Cycling and Active Transportation in Edmonton

[thommyjo]

I think Edmonton needs to invest in a Bike Share system instead of relying on these private companies:

 

[YEG imagineer]

Bixi would be awesome.

 

[dkazzed]

This is an ok temporary solution to prevent cars from entering the bike lane. Easily removeable to allow clearing equipment to do their thing.

Passed 4 cyclists on my 15 minute commute yesterday.

 

[constance_chlore]

I think Edmonton needs to invest in a Bike Share system instead of relying on these private companies:

I would love to see a bikeshare pilot in Edmonton, especially in the core area of Downtown / wîhkwêntôwin / Strathcona / Garneau area that's all geographically close but not always that well connected by public transit due to the river. As far as I know, BIXI lost money for a solid decade—which is fine from my perspective, as I think it's fine to subsidize these things a bit to avoid the negative externalities of driving—but given the touchiness of budgetary issues at the moment, especially as it concerns cycling, it feels like a political non-starter to propose something similar here.

One of the most annoying problems for BIXI is that everyone tries to get from the Plateau / Rosemont to downtown in the morning and return in the evening, requiring trucks to go around redistributing bikes in midday. Would that be less of an issue for Edmonton, or more?

 

[northlands]

I have the vaguest memory of a bike sharing program in Edmonton in the late 00s. Does anyone remember the specifics about it?

 

[thommyjo]

I would love to see a bikeshare pilot in Edmonton, especially in the core area of Downtown / wîhkwêntôwin / Strathcona / Garneau area that's all geographically close but not always that well connected by public transit due to the river. As far as I know, BIXI lost money for a solid decade—which is fine from my perspective, as I think it's fine to subsidize these things a bit to avoid the negative externalities of driving—but given the touchiness of budgetary issues at the moment, especially as it concerns cycling, it feels like a political non-starter to propose something similar here.

One of the most annoying problems for BIXI is that everyone tries to get from the Plateau / Rosemont to downtown in the morning and return in the evening, requiring trucks to go around redistributing bikes in midday. Would that be less of an issue for Edmonton, or more?

Yeah. The logistics and flow patterns definitely take some work to sort out. Not sure how we might fair. I could imagine our north south over the river movements might create more balance than many cities experience? Many in Strathcona work downtown or those downtown work/study at the UofA, etc.

The economics of it is for sure a hurdle. I think it would need to be run by ETS and ARC based to sync with transit. Target trips to stations and major destinations to start. Have a monthly “add on” for bike use for ARC. Or let it contribute to your fare capping total.

Our scooter/ebike popularity from private companies shows there’s a market. And our river creates a great need for quick transportation across it. Which transit isn’t great for. And for leisure within in.

Winter of course would be a huge cost/challenge.

 

[constance_chlore]

Yeah, I agree that that core area is polycentric enough that it might not really matter too much. If broadened beyond that, there might be more net movement from residential communities to the core, which isn't necessarily a problem but could get frustrating if the docks in residential communities are always drained by 8:30 AM. I always thought Montréal needed to implement stronger incentives than their current Amis BIXI points program to get people to ride bikes towards areas that need them. I like the idea of having it linked to the ARC card.

The standard BIXI seasonal subscription doesn't cover winter, and the density of stations is reduced, which also frees up some more parking. I think that would be fine for Edmonton, too.

 

[archited]

Bicycling can be used as a metaphor for life in a number of ways, including:
Challenges
Life can be like a bicycle ride, with challenges and triumphs. Overcoming obstacles can help build resilience and inner strength, and each challenge can lead to personal growth.
Second nature
The phrase "just like riding a bike" describes something that should be easy to do because it comes naturally.
Frame of reference
The bicycle frame can represent a person's skills, interests, values, and commitments.
Lenses
The lenses through which we view the world can affect our mood.
Community
Cycling can be a more communal experience than people might expect, with cyclists supporting and encouraging each other.
Brain health
Cycling can help people find inspiration and solve problems, which can lead to creativity and better brain health.
It would be nice to see a Street dedicated to "the bicycle" -- I nominate 106th Street in Edmonton's Downtown and we could change the name to Via Velocipede
A velocipede is a human-powered vehicle with wheels that is propelled by the rider. The modern bicycle is the most common type of velocipede.
The word velocipede comes from the French word vélocipède, which comes from the Latin words vēlōc- and vēlōx, meaning "swift, rapid".
Here are some facts about the history of the velocipede:
The first frame-wheel machine was created in Paris, France in the late 18th century. It was called the celerifere.
In 1817, Baron Karl von Drais invented the first usable "bicycle" in Germany. It was called a Hobby Horse and was made almost entirely of wood.
The Michaux family of Paris reinvented the velocipede in the 1860s. Their version was made of iron and wood, had no springs, and was nicknamed the "boneshaker".
The velocipede was eventually replaced by the safety bicycle, which had a chain-driven rear wheel.
Imagine the retail and entertainment possibilities...
Retail: Bicycle sales shop, skateboard (summer) and snowboard (winter) shop, rollerblade/rollerskate shop, exercise gym and exercise equipment sales, automated bicycle parking structure (especially across from the Warehouse Park), bicycle accessory shop
Entertainment: bicycle bar and eatery, bicycle drive-in theatre (ride up to a heated/cooled seat with overhead weather protection -- otherwise outdoors -- could be a viable alternative for one of Edmonton's famous parking lots), velocipede museum

bicycle challenge course (obstacles and ride challenge factors), Bicycle Rally Headquarters, Pedal Pushers Club Pedal cart vendors could set up along the street and into the Warehouse park -- Ice Cream vendors, coffee vendors, snack carts, etc.
"Oh what fun it is to ride..."
Near to the downtown Universities I think the idea could rapidly gain in popularity and there are soon to be new high-rise edifices along 106th Street there -- imagine it they differentiated themselves from other buildings by picking up on the velocipede theme! -- offering retail and entertainment possibilities. And 102nd Ave that intersects 106th Street downtown is already scheduled to have upscale Bike Lanes.

 

[David A]

I would love to see a bikeshare pilot in Edmonton, especially in the core area of Downtown / wîhkwêntôwin / Strathcona / Garneau area that's all geographically close but not always that well connected by public transit due to the river. As far as I know, BIXI lost money for a solid decade—which is fine from my perspective, as I think it's fine to subsidize these things a bit to avoid the negative externalities of driving—but given the touchiness of budgetary issues at the moment, especially as it concerns cycling, it feels like a political non-starter to propose something similar here.

One of the most annoying problems for BIXI is that everyone tries to get from the Plateau / Rosemont to downtown in the morning and return in the evening, requiring trucks to go around redistributing bikes in midday. Would that be less of an issue for Edmonton, or more?

I only used it once, but I really liked BIXI and wished we had it too. I feel It would encourage a lot more bike use, particularly for those who don't have space for or want to maintain a bike.

I had also heard it lost money, which led to some controversy there, but I don't think transit alternatives are about making money as much as enhancing getting around the city. So I would be ok with a subsidy too.

I don't know if it could be a year round thing and where it would cover would be an issue to, but I would like to see something like this run by the city.

 

[thommyjo]

I only used it once, but I really liked BIXI and wished we had it too. I feel It would encourage a lot more bike use, particularly for those who don't have space for or want to maintain a bike.

I had also heard it lost money, which led to some controversy there, but I don't think transit alternatives are about making money as much as enhancing getting around the city. So I would be ok with a subsidy too.

I don't know if it could be a year round thing and where it would cover would be an issue to, but I would like to see something like this run by the city.

Yeah. I think the goal has to be to reduce losses, but we can’t expect it to make money. The benefits have to be bigger than financial. The question is, how much can it lose and still be justifiable? What’s reasonable for the positive externalities?

Benefit of running it through ETS:

1) integration of payment
2) integration of planning, docks, stations
3) counted within a larger budget with a shared goal/mandate.

The last point isn’t about hiding, but about not letting it be singled out unfairly. Think bike lanes in neighbour renewal and arterial renewal projects vs the big splashy 100mil project.