Fredericton bike trails not well connected, survey finds

Results of Fredericton's biking survey are in, and they underscore the disjointed quality of bike lanes downtown and elsewhere in the city, says the chief traffic engineer at city hall.

The survey on the needs of local cyclists was taken during the summer and is to be used to update and expand the city's network of bike lanes and trails.

"We're trying to break it down to, 'What are the biggest needs or the most common themes from the public?'" said engineer Jon Lewis.

From there, city officials will put identify areas that need action.

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"What we're missing are kind of the key connections to the destinations," Lewis said.

"You know the trails are great for a recreational standpoint. You can get get around the city, but we've got some gaps in there. People just can't quite get to their final destinations."

Information Morning - Fredericton9:21Jon Lewis - Bike Plan

Terry Seguin talks to the city's traffic engineer about what came out of the city's cycling survey.Fredericton began work on its bicycle trails in 2007, creating and paving lanes. Lewis said the initial plan addressed basic issues, but the survey revealed a need to connect more streets and paths. One bike lane he pointed to ended after an intersection.

Lewis said it's also difficult to balance the need for both parking and bike lanes.

"It was felt that we couldn't take parking off both sides of some residential streets," he said.

The tension between the two can become a problem when cars park in bike lanes. Enforcement would be a policy issue for city council to address.

Engineers continue to examine the survey answers, and will present the results to city council later. Proposed changes will target infrastructure, policy and even maintenance.