Bike lanes spark strong responses from residents across Halifax municipality

People across Halifax Regional Municipality sounded off on council’s decision to not pause construction of new bike lanes.

Bike lanes are sparking strong reactions from people in Halifax and those who live outside the peninsula.

Halifax launched the planned 53-kilometre cycling network in 2017. It was set to be completed in 2022, but it is running behind schedule.

It is nearly 60 per cent finished and its estimated cost is $90 million or possibly more.

Don Hatcher, who lives in Bedford, feels there needs to be more reviews on cost, congestion and the need before more bike lanes are built.

“They’re necessary, however, it doesn’t hurt to review what goes on with bike lanes and the money that is spent on them,” Hatcher says. “The reason why I say that is if you look downtown, for instance on Rainnie Drive, if you ever had to evacuate the city for a short term or an event downtown or what we do, it wouldn’t hurt to look at the traffic congestion.

“It’s just like any other type of review or best practice. I think it should be looked at before we keep charging ahead.”

Liz De Angelis, also from Bedford, feels the region needs fewer bikes.

“I don’t see that many people riding them. These thousand a day, I don’t know where they’re at. Not anywhere I see,” says De Angelis, who believes they pose a safety concern. “They make me nervous because people are wiggling back and forth, you don’t know whether to slow down, speed up or whatever.”

Some Maritimers like Derrick Adams say everyone needs to have their own mode of transportation, but it needs to be in a smart way.

“A lot of people ride bikes but there are more people driving and why didn’t they put them on the side streets instead of the main streets where there isn’t as much traffic?” says Adams. “There is enough traffic on the main roads already without putting more on the main roads.”

Zach Firlotte from Halifax understand people’s complaints but he isn’t bothered by bike lanes.

“I know people complain about it a little bit, but I don’t mind it as long as you are giving people the opportunity to go out and be active, that’s great,” says Firlotte.

Bikers like Gabrila De Olivera say bike lanes are all about safety for cyclists.

“I have been in places that don’t have bike lanes and it’s a little bit scary to go on the road, honestly, and I would rather go in a bike lane because it feels way safer,” says Olivera.

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