Halifax Council Votes Against Self on City Bike Policy

Chronicle Herald

July 7th, 2010

Is this metaphor clear?

A controversial repaving project in Spryfield that potentially was to include pavement markings for bicycle lanes is going ahead without the bike lanes.

Halifax regional council Tuesday authorized the $1.1-million roadwork after the local councillor presented his colleagues with a 2,639-name petition objecting to remarking the road to accommodate the bicycle lanes.

Coun. Steve Adams (Spryfield-Herring Cove) said business operators and others were worried about a city staff proposal that would have seen a 900-metre section of Herring Cove Road cut to two lanes from four to accommodate bike lanes on each side.

Businesses feared traffic would be reduced and that would hurt their bottom line.

In giving the repaving project the green light, council opted to keep the pavement markings the way they are, without bicycle lanes.

Bike lane advocates on council said before the idea was killed that such additions to the road would be in keeping with Halifax Regional Municipality’s active transportation plan. They lost their battle in a 13-9 vote.

Coun. Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley) said the active transportation plan is causing headaches for council and suggested it may need to be reformed.