painted bike lanes on Windsor Street, extending from the intersection of Bayers Road and Young Street, south to the intersection of Welsford Street. Eventually, this will be a 3 km route that will provide a connected spine through the centre of the Halifax peninsula.

There will be are a number of changes associated with the installation of the bike lane, including the elimination of on-street parking on this section of Windsor Street. To help compensate for the reduction in on-street parking on Windsor Street, parking restriction changes will be made on some side streets to provide increased time limited parking for residents, guests and business customers. The streets include Welsford, Williams, Lawrence, Duncan, Summit and Windsor Terrace. Additional side street parking may be added in the future subject to usage and requests, and on the ability of each street to accommodate additional parking

There will also be modifications to some of the signalized intersections along the route. In particular, road users will note new shared lane signage and pavement markings at the intersection of Chebucto Road/Cunard Street and Windsor Street where the bike lane will be interrupted.

The Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway is one part of HRM’s Active Transportation Functional Plan. The plan identifies a number of streets for consideration for bike routes on the peninsula. Since the approval of the plan, new bike lanes have been added on a small section of Windsor Street north of Young Street, a section of Lower Water Street, and on Bell Road and South Park Streets. Segments of Active Transportation Greenway have been built adjacent to Barrington Street, Beaufort Avenue and Trollope Street. While these facilities are beneficial, a key objective in the next few years will be to connect these segments and further develop the on-road cycling network. The Windsor-Vernon-Seymour Bikeway will help in attaining this objective.

Information Page

I am so happy to see this going through. While the bike lanes will only be painted (no physical separation) they will go up to the intersections at Almon and North Streets which is a step up from existing bike lanes around HRM. The St. Pat's AT connection will be built next year and if policy is approved the Vernon-Seymour section will be upgraded from a signed bike route to a Local Street Bikeway. I haven't seen the plans for awhile now but I think the new AT Plan will include cross-connections at Welsford Street (to the mid-Commons crosswalk on Robie Street), University Avenue, and Almon Street.

As a resident of the neighbourhood near the Forum, I am less than excited with this development. It is already extremely difficult to find parking in the neighbourhood during the day, not to mention during events at the Forum. We frequently have vehicles blocking the driveway, people pulling into our driveway so they can run into the Forum skate shop and street blockages with cars parked on both sides. Taking away spots on Windsor St. to build a bike lane will benefit the few at the expense of many in the area.
Rant done!!!

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by visualman57

As a resident of the neighbourhood near the Forum, I am less than excited with this development. It is already extremely difficult to find parking in the neighbourhood during the day, not to mention during events at the Forum. We frequently have vehicles blocking the driveway, people pulling into our driveway so they can run into the Forum skate shop and street blockages with cars parked on both sides. Taking away spots on Windsor St. to build a bike lane will benefit the few at the expense of many in the area.
Rant done!!!

Totally agree. It is utter lunacy and more HRM pandering to a loud squeaky-wheel bunch who are getting far more attention and tax dollars thrown at them than they deserve.

[Hali87]

Or, it's HRM trying to lay the groundwork for a culture of cycling, or of general non-auto-centric-ness. It's not really about anyone deserving anything, it's about making it easier to not have to rely on a car.

People aren't just born cyclists or born drivers. Putting in this kind of "infrastructure" (ie. painting lines) makes it more likely that this minority will be less tiny in the future. Might even grow to include people that, you know, deserve stuff.

That being said, I feel for ya visualman. I don't know how someone could think it reasonable to park in a stranger's driveway. I think some streets on the Peninsula have "resident permits" that limit/discourage/prevent non-residents from parking there. Maybe this would help in your neighbourhood? People could always park at Sobeys if the Forum lot fills up. Or... bike.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Hali87

Or, it's HRM trying to lay the groundwork for a culture of cycling, or of general non-auto-centric-ness. It's not really about anyone deserving anything, it's about making it easier to not have to rely on a car.

This is going to get more and more important over time as the suburbs grow and as there's more infill in the North End. The city really needs to shift some more modal share away from cars and toward other modes of transportation.

It's not about cyclists vs. other people. That way of thinking doesn't make much sense because one person can take different modes of transportation at different times, and because car riders can benefit from other people switching to other modes of transportation, reducing congestion or the need for public tax dollars (that come from everybody) to maintain roads and highways. And of course many people rely on other people who rely on transit (e.g. shop at a store where the employees arrive on transit). Even if you never get on a bike or a bus, you can and do benefit from the availability of other modes of transportation in your city.

Few people actually bike everywhere all the time, but if even a small percentage bike on nice days then some basic bike infrastructure is worthwhile (and it is very very cheap compared to many road building projects). There are plenty of traffic jams in Halifax on ideal sunny days that are perfect for biking, and there are plenty of healthy people who hop in their car for a 5 minute drive because they're not comfortable biking to their destination. These are some of the trips that can be shifted over to cycling. It'll never be 100%, but if it goes from 2% to 4% on only 1% of the city's transportation budget (that is a ton of bike lanes!) then it is worthwhile.

[Dmajackson]

Apparently the new bike lanes are not going over well with some local residents. Thumbtacks have been thrown on the lanes and cars are still parking on the street up by the forum. Its to the point that they now have police bike patrols.

[Keith P.]

The taxpaying masses rise up against the entitled freeloaders who demand bike lanes nobody but they can use be paid for by others! Hooray!! It can be the start of the Halifax Thumbtack Party!!!

Personally I believe this is all part of a conspiracy perpetrated by the cycling activists. They likely sabotaged the lanes themselves in order to place suspicion on those opposed. A "beard", I think it used to be known as. The cycling zealots will go to any length to expand their tyranny over the rest of us.

Anyone know a good place to buy a truckload of broken glass?

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The taxpaying masses rise up against the entitled freeloaders who demand bike lanes nobody but they can use be paid for by others!

"Entitled freeloaders"? In this context, aren't drivers technically the same thing?

and "nobody but they can use"...? anyone can use them, unless they are unable to ride a bike. I would guess that the number of people who can't drive a car is greater than the number who can't ride a bike.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Apparently the new bike lanes are not going over well with some local residents. Thumbtacks have been thrown on the lanes and cars are still parking on the street up by the forum. Its to the point that they now have police bike patrols.

It would be interesting to see the statistics on those oppositional residents. If it's consistent with the separation of demographics in other communities: then bike lanes will eventually be accepted once more of the older generations pass away.

Progress will be made, eventually.

[pchipman]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Personally I believe this is all part of a conspiracy perpetrated by the cycling activists. They likely sabotaged the lanes themselves in order to place suspicion on those opposed. A "beard", I think it used to be known as. The cycling zealots will go to any length to expand their tyranny over the rest of us.

Must be similar to the satirical online 'poe'. I've always suspected you were a fellow lefty 'wingbat' in disguise

[NewBalearic]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The taxpaying masses rise up against the entitled freeloaders who demand bike lanes nobody but they can use be paid for by others! Hooray!! It can be the start of the Halifax Thumbtack Party!!!

Personally I believe this is all part of a conspiracy perpetrated by the cycling activists. They likely sabotaged the lanes themselves in order to place suspicion on those opposed. A "beard", I think it used to be known as. The cycling zealots will go to any length to expand their tyranny over the rest of us.

Anyone know a good place to buy a truckload of broken glass?

For someone opposed to the "criminality" and "vandalism" of graffiti, what you're joking about here is very illegal, dangerous, and in my opinion, not something to be joking about.

Secondly, cyclists are not the freeloaders. Their taxes have been spent on billions of dollars of roads, bridges, overpasses and underpasses that they are not even allowed to use. Heaven forbid their taxes get used for a line of paint that gives them a metre of dedicated road space to comfortably and safely get to work on.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Cyclists' conspiracy? Broken glass? Let's wait for the old people to die off so we can have more bicycle lanes?

This place gets weirder by the moment...

Seriously, folks, alternate forms of transportation make the world better for all of us. Cycling is a way to lessen environmental impact by the reduction of fossil-fuel-burning vehicles, is a good form of exercise (thereby reducing the strain on our healthcare system and thus tax system), improves car traffic flow by replacing some car traffic with bicycle traffic, etc etc.

Cyclists in Nova Scotia are a hardy bunch and I applaud them for maintaining their method of transportation despite the poor road conditions, bad weather and other obstacles they face every day. Roads without designated bicycle access are a headache for all parties involved - bicyclists are in constant threat of being injured or killed because there is little room for both types of vehicles (get buzzed by a large truck while riding your bike and you'll know what I'm talking about), and it's a headache for car drivers having to cross the center line, etc., while trying to get around bikes. Bike lanes are a necessity for this reason alone.

Last I heard is that roadways are paid for by taxes, which we all pay if we work. Fuel tax doesn't go directly to the roads anymore, so it's unfair and incorrect to say that car and truck drivers pay for the roads and cyclists don't.

Lastly, this recent action of throwing thumbtacks in the bike lane is both irresponsible and dangerous. Hopefully a security camera somewhere picked up the perpetrators and they receive some form of punishment for their actions.

And yes, I drive a car every day, but used to cycle "everywhere" back in the day so I know both sides of the story very well. Who knows, if we get more and better bike lanes I might just be motivated to leave the car at home and commute on 2 wheels and a heartbeat again...

[halifaxboyns]

We've had some problems with the separated bike lanes here in Calgary although 7 Street, but the transportation guys want it to succeed so they've been out dealing with the issues. They have painted caution boxes where the bike lanes interface lanes and put up new signage to explain turn movements.

The biggest issue has been some bikers (despite the expense) just don't want to use them and the feeling from transportation is that they should be able to ticket those bikers who still use the road when a dedicated bike lane is provided. I agree with them - why did we spend how many millions of dollars to put these in and keep you safe and you STILL want to use the road?!

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Cyclists' conspiracy? Broken glass? Let's wait for the old people to die off so we can have more bicycle lanes?

This place gets weirder by the moment...

Seriously, folks, alternate forms of transportation make the world better for all of us. Cycling is a way to lessen environmental impact by the reduction of fossil-fuel-burning vehicles, is a good form of exercise (thereby reducing the strain on our healthcare system and thus tax system), improves car traffic flow by replacing some car traffic with bicycle traffic, etc etc.

They represent perhaps 1% of the traffic in this city. Yes, they're saving the world, as long as they aren't smoking a doob or fart while they bike, which has been known to occur. None of this makes them entitled to anything more than the rest of us.

Cyclists in Nova Scotia are a hardy bunch

They are a tiny minority of zealots. This isn't San Diego. Those lanes will be unused and unusable in February.

Last I heard is that roadways are paid for by taxes, which we all pay if we work. Fuel tax doesn't go directly to the roads anymore, so it's unfair and incorrect to say that car and truck drivers pay for the roads and cyclists don't.

That is wrong on two counts. Not only did the Hamm govt redirect fuel tax back to the Transportation & Public Works budget, but the Cdn Federation of Municipalities successfully lobbied the feds to direct part of the federal fuel tax revenue back to cities to pay for roads. I note that none of that revenue comes from cyclists.

This is an interesting piece about the attitudes of the cycling zealots. Tell me again why they deserve our support?

http://frankmagazine.ca/node/1989

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

They represent perhaps 1% of the traffic in this city. Yes, they're saving the world, as long as they aren't smoking a doob or fart while they bike, which has been known to occur. None of this makes them entitled to anything more than the rest of us.

As long as cyclists have poor/dangerous conditions to ride in the percentage will remain small, however looking into the future, better bicycle lanes will encourage more people to use them.

BTW, you are assuming that motorists do not smoke doobs or fart, which I believe has also been known to occur - therefore moot point.

They are a tiny minority of zealots. This isn't San Diego. Those lanes will be unused and unusable in February.

Don't think zealots would be a proper term to use. It appears that you are stereotyping a small percentage of cyclists to make your point seem more convincing.

I concede that our winter weather conditions limit the practicality of this type of activity in February. But it also does for other activities such as swimming or baseball - should we also not support these and close down public beaches and baseball diamonds?

That is wrong on two counts. Not only did the Hamm govt redirect fuel tax back to the Transportation & Public Works budget, but the Cdn Federation of Municipalities successfully lobbied the feds to direct part of the federal fuel tax revenue back to cities to pay for roads. I note that none of that revenue comes from cyclists.

I stand corrected and am relieved that the money I pay on fuel tax is actually going towards road maintenance. Do you have a link to that information? I would really like to know more about it.

This is an interesting piece about the attitudes of the cycling zealots. Tell me again why they deserve our support?

Seems to me that the cycling coalition referred to in the magazine is a small organization of extremists who don't necessarily reflect the attitudes of the average cyclist. Therefore I can't see fit to base my opinion on their actions.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Seems to me that the cycling coalition referred to in the magazine is a small organization of extremists who don't necessarily reflect the attitudes of the average cyclist. Therefore I can't see fit to base my opinion on their actions.

They are the ones who have co-opted several HRM Council members into wasting untold amounts of tax money on these things. They have been the ones who have been generating the publicity and trying to force these things onto the public.

I would actually prefer proper bike lanes, not some lines painted on the street that do not work for either motorists or cyclists. Take the dandelion verge between the sidewalk and curb that exists on most streets and pave them to make them a separate bike lane out of the car traffic flow. That would cost more, and hence need more deliberation and time before pulling the trigger. That would be good compared to the existing approach, which is hugely ill-advised and is setting the whole thing up for failure and conflict between those paying the bills and the entitled cyclists.

[ILoveHalifax]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

They are the ones who have co-opted several HRM Council members into wasting untold amounts of tax money on these things. They have been the ones who have been generating the publicity and trying to force these things onto the public.

I would actually prefer proper bike lanes, not some lines painted on the street that do not work for either motorists or cyclists. Take the dandelion verge between the sidewalk and curb that exists on most streets and pave them to make them a separate bike lane out of the car traffic flow. That would cost more, and hence need more deliberation and time before pulling the trigger. That would be good compared to the existing approach, which is hugely ill-advised and is setting the whole thing up for failure and conflict between those paying the bills and the entitled cyclists.

That would also allow the streets to work for the citizens who don't ride bikes. It would allow deliveries to residents, and parking for business and deliveries for business as well. I saw a day ago that UPS was being directed away from making a delivery. How can that work?