Cycling and Active Transportation in Edmonton

[Romanov]

Hoping to see some of those north central neighbourhoods shift from red/yellow to green. Blatchford is coming, but I was surprised by neighbourhoods like Queen Mary, Westwood, spruce avenue and McDougall. Glad that some new routes planned for 111 Ave, 113 st, 114 Ave, 106 st, blatchford, etc.

 

[thommyjo]

Great map - thanks for sharing and deciding to do that as an assignment.

If we're currently in that modal share you expect (2-3%) I guess we are on the money in terms of our $100 million capital spend from 2023-26 in active transportation. But that will need to continue as we catch up from years of neglect and the need to build a safe, viable transportation option for our growing population.

From the city: "The 2023-2026 capital budget includes $100 million for the active transportation network expansion. It makes up 2% of the approximately $5 billion capital budget for transportation projects, including roads and bridges."

This is actually one of the most effective discussion points I use with people complaining about bike lanes. I do a line of questions like:

“I agree it can feel like a lot. What do you think would be the most fair way to allocate money? Based on how many people actually use it? Like if only 2% of people bike, we probably shouldn’t spend more that 2% on bike lanes, hey?”

Them: “yeah exactly. When so few people bike, we shouldn’t be spending millions on bike lanes”.

“We’ll good news, the 100mil is actually 2% of capital spending, the same proportion of people that bike. And for decades we’ve spent next to nothing. So we should probably keep spending this much every budget cycle, just to be proportional like you agreed is fair. Then arguably we should spend even more to catch up for decades of not fairly spending.”

People are often pretty quickly shocked to realize their logic doesn’t line up with their feelings/biases.

 

[dkazzed]

The argument I'm hearing these days is that we don't pay gas taxes, licensing, and registration, therefore we're not entitled to using the road. That's about $1.1 billion per year in the province, which is good for what repaving 140 lane km of roadways each year? That's cute believing roads aren't heavily subsidized.

In other news, City of Edmonton is essentially doubling down on Hermitage Road by adding bus bulges at 40 St in both directions. They were installing them this morning.

 

[thommyjo]

The argument I'm hearing these days is that we don't pay gas taxes, licensing, and registration, therefore we're not entitled to using the road. That's about $1.1 billion per year in the province, which is good for what repaving 140 lane km of roadways each year? That's cute believing roads aren't heavily subsidized.

In other news, City of Edmonton is essentially doubling down on Hermitage Road by adding bus bulges at 40 St in both directions. They were installing them this morning.

View attachment 602335

At what point do we redo roads vs do the temporary setups? Anyone know the lifecycle on hermitage?

 

[YEG imagineer]

Bit long but passionate supporter of Edmonton.

 

[ntt1]

East side of 111 St MUP under construction north of 34 Ave.

Work also underway on the 23 Ave MUP.

 

[TAS]

Came across one of these units at Coffee Bureau this morning at The Mercury. Did a quick search - motor is 1,500 watts and cost is $4,000. Impressive looking. Even has full suspension.

 

[thommyjo]

Came across one of these units at Coffee Bureau this morning at The Mercury. Did a quick search - motor is 1,500 watts and cost is $4,000. Impressive looking. Even has full suspension.

View attachment 605822

Is that a golf cart scooter?

 

[TAS]

Is that a golf cart scooter?

You can use it for that. It's versatile. All-terrain off-road. Up to 27mph, 50miles per charge, 40%incline capabilities.

Cycleboard | X-Quad 3000 All-terrain 4 wheeled Electric Vehicle

The epitome of power, performance, and unrivaled versatility, our all-terrain 4-wheel electric scooter with independent A-frame wishbone arm suspension on the front and back is here to revolutionize your outdoor adventures. Leave no terrain unconquered as you effortlessly glide through rugged...

www.cycleboard.com

 

[mBertan]

Nicely done, downtown YMCA
(rack set up past the check-in desk)

 

[Edmcowboy11]

I don't know if it has been mentioned here already but the MUP from 38 Ave that was left to be built along the Valley Line has now been built. All that's left is landscaping.

 

[thommyjo]

Nicely done, downtown YMCA
(rack set up past the check-in desk)
View attachment 606252

Nice! Although those racks are one of the less effective designs and rarely accommodate more than 2-3 bikes. Awesome to see this though. I think our rec centres, libraries, and transit centres should all have indoor bike storage our outdoor lockers if we want to get serious about being a bike city.

 

[Gronk!]

Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says​

Studies from around the world show bike lanes ease congestion, reduce emissions and are a boon to businesses​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319

 

[TAS]

Do bike lanes really cause more traffic congestion? Here's what the research says​

Studies from around the world show bike lanes ease congestion, reduce emissions and are a boon to businesses​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319

 

[mBertan]

Nice! Although those racks are one of the less effective designs and rarely accommodate more than 2-3 bikes. Awesome to see this though. I think our rec centres, libraries, and transit centres should all have indoor bike storage our outdoor lockers if we want to get serious about being a bike city.

Yeah, it's basically a *really nice* two-bike rack, lol.
Curious to see what will happen with this setup in the snowy season (with muck and snow being dragged in).