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Saskatoon Cycles Critical of Bicycle Boulevard Plan Plan still allows through-traffic of motor vehicles

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 25, 2012 – A Bicycle Boulevard plan for 23rd St. W. that was unveiled at an open house Tuesday night failed some essential design criteria, says Saskatoon Cycles. Properly done, Bike Boulevards improve cycling safety in a number of ways, and one important criteria is converting a through-street into a local street, to reduce non-local motor vehicle traffic. That element is missing from the City’s proposal.

“Fast cars going across the city don’t mix well with slower bikes or pedestrians,” says Colin French, Saskatoon Cycles co-president. “This is why cyclists avoid streets like 33rd or 22nd. We expected to see motor vehicle diversions along the proposed boulevard to prevent through traffic, while allowing cyclists to continue along the boulevard. The diversions weren’t there, and that’s disappointing.”

Bike Boulevards have been successfully implemented in other cities. It’s been found that allowing only local car traffic quietens the street, making it safer and more pleasant for cyclists, pedestrians, and property owners. In fact, property values have risen on streets converted to bike boulevards.

“We want cyclists to be protected from fast through traffic,” says Cathy Watts, Saskatoon Cycles co-president. “As it is, our members are saying that they’re not sure that this street is any safer or more convenient for cyclists after the proposed changes.”

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Local Doctor Touts Benefits of Cycling, Calls for Better/Safer Infrastructure

Saskatoon, October 4, 2011 – Evidence is mounting that the benefits of urban cycling far outweigh the risks. Saskatoon Cycles, a cycling advocacy group with over 1,200 members, is pointing to studies showing that urban cycling, with its reputation as a risky business, produces a dramatic net health benefit.

Cycling commuters live longer. An estimated 3-14 months of life was gained by an individual shifting from the car to the bicycle for short trips. A study cited in Walking and Cycling for Healthy Cities, (Pucher, J. and R. Buehler,) compares that startling benefit to the estimated 5-9 days lost due to the risk of traffic crashes.

A 2010 Canadian study by the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health supports those results. It reports that a moderate amount of cycle commuting or brisk walking has been shown to greatly reduce rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, many cancers, and improve mental health.

Dr. John Dosman of Saskatoon agrees: “As a family physician the major health challenges I address every day, and will in the future, are those chronic conditions we hear so much about–obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, depression, and anxiety.  The scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that even 15 minutes of daily exercise can change outcomes for these conditions. But I struggle each day to find ways to get my patients to be more active.  Helping them to find the time in their busy schedules to conveniently include physical activity is often one of the main challenges.”

Saskatoon Cycles Lobby Committee issued the following press release to the Saskatoon media yesterday:

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Bike Lanes No Place for Road Debris

Cyclists say bike lanes are useless unless maintained

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 29, 2011 – With winter finally over, cyclists are anxious to use Saskatoon’s bike lanes to commute to work, to exercise, or to go on a family outing. However, poor maintenance of the bike lanes, especially their use as a storage place for road and park debris, is making cycling dangerous.

Saskatoon Cycles is a cycling advocacy group working towards better cycling infrastructure for Saskatoon.  “We want to make it safe for people of all ages to ride their bikes for work or pleasure”, says Sean Shaw, President.

“The city’s efforts to establish bike lanes are wasted if they don’t also commit to their maintenance”, says Cathy Watts, a member of Saskatoon Cycles and daily cyclist.  “I can’t use the lanes if they are full of gravel, broken glass, potholes, and most recently, soil, grass, and leaves.”

Cyclists have grown accustomed to having their bike lanes in poor shape.  Motor vehicle traffic deposits road debris in the lanes in the summer, snow crews use the lanes to store snow in the winter, and now park crews are depositing ankle-deep swaths of winter accumulations swept off park areas.