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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife cycling advocate says the city should allow people to ride their bikes on sidewalks, including adults, because it's unsafe to ride them on city streets in some areas.

A person caught cycling on a city sidewalk could face a fine up to $2,000, six months in jail or both under the Highway Traffic bylaw, but Lloyd Thiessen, who serves on the city's Transportation Issues Committee, says the issue is "a bit of a Catch-22" as it comes down to a "safety issue."

"If it is illegal then I think it should be amended," he said, adding that some municipalities use bicycle tire sizes as the basis for their sidewalk restrictions to allow children to rider on them. The City of Edmonton's traffic bylaw, for example, allows bicycles with wheels less than 50 cm in diameter on all sidewalks. "Regardless of whether or not it is legal, it would be a lot safer for them to be on the sidewalk than opposing traffic on the street."

Thiessen addressed city council on the issue during budget deliberations, Nov. 28. He referred to his committee's 2007 Way to Go report, which identified five intersections where there are safety concerns. He said that the city has failed to respond to the report's recommendations, especially with the installation of "sidewalk ramps," or dropped corners that allow cyclists access to sidewalks on busy streets.

One spot is at Gitzel Street and Franklin Avenue.

"Students are riding across the street from Gitzel Street to Franklin and then against traffic to Reservoir Road and on to William McDonald School. When the city rehabilitated that street in the past, we said (in the report) they needed to put a sidewalk ramp in. They never did put in a ramp," he said.

Another problem location is at the Multiplex intersection at Franklin Avenue and Taylor Road.

Rachell Simmons, the principal at William McDonald School, said installing access ramps for cyclists at the Multiplex intersection should be a priority.

"Most of the people who do bike to William McDonald basically are coming on Taylor Road from the Multiplex and Kam Lake Road intersection," Simmons said.

She added this location had been identified as part of a safe school travel plan to make commuting safer for children.

Amanda Douglas-Young, healthy schools project co-ordinator for the Yk Education District No. 1, is responsible for implementing safe travel planning at William McDonald School, Range Lake North School and Kay Tay Whee School in Dettah. She led a walkabout last April which identified unsafe intersections for student cyclists travelling to William McDonald. Both of the locations Thiessen mentions drew her attention.

"Absolutely, there is 100 per cent a lot more to do," she said. "It might not be the most important issue to the city right now, but if we can make it safe for children to walk and bike to different places in the community, then it is safe for the entire community."

Thiessen said other locations where sidewalk access is an issue are the entrance into Staples from Old Airport Road; the entrance and exit to Tim Hortons from Old Airport Road; and the entrance to RTL-Robinson Enterprises Ltd. from Old Airport Road.

While he wanted to see these ramps included in the city's 2012 budget, Dennis Kefalas, city director of public works, told council that the budget "is very limited in terms of what is being spent on roads and sidewalks."

He said $600,000 of the $700,000 road rehabilitation budget is going toward road rehabilitation in Ndilo, and the other $100,000 is allotted for miscellaneous patching and repairs.

Some city councillors said that due to the small number of cyclists year-round, it is a difficult project to support.

"I think the item would be more valid if we had more summer months. I am willing to be more flexible in my thinking, but as I see cyclists making their way up the hill and using the streets in the snow, I wonder if this is the best use of city resources," said Coun. Amanda Mallon.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said he has not heard of any occasion where people have been charged for riding bicycles on sidewalks, and added there would be very few incidents, if any.

He also said he hasn't noticed whether students were riding bicycles on sidewalks in the problem areas identified by Thiessen. As far as he's concerned, riding bikes on sidewalks is still illegal.

"With any of these issues, a discussion always leads to a discussion leads to a discussion," he said.

"Right now bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks."

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