Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Some Yellowknife residents are calling on the city to develop multi-use paths for cyclists as a way to address safety concerns on busy roads.

Paul Falvo: Councillor would like to see greater flexibility to bicycle bylaw as it pertains to riding on sidewalks. - NNSL file photo

Tasha Stephenson of the Ecology North Transportation Issues committee said it would be in the city's interests to create multi-use paths in more dangerous areas for cyclists, such as Franklin Avenue from Mildred Hall School to the Multiplex Arena intersection.

"One of the things I have been trying to the city's attention is better connectivity of bicycle commuter routes," said Stephenson. "There are some sections of road that are really unsafe to travel on as a cyclists because you are caught against a curb so you can't get off the road when the lane you are cycling in tries to push you over."

She pointed out that Franklin can be particularly dangerous for cyclists after 57th Street.

"It is pretty much a highway (on Franklin) because there aren't a lot of driveways or other road traffic coming onto the street," Stephenson said. "If you are a cyclist and you are on a road where you are supposed to be, you get squeezed and pushed up against that curb and then there is an accident."

Because of this danger, often bikers are forced to ride on the sidewalk, she said.

However, the Highway Traffic bylaw states that cyclists can face a fine of up to $2,000 or six months in jail for riding on the sidewalk.

City councillor Paul Falvo, who is also on the transportation issues committee, said that the topic of whether or not cyclists should ride on sidewalks has come up in recent meetings. While he agrees that it can be dangerous to have cyclists riding on the sidewalk downtown, he said the law should be made more lenient as traffic picks up outside of the downtown core.

Multi-use paths on the sidewalks could be beneficial, he argues, because there are serious safety concerns on Franklin that just are not the same as in the downtown core. Stephenson said she agrees that multi-use paths on sidewalks where dangerous areas are located would be a good idea.

"It is really dangerous to be on sidewalks in the downtown core," Falvo said. "On the other hand, putting cyclists on a road becomes dangerous for cyclists. There comes a point where you can almost see the border where it becomes less of a risk for pedestrians and more a risk for cyclists. Once you get out of downtown, the traffic becomes faster and that is where there is less risk of putting cyclists on a multi-use path and more risk of putting them on a road."

Falvo said he has ridden his bicycle on sidewalks, but only outside of the downtown core because it is often just too dangerous to ride in the street. While cyclists have a responsibility to consider the safety of pedestrians, by the same token drivers have a responsibility for the safety of those riding a bike, he said.

"I have had drivers be downright rude if not dangerous when I have been on a bike outside the downtown core," he said. "People have gotten behind me and leaned on the horn and gestured and have shown real cases of road rage just for doing what I'm legally required do."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.