How London's plan to build protected bike lanes compares to smaller Ontario cities
Guelph currently has 15 km on-road protected bike lanes with funding earmarked to add 10 km more
While cyclists in London, Ont., call for more protected bike lanes, the city of Guelph has quietly embarked on an ambitious plan to construct an additional 10 km of protected bike lanes over the next decade.
City staff are now looking for public feedback on the proposed plan, which will cost $11.4 million, with the lion's share, $8 million, already earmarked for the project by the city.
"We know that painted bike lanes on arterial roads are intimidating for a lot of people," said Benita van Miltenburg, project manager of Sustainable Transportation for the city of Guelph.
The new bike lanes will run along Gordon St., the main north-south spine through the city, and will intersect through College Ave., which connects a number of schools and the University of Guelph.
"We've heard time and time again that people would like to bike more. They just don't feel safe doing so," she said.
"Our infrastructure is intended to be what's called all ages and abilities, which means it can be used by anyone at any age of any skill level, and that it will be comfortable for all users," said van Miltenburg.
How does London compare?
Guelph already has 15.5 km of protected bike lanes on roadways.
In comparison, London has just more than 10 km, most of which is on Colborne St. and Dundas St. The city is constructing an additional 4 km of protected bike lanes this summer, but that distance is split between a handful of roadways including on Southdale Road, Wavell Street and Fanshawe Park Road.
London is more than twice the size of Guelph.
The city of Kitchener is also working on a cycling network, and according to city officials, will have 17.5 km of protected bike lanes by 2023.
Taking a page out of the Dutch blueprint, our hometown of Kitchener just broke ground on a continuous and protected cycling network that connects adjacent neighborhoods to the downtown.<br><br>A cohesive grid of no fewer than 20 new routes will be designed and built by the end of 2023. <a href="https://t.co/L62sB07ABn">pic.twitter.com/L62sB07ABn</a>
—@modacitylife"I think city staff in London are doing their best to get separated bikes lanes installed," said London Cycle Link executive director, Molly Miksa.
"This is often happening on roads that are already being reconstructed for other reasons though. It's slow going," she said. "Many would-be cyclists won't start riding as a form of transportation until there's a full grid."
"When people can get to your destination by bike, without having to shoulder-up against car traffic, they'll start riding more. Nobody wants to risk their life to get to work."
What's proposed on Queens Avenue
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