Latest news with #activetransportation
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
District of North Vancouver councillor wants to make bike bells mandatory
A District of North Vancouver (DNV) councillor wants to make bike bells mandatory in his community and wants to see other municipalities in B.C. follow suit. During a June 23 council meeting, Jim Hanson put forward a motion to create a bylaw mandating bells on bicycles out of concern for pedestrian safety. "I think it's important as we move towards active transportation, building out our bike lanes [and] that we make our multi-user paths, pedestrian and cycling paths safe for everyone and courteous," he told CBC's On The Coast. Often, if cyclists don't have bells, they shout "on your left" or some variation of that to let people on foot know there's a bike coming up behind them, so as not to startle them. But Hanson said some people find that "aggressive." "Not everyone who's walking along the paths wants to hear people yelling at them," he said, adding that some people, seniors, for example, may hear the sound of a bell better than the sound of someone's voice. "I just don't believe it to be courteous for cyclists to be hollering out at pedestrians as they go down these paths." He pointed to the City of Vancouver, where the bylaw states that cyclists must have a bell on their bicycle. But not everyone realizes that's the rule; Duncan Wilcock, who often rides his e-bike in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, wasn't aware of that until this motion came about. But he said requiring bells on bikes won't solve the problem of pedestrians and cyclists trying to share pathways respectfully. "Mandating a bike bell is not the same as somebody actually being socially considerate," he said. DNV Mayor Mike Little suggested during the council meeting that bells may, in fact, be required by the province, but the Ministry of Transportation confirmed to CBC News that bicycles are not required to have bells or horns under the Motor Vehicle Act, and those rules are the responsibility of municipalities. Coun. Jordan Back wondered how such a bylaw would be enforced. "I think that would be really challenging," he said during the June 23 meeting. He suggested education and signage instead to encourage courtesy on multi-use paths. "I think any time you start mandating something like this, it just is going to create a whole other thing for us to try and manage and enforce." Wilcock, a volunteer with HUB Cycling — a non-profit organization that promotes cycling in Vancouver — said municipalities should focus on building separate pathways for people on foot and people on bikes. "People in the cars get to travel side by side. Why shouldn't the people walking have plenty of room to walk side by side? Same with people on bikes," he said. "The conflict is happening because people are on a multi-use path, because it's squished too close together, people travelling different speeds. That's the root of the problem." Hanson hopes the DNV does eventually make bike bells a requirement on city pathways and streets, and that other communities on the North Shore follow suit. Ultimately, he said, he plans to take the issue of bike bells to the Union of B.C. Municipalities, calling for bills on bikes as a provincial rule. "I think we need to normalize bell usage. I mean, we've normalized helmet use for cycling. We need to develop a way of life that involves courtesy on our multimodal paths and safety, and I think bells on bikes is an idea whose time has come on a provincewide basis."
CBC
20-07-2025
- General
- CBC
District of North Vancouver councillor wants to make bike bells mandatory
A District of North Vancouver (DNV) councillor wants to make bike bells mandatory in his community and wants to see other municipalities in B.C. follow suit. During a June 23 council meeting, Jim Hanson put forward a motion to create a bylaw mandating bells on bicycles out of concern for pedestrian safety. "I think it's important as we move towards active transportation, building out our bike lanes [and] that we make our multi-user paths, pedestrian and cycling paths safe for everyone and courteous," he told CBC's On The Coast. Often, if cyclists don't have bells, they shout "on your left" or some variation of that to let people on foot know there's a bike coming up behind them, so as not to startle them. But Hanson said some people find that "aggressive." "Not everyone who's walking along the paths wants to hear people yelling at them," he said, adding that some people, seniors, for example, may hear the sound of a bell better than the sound of someone's voice. "I just don't believe it to be courteous for cyclists to be hollering out at pedestrians as they go down these paths." Do you know how to use an 'elephant's feet' crosswalk? 4 key cycling rules to remember as more bikes hit the streets He pointed to the City of Vancouver, where the bylaw states that cyclists must have a bell on their bicycle. But not everyone realizes that's the rule; Duncan Wilcock, who often rides his e-bike in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, wasn't aware of that until this motion came about. But he said requiring bells on bikes won't solve the problem of pedestrians and cyclists trying to share pathways respectfully. "Mandating a bike bell is not the same as somebody actually being socially considerate," he said. DNV Mayor Mike Little suggested during the council meeting that bells may, in fact, be required by the province, but the Ministry of Transportation confirmed to CBC News that bicycles are not required to have bells or horns under the Motor Vehicle Act, and those rules are the responsibility of municipalities. Coun. Jordan Back wondered how such a bylaw would be enforced. "I think that would be really challenging," he said during the June 23 meeting. He suggested education and signage instead to encourage courtesy on multi-use paths. "I think any time you start mandating something like this, it just is going to create a whole other thing for us to try and manage and enforce." Wilcock, a volunteer with HUB Cycling — a non-profit organization that promotes cycling in Vancouver — said municipalities should focus on building separate pathways for people on foot and people on bikes. "People in the cars get to travel side by side. Why shouldn't the people walking have plenty of room to walk side by side? Same with people on bikes," he said. "The conflict is happening because people are on a multi-use path, because it's squished too close together, people travelling different speeds. That's the root of the problem." Hanson hopes the DNV does eventually make bike bells a requirement on city pathways and streets, and that other communities on the North Shore follow suit. Ultimately, he said, he plans to take the issue of bike bells to the Union of B.C. Municipalities, calling for bills on bikes as a provincial rule. "I think we need to normalize bell usage. I mean, we've normalized helmet use for cycling. We need to develop a way of life that involves courtesy on our multimodal paths and safety, and I think bells on bikes is an idea whose time has come on a provincewide basis."
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton cyclists collectively rode 142,000 km last month in an effort to win community league challenge
Having biked 1,000 kilometres in June, Nolan Rettie speaks at a wrap party for the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues' second annual bike month challenge on July 4, 2025. (Darcy Seaton / CTV News Edmonton) One man rode his bicycle some 1,000 kilometres around the city in June to win the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues' second annual bike month challenge. 'I do bike a lot – but not 1,000 kilometres a month,' Nolan Rettie, with the Yellowbird Community League, told CTV News Edmonton on Friday during a wrap party. Normally, he counts about half of that mileage in a month, but he rode to all of the 60 scavenger hunt locations that were part of the June challenge. 'It was a good way to explore the city and find different locations,' Rettie said. 'But it was also nice to win.' According to the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL), the challenge began unofficially about nine years ago and has since expanded across the city, with 32 leagues participating in 2025. Altogether, participants rode 142,000 kilometres in June. That's roughly the equivalent distance of 1,800 loops on Anthony Henday Drive, 25 trips across Canada, or four times the Earth's circumference. In 2024, 31 leagues collectively rode nearly 148,000 kilometres. The goal of the challenge is to promote active transportation and recreation, and also build community spirit. EFCL spokesperson David Berry said the challenge proves the importance of bike infrastructure. 'We just see, when you build this stuff, people come out. When we started this nine years ago, cyclists were a slightly rarer sight but if you go anywhere around here where there's plenty of wonderful bike infrastructure, you will see them packed with people.' With files from CTV News Edmonton's Brent Pushkarenko
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
City report proposes protected bike lane, lower speed limit pilot on Wellington Crescent
Winnipeg could pilot additional protections for active transportation users on a section of a city street where a cyclist was killed last year. A report to the city's public works committee calls for a pilot of one-way bike lanes on both sides of Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Stradbrook Avenue. It also recommends the speed limit to be lowered to 40 kilometres per hour on that stretch of road. The proposed timeline for the project would see the bike lanes — separated by plastic bollards and concrete curbs — installed next spring, after the city gathers feedback from community members and communicates its design plans. The public service would be directed to report back in 270 days on the results of those consultations, the report says. "I think it's really important like we do on any new road projects … to reach out and hear the concerns of the area residents," said Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs the public works committee. "Often what I've found is there's little things that percolate up that maybe the public works department's not thought [of]." The proposed pilot comes just over a year after cyclist Rob Jenner, 61, was killed on Wellington Crescent just east of Academy Road as he was cycling to work, when he was hit by a speeding motorist who lost control of his vehicle. The driver, Beckham Keneth Severight, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. He admitted to driving more than 150 km/h in the 50 zone. Advocates have previously said the area has been the site of many close calls for cyclists. Ian McCausland, a board member with Bike Winnipeg, said he's disappointed cyclists would still have to wait until 2026 for changes on Wellington under the proposed timeline. The report said the pilot would be "atypical" since the infrastructure won't be put into place before the city collects any feedback. It said the proposed infrastructure could be implemented this year, with some modifications, to more closely resemble a typical pilot. "For some reason for Wellington, it's the reverse. They're going to get all the feedback about how much people might not like the idea and then install the pilot," McCausland said. "With a little bit of political courage, they could install the pilot … for this riding season. And, you know, I know a number of cyclists who would continue to use it throughout the winter." Some 'not going to be happy': councillor McCausland said he also takes issue with the 40 km/h speed limit. He and other cycling advocates have previously called a 30 km/h limit for Wellington. "The minute you go above 30 kilometres, accident rates and instances of injury rise significantly," he said. "This being Winnipeg, we know if it's posted 40, people are going to do at least 50." The project would cost $400,000, with the report recommending the funds be transferred from the city's 2024 active transportation studies project. "I know that people are not going to be happy about this," Coun. Lukes said. "But I also know that … if we're going to do this and we're going to put $400K — maybe $500K, we'll see how much it costs — into this, that we want to do it as best as we can possibly do it for that price." The pilot project still needs council approval. The report is set to be presented to the public works committee at its meeting next Thursday.
CBC
27-06-2025
- CBC
City report proposes protected bike lane, lower speed limit pilot on Wellington Crescent
Winnipeg could pilot additional protections for active transportation users on a section of a city street where a cyclist was killed last year. A report to the city's public works committee calls for a pilot of one-way bike lanes on both sides of Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Stradbrook Avenue. It also recommends the speed limit to be lowered to 40 kilometres per hour on that stretch of road. The proposed timeline for the project would see the bike lanes — separated by plastic bollards and concrete curbs — installed next spring, after the city gathers feedback from community members and communicates its design plans. The public service would be directed to report back in 270 days on the results of those consultations, the report says. "I think it's really important like we do on any new road projects … to reach out and hear the concerns of the area residents," said Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs the public works committee. "Often what I've found is there's little things that percolate up that maybe the public works department's not thought [of]." The proposed pilot comes just over a year after cyclist Rob Jenner, 61, was killed on Wellington Crescent just east of Academy Road as he was cycling to work, when he was hit by a speeding motorist who lost control of his vehicle. The driver, Beckham Keneth Severight, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. He admitted to driving more than 150 km/h in the 50 zone. Advocates have previously said the area has been the site of many close calls for cyclists. Ian McCausland, a board member with Bike Winnipeg, said he's disappointed cyclists would still have to wait until 2026 for changes on Wellington under the proposed timeline. The report said the pilot would be "atypical" since the infrastructure won't be put into place before the city collects any feedback. It said the proposed infrastructure could be implemented this year, with some modifications, to more closely resemble a typical pilot. "For some reason for Wellington, it's the reverse. They're going to get all the feedback about how much people might not like the idea and then install the pilot," McCausland said. "With a little bit of political courage, they could install the pilot … for this riding season. And, you know, I know a number of cyclists who would continue to use it throughout the winter." Some 'not going to be happy': councillor McCausland said he also takes issue with the 40 km/h speed limit. He and other cycling advocates have previously called a 30 km/h limit for Wellington. "The minute you go above 30 kilometres, accident rates and instances of injury rise significantly," he said. "This being Winnipeg, we know if it's posted 40, people are going to do at least 50." The project would cost $400,000, with the report recommending the funds be transferred from the city's 2024 active transportation studies project. "I know that people are not going to be happy about this," Coun. Lukes said. "But I also know that … if we're going to do this and we're going to put $400K — maybe $500K, we'll see how much it costs — into this, that we want to do it as best as we can possibly do it for that price." The pilot project still needs council approval. The report is set to be presented to the public works committee at its meeting next Thursday.
