Public offers opinions on proposed bike lane in Clayton Park area of Halifax

Halifax held public sessions for feedback on proposed bike lanes in part of the city.

People in the Lacewood drive area in Clayton Park, N.S., were invited to share their thoughts on the proposed bicycle lanes for Parkland and Regency Park drives on Wednesday during sessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re here today because Halifax Regional Municipality is consulting with residents about a proposed bike lane for Parkland Drive and Regency Drive. This project is being looked at as a possibility, do residents want it and also, if so, what designs could work for people,” says are councillor Janet Steele.

Those who attended Wednesday’s meeting shared many ideas for how to improve the plan.

Currently, the proposed design will include protected, on-street bike lanes within the existing width of the street. This means no utilities or trees would need to be removed, although some street parking would be lost.

“Cyclists will have a dedicated lane going each way on Parkland Drive and on Regency Park Drive and eventually Regency Park will push through to Washmill Lake Drive, which will connect people to other parts of the city,” says Steele.

This bikeway will connect key neighbourhood destinations including Belchers Marsh, the Canada Games Centre, Keshen Goodman Library and Halifax West High school.

The Halifax Northwest Trails Association encourages more bike lanes.

“We have 10 little trails that are separated from each other,” says Jessica Boyd, chair of the association.

Boyd says people currently walk or drive to the trails, but their goal is to make them more accessible, and bike lanes would help.

“It would be a fabulous thing for Halifax to have that network totally separate from the road,” says Boyd.

The municipality will look at the intersections in the study area to see how they can be made more accessible and safer.

“I was concerned that as a pedestrian in a wheelchair that things would need to be more accessible for me, so I feel much better they seem to be listening to us so that’s good,” says resident Joann Nodding.

New locations for marked pedestrian crossings will be explored as well.

“For other residents, they may be concerned about potential parking loss, I’m hearing about that. Some residents are comfortable with using the Mainland Linear Trail for cycling; however they do point out that the Mainland Linear Trail is not available to them in the dark,” says Steele, who notes people have said they feel a cycling trail on the road would be better looked after in the winter.

“I think it’s a great idea. I was concerned more about how they were going to do it. The streets are rather large, but I was concerned about winter and parking and so far they have not lots of options,” says resident Janice Rivest.

Residents can also provide feedback on the municipality’s website. The survey is open until July 2.

The goal is to complete the project by the end of August.

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