"We're spending money on the lane, then we need to make sure cyclists use it."

Post date: Mar 11, 2011 2:44:28 PM

Does ANYONE know how a PILOT PROJECT should work?

SO...aside from councillor Monette questioning at the TC meeting on Feb. 4, whether

they can make it mandatory to use the Laurier Lane, junior councillor Mathieu Fleury

has made similar comments. He just doesn't get that the SBL does not serve the

wishes of all types of cyclists.

I don't think that we should make a big point of this but, as with ONT Bill 74, just be

vigilant. Maybe with a big City push for cooperative roaduse, it will go away.

Councillor clarifies bike lane comments

kris.westwood - March 10th, 2011

There's been a little bit of buzz in the cycling community surrounding a

comment by Coun. Mathieu Fleury in February suggesting that cyclists on

Laurier Ave. should be forced to use the soon-to-be-built segregated bike

lane.

The city is spending $1.3 million on the lane, which will be installed

between Elgin St. and Bronson Ave. as part of a two-year pilot project.

The way things stand, cyclists will be have the choice of riding in the

lane or in the roadway as they see fit, but Fleury and Orleans Coun. Bob

Monette suggested if the city's spending money on the lane, cyclists

should have to use it.

"It was a discussion point -- nothing was pursued of it," Fleury said by

phone Thursday. "It was more for usership than a restriction ... We're

spending money on the lane, then we need to make sure cyclists use it.

This has resulted in some heated discussion in the cycling community --

mostly from those who want to keep the freedom to ride where they choose.

But as I pointed out in this blog back in September, Fleury's discussion

point shouldn't come as a surprise. Cyclists have demanded infrastructure

for years and the city is finally delivering, but it may come at a cost.

Local cyclists hail counties like the Netherlands as a cyclists' paradise,

with their extensive networks of segregated lanes and a cycling culture.

But they usually fail to note that cyclists are legally required to use

the lanes and face fines (not to mention motorists' ire) when they stray

into the roadway.

That's not to say dedicated lanes -- or the obligation to use them -- are a

bad thing, but only of they're properly designed and the city fully

commits to maintaining them in all seasons.

As Fleury says: "That's part of the solution here -- we have to get usage

year round."

Meanwhile, Fleury says he'll be watching the pilot project to see how it

goes and won't consider pushing to force cyclists to use the lanes until

the results are in.

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