Latest news with #Rawling
Edmonton Journal
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Changing lanes: Delton group invites Smith government to intervene in city bike lane project
Article content Rawling's day job is capital planning and procurement specialist for the Government of Alberta's ministry of forestry and parks and the wildfire division. Three weeks ago, he had no notion of being a spokesperson for fellow Delton residents. 'I decided that someone needed to give a voice to the voiceless, and although I hoped it wouldn't be me, it turned out to be me,' he said. Rawling likes bike lanes — in principle. 'I think they sound great, but the reality is that from what I see, most people who use bike lanes are like me — able-bodied, military age males,' Rawling said. 'I think sometimes bike lanes make sense,' he said, pointing to the ground-up Blatchford development where an east-west bike lane might be laid down without too much disruption. He's lobbying for something he admits is unprecedented — that the province's minister of municipal affairs will 'launch an investigation under the Municipal Government Act,' specifically Section 572.
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Changing lanes: Delton group invites Smith government to intervene in city bike lane project
In Edmonton's tiny Delton neighbourhood, what started as a clash between Edmonton's automobile and bicycle cultures is shaping up to be a head-on battle between provincial and municipal powers — and a burgeoning issue in the upcoming municipal election. Article content Article content At the centre of the controversy is the long-planned construction of bike lanes that saw jackhammers powered up two years ago. Article content Article content The multi-year 'bike plan' project involves repaving the roadway and replacing sidewalks, curbs and street lights, rolled into street renewal — coming with a price tag of $100 million of city funds to carve out 30 blocks of bike lanes on the north side, allowing cyclists, wheelchair users and scooter riders to travel in their own lane between 118 Avenue and Jasper Avenue. Article content Article content Additionally, some 50 individuals opposed to the plan showed up last Thursday for a community hall meeting, giving the opposition a mandate, said Rawling, who is critical of the city's claim of city-wide consultation before the project was underway. Article content 'They say that they consulted 11,000 people in 2019. How big is Edmonton? Almost a million. And they justify this with 11,000 people,' he said. Article content Article content Rawling's day job is capital planning and procurement specialist for the Government of Alberta's ministry of forestry and parks and the wildfire division. Article content Article content Three weeks ago, he had no notion of being a spokesperson for fellow Delton residents. Article content 'I decided that someone needed to give a voice to the voiceless, and although I hoped it wouldn't be me, it turned out to be me,' he said. Article content Rawling likes bike lanes — in principle. Article content 'I think they sound great, but the reality is that from what I see, most people who use bike lanes are like me — able-bodied, military age males,' Rawling said. Article content 'I think sometimes bike lanes make sense,' he said, pointing to the ground-up Blatchford development where an east-west bike lane might be laid down without too much disruption. Article content He's lobbying for something he admits is unprecedented — that the province's minister of municipal affairs will 'launch an investigation under the Municipal Government Act,' specifically Section 572.
