Halifax Active Transportation

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Summerville

... Anecdotally, my downtown office of 99 people has 8 cyclists. I wonder if any one else that works downtown can say how many people bike to work? ... of my co-workers, perhaps less than 50% drive their own car to work...

I work on the peninsula, but not downtown, in an office of 13. Breakdown is:
2 of us walk to work (15%)
1 of us bikes (8%)
3 of us take transit (23%)
5 of us take our own car (38%)
2 of us work remotely (15%)

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Summerville

Over the past few weeks, while travelling out west, I watched this thread evolve. I should mention that I am one of the "Deplorables". I've been cycling to work downtown for the last 15 years. I've been commuting by bike for over 20 years.

I have been run of the road by inattentive drivers twice, and run off the road by a driver on purpose because they didn't like the fact that I was passing them in a traffic jam.

Anecdotally, my downtown office of 99 people has 8 cyclists. I wonder if any one else that works downtown can say how many people bike to work?

I should also note that of my co-workers, perhaps less than 50% drive their own car to work. Parking is expensive. Most walk, take the bus, bike or carpool.

E-scooters and e-bikes have just taken off in Calgary. They are everywhere and that city is struggling to keep up. In fact, they also just arrived in Halifax...its probably the reason why I decided to dig this conversation up again. sorry:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot...regulated-grey-zone-in-halifax-1.5260343

My issue with the critics is that their position seems to fall back on dated observations. E-scooters for example,...they fall into a legal grey area. No one expected them. E-bikes will do the same. They will remove the barriers to cycling that the hills in this city create.

The critics on this thread would suggest that we should outlaw everything but cars, buses and pedestrians.

The reality is that the city must unfortunately use public funds to accommodate all of the ways the citizens will travel today and in the future. Its not a may, its a must. People are going to choose how they commute. The city must cater to the needs of its citizens.

It's interesting that "Mattwhitman2020" seems to be using bike lanes as an attempt at wedge politics...the 1%? Really? We should call it for what it is....its his election strategy.

Like everything else, things will change as the need arises, it will work for some and not for others. If there are problems, the government will handle them reactively instead of proactively as usual (actually as is usual for the human species).

The last couple of paragraphs in the article you linked to are interesting:

In Calgary, it hasn't been smooth sailing for new users. In the first two weeks of the service's launch this summer, dozens of Calgarians were injured riding the vehicles.

Calgary emergency rooms received some 60 patients with e-scooter-related injuries. About a third of them were fractures.

I would expect to see similar results here.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Summerville

It's interesting that "Mattwhitman2020" seems to be using bike lanes as an attempt at wedge politics...the 1%? Really? We should call it for what it is....its his election strategy.

He is smart to do so, as he is tapping into a very disenchanted segment of the electorate that sees these for what they are, a hijacking of the streets and HRM budget by a group of "progressives" for their cause du jour, one that does not in any way, shape or form justify the resources being poured into it.I sense a very real backlash against the imposition of bike lanes starting to well up. It will only grow stronger as travel lanes and parking are eliminated and people see it as sheer folly.

[j.graham]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

He is smart to do so, as he is tapping into a very disenchanted segment of the electorate that sees these for what they are, a hijacking of the streets and HRM budget by a group of "progressives" for their cause du jour, one that does not in any way, shape or form justify the resources being poured into it.I sense a very real backlash against the imposition of bike lanes starting to well up. It will only grow stronger as travel lanes and parking are eliminated and people see it as sheer folly.

Why do you think Halifax is so different from other Canadian cities that have invested in bike infrastructure and have seen citizens and businesses embrace it?

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by j.graham

Why do you think Halifax is so different from other Canadian cities that have invested in bike infrastructure and have seen citizens and businesses embrace it?

I am unaware of that happening pretty much anywhere. But in our case it is because we are taking mostly undersized streets and reducing capacity even further for a user group that is for all practical purposes nonexistent. It is part of a HRM strategy to punish motorists.

[j.graham]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I am unaware of that happening pretty much anywhere. But in our case it is because we are taking mostly undersized streets and reducing capacity even further for a user group that is for all practical purposes nonexistent. It is part of a HRM strategy to punish motorists.

Cycling triples after bike lane installation - https://torontoist.com/2015/06/the-richmond-and-adelaide-bike-lane-success-story/

Vancouver bike lane busiest in North America after initial outcry; businesses support more bike infrastructure - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...-bike-lane-10-year-anniversary-1.5211791

Financial case for city bike lanes - https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/biking-lanes-business-health-1.5165954

Downtown Ottawa landlords expand cycling infrastructure - https://obj.ca/article/district-realty-d...tructure-popularity-bike-commuting-grows

I know I’m not going to change your mind on this topic, at least not completely, but maybe these articles will open your mind to the idea a little bit.

[Keith P.]

Only looking at pro-cycling sources, as HRM itself does, is not objective research. Let me balance the scales:

https://urbanrenaissance.probeinternatio...es-before-more-innocent-people-get-hurt/

http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=13988

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2017/12/6/359742/Roy-Exum-Here-Comes-Bike-Lash.aspx

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-bloor-st-bike-lanes-set-a-wheely-bad-precedent


While "bike lanes are good for business" has become another piece of urban planner dogma, and the same flawed studies about Portland and NYC results keep getting reposted on the cycling and planning websites, the reality is that Portland is a totally unique edge case of hipsterism gone mad, and NYC has never relied on on-street parking for small business success anyway.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Only looking at pro-cycling sources, as HRM itself does, is not objective research. Let me balance the scales:

https://urbanrenaissance.probeinternatio...es-before-more-innocent-people-get-hurt/

http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=13988

https://www.chattanoogan.com/2017/12/6/359742/Roy-Exum-Here-Comes-Bike-Lash.aspx

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-bloor-st-bike-lanes-set-a-wheely-bad-precedent


While "bike lanes are good for business" has become another piece of urban planner dogma, and the same flawed studies about Portland and NYC results keep getting reposted on the cycling and planning websites, the reality is that Portland is a totally unique edge case of hipsterism gone mad, and NYC has never relied on on-street parking for small business success anyway.

Keith,...I thought that I would give you an easy ad hominem target. From Erica Butler and the Halifax Examiner. But I believe that it is a good start for a principled discussion for Halifax's future requirements.

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/who-are-we-building-bike-lanes-for-anyway/#Who’s this network for, anyway?

[atbw]

In conjunction with the new lanes on South Park Street, the city has also posted 'no right on red' signs on South Park at Morris and Spring Garden Road.

https://twitter.com/danp128/status/1166708577777725441?s=20

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by atbw

In conjunction with the new lanes on South Park Street, the city has also posted 'no right on red' signs on South Park at Morris and Spring Garden Road.

https://twitter.com/danp128/status/1166708577777725441?s=20

Lunacy. HRM must love climate change and having vehicles sit idling. This is becoming a huge election issue.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Summerville

Keith,...I thought that I would give you an easy ad hominem target. From Erica Butler and the Halifax Examiner. But I believe that it is a good start for a principled discussion for Halifax's future requirements.

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/who-are-we-building-bike-lanes-for-anyway/#Who’s this network for, anyway?

Bad link, to a bad website, and if Ms. Butler penned it, probably a bad article.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Bad link, to a bad website, and if Ms. Butler penned it, probably a bad article.

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/who-are-we-building-bike-lanes-for-anyway/

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Summerville

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/who-are-we-building-bike-lanes-for-anyway/

Didn't change my opinion one iota, doubling the share of cycling commuters is still almost equal to the square root of nothing in the overall scheme of things, while at the same time changes such as what we are beginning to see on South Park make the street far worse for the majority and the disabled. HRM, through the cycling activists holding seats on Council and the ones that seemingly fill the planning dept., are heading down a very dangerous path.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Didn't change my opinion one iota, doubling the share of cycling commuters is still almost equal to the square root of nothing in the overall scheme of things, while at the same time changes such as what we are beginning to see on South Park make the street far worse for the majority and the disabled. HRM, through the cycling activists holding seats on Council and the ones that seemingly fill the planning dept., are heading down a very dangerous path.

Ever think about running for council Keith?

Both Sam Austin and Waye Mason used to contribute to SSP before going into politics.

You could run too, and do your part to end the madness...........

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by atbw

In conjunction with the new lanes on South Park Street, the city has also posted 'no right on red' signs on South Park at Morris and Spring Garden Road.

https://twitter.com/danp128/status/1166708577777725441?s=20

'No Right on Red' is standard for any intersection where two-stage turn boxes are present (multi-lane streets with protected bike lane). If allowed right turning vehicles will block the designated bike queue box for sightline reasons. This will prevent cyclists from being able to make a two-stage left turn. Can't make a left turn from a protected lane along the right curb.

Halifax follows NATCO standards for its streets and this is what they say; https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bike...n-treatments/two-stage-turn-queue-boxes/

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

'No Right on Red' is standard for any intersection where two-stage turn boxes are present (multi-lane streets with protected bike lane). If allowed right turning vehicles will block the designated bike queue box for sightline reasons. This will prevent cyclists from being able to make a two-stage left turn. Can't make a left turn from a protected lane along the right curb.

Halifax follows NATCO standards for its streets and this is what they say; https://nacto.org/publication/urban-bike...n-treatments/two-stage-turn-queue-boxes/

That's as clear as mud. Good luck getting drivers to understand that. And as for the cyclists, when have they ever respected any markings or traffic signals? Just setting the stage for more conflict and shouting.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Ever think about running for council Keith?

Both Sam Austin and Waye Mason used to contribute to SSP before going into politics.

You could run too, and do your part to end the madness...........

I've thought about it, but I have no appetite nor energy to attend countless community teas, soccer games, block parties, etc. I am not a schmoozer.

[Dmajackson]

South Park Street upgrades are coming along nicely. As expected the protected bike lanes feature bollards with vertical separation, intersection hazard painting, right-turn yield signage, and cyclist left-turn boxes with associated 'No-Right On Red' signage.



Also new to Halifax are the bike crossings on Barrington Street one at North and one at Devonshire. Cyclists will still have to obey the pedestrian signals but I believe these indicate they do not have to dismount.



Both photos taken by me.

[atbw]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

South Park Street upgrades are coming along nicely. As expected the protected bike lanes feature bollards with vertical separation, intersection hazard painting, right-turn yield signage, and cyclist left-turn boxes with associated 'No-Right On Red' signage.

Also new to Halifax are the bike crossings on Barrington Street one at North and one at Devonshire. Cyclists will still have to obey the pedestrian signals but I believe these indicate they do not have to dismount.

Both photos taken by me.

Really excited for the South Park lane to officially open, but that crane sitting in the lane has postponed things a little. Those 'crossrides' turn that entire stretch of Barrington, up Devonshire into some veritable cycling infrastructure. Would be nice to see that extended around to Africville in the future.

[JET]

I am concerned about the bus/cyclist interactions. People waiting for buses standing in the cycling lane, and exiting a bus blindly into the cycling lane at bus stops (discovered that the other day exiting a bus, stepping onto the raised bike lane), felt nervous even before the lanes are in use. Will bikes stop when approaching a bus that has just stopped?