Saskatoon's protected bike lane test faces serious challenges

As another cycling season approaches, there may be some serious roadblocks ahead for Saskatoon’s experiment with protected bike lanes.

The test project was expected to shift into high gear sometime this spring. Traffic trouble, however, looms large in the city’s near future. The University Bridge may be closed for repairs, a move that could funnel a lot of extra traffic onto 4th Avenue through downtown.

That could take 4th Avenue temporarily off the map as a protected bike route.

“We would be disappointed if 4th Avenue is delayed by a year, but at the end of the day we still want to see that go ahead. If it meant waiting another year, we’ve waited this long, I think we can wait another year,” Saskatoon Cycles’ Sean Shaw said.

Shaw spoke out on the potential for a delay on CBC’s Saskatoon Morning.

However, the University Bridge is not the only challenge in what’s proving to be an uphill battle for advocates of better, safer bike lanes in the city.

Skeptics remain in business community

This week, a letter from the Chamber of Commerce is making the rounds at city hall. It suggests the project on 4th Avenue be delayed until there is a new Traffic Bridge at Victoria Avenue.  

A spokesperson at city hall also confirmed there are some lingering objections among downtown business owners.

Shaw is not impressed.

“The naysayers come out and it’s really hard to change people’s minds,” he said.

 “It would be really great if people who want to raise concerns would do so in a constructive manner.”

Despite all the potential roadblocks standing in the way of a protected bike lane test run in Saskatoon, the general manger of community services isn’t giving up. Randy Grauer believes all sides in the discussion can find consensus and keep the project rolling.  

"I'm an optimist by nature and I think we have a very good chance to see a project move forward this summer."

Grauer and his team at city hall are awaiting the final details of the University Bridge project to determine what impact it will have. They are also busy meeting with all the stakeholders and hope to have a new report on the bike lane test project within months.