'Cycling is perceived as a dangerous activity' says Bike Regina

It's commuter challenge week across Canada with the intent of getting more people to use alternative modes of transportation.

The problem with that plan is that many people perceive cycling as a dangerous activity, at least according to Brandon Wright of Bike Regina.

"You see people out fighting traffic, wearing helmets, hunkering down, getting honked at, so that doesn't encourage ridership," Wright said. 

Bike Regina is using commuter challenge week in Canada as an opportunity to show Regina city council how inadequate its downtown infrastructure really is.

Wright is on the board for the cycle advocacy group. He said Regina has only three proper bike lanes, on Smith Street, Lorne Street and Wascana Parkway.

He believes having protected lanes that are painted and visible will encourage more people to get out and ride.

"If we had better infrastructure, bike lanes, sidewalks to help people get to and from work, it would be easier for everybody, easier on our road system."

The city of Regina has what is called a Transportation Master Plan. The plan includes a downtown area with many more dedicated bike lanes, but it's a 25-year plan.

Bike Regina plans on taking members of city council out for a ride on Thursday night in hopes of speeding up that plan.

"During that ride, we want to show them how quickly those lanes can be implemented. A lot of times it's just a little paint, but it shouldn't be something we need to roll out over 25 years."

Wright adds, protected bike lanes are becoming a big thing in cities across Canada, bike lanes with some type of barrier protecting cyclists from motor traffic.
 
"Anything to make a cyclist feel safer definitely increases the number of riders and different types of riders."