Does Canada need a national cycling strategy?
Not enough cyclists use bike lanes to justify the cost, argues Calgary city councillor
For years advocates have been calling for improved cycling infrastructure, claiming it can save lives.
But a Calgary city councillor argues bike lanes aren't useful, and can sometimes be dangerous.
"I have come to realize that a lot of cycling advocates, there's sort of a cult-like mentality and no matter what, we've got to do it," Sean Chu told The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti.
As a member of the city's Pathways and Bikeways Project Steering Committee, Chu said bike lanes are of limited value in his ward and only a small percentage of people use them.
Judi Varga-Toth, executive director of the advocacy group Canada Bikes, says Canada needs a national strategy for cycling.
"There have been many collisions and crashes involving pedestrians as well as cyclists over the years and we know that there are solutions," Varga-Toth said.
"We need an effective strategy, led and supported by our federal government to change the on-the-ground realities."
She argued a national strategy should work toward improving conditions and ensuring a safe, accessible way for Canadians to travel whether it be walking, cycling or driving.
The debate about road safety for cyclists in Toronto reignited this week after a woman died after she was struck by a vehicle while cycling near a protected bike lane.
The city announced its Vision Zero plan two years ago to eliminate road deaths, but the program has failed to make a significant difference. Toronto police statistics show 40 pedestrians and cyclists were killed last year, while 44 died the year before that.
Listen to the full conversation near the top of this post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Julie Chrysler and Samira Mohyeddin