Halifax staff looking into cheaper bike lane network after council decision

Halifax councillors voted in favour of looking into cheaper ways to complete the municipality’s bike lane network.

Councillors voted 10 to 5 on Tuesday in support of a motion from Mayor Andy Fillmore, asking for staff to prepare a report on alternatives to the all ages and abilities bike network, a standard that requires physical separation from vehicles.

“It would be deeply unwise for us to proceed without confirming whether more affordable design options can achieve the same functional design network at a fraction of the cost,” Fillmore said. “Many cities do it that way, deliver comfortable, safe cycling routes in appropriate locations that use tactical or interim solutions at a fraction of the cost.”

The motion asks staff to “identify cost saving opportunities by considering alternatives to the proposed all ages and abilities (AAA) bikeway network that do not meet the AAA standard for projects planned for construction in 2028/2029 and 2029/2030”.

Staff will also be directed to find opportunities to “prioritize network implementation that closes gaps in the network, rather than upgrading existing segments.”

Some councillors argued against the idea of dropping the standard, including councillor Shawn Cleary, who said painted lines are not infrastructure.

“The reason we adopted an AAA network is because it is safe. It separates people on those arterials and collectors from traffic,” said Councillor Cleary. “If you don’t want to do that, you’re essentially saying I’m fine with killing people.”

Councillor Sam Austin argued that continuing to hold to the AAA standard will lead to more people getting on bicycles who are not comfortable riding without physical separation from vehicles.