Latest news with #bikelane
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Oakland breaks ground on Lake Merritt bike path honoring 4-year-old Maia Correia
The City of Oakland broke ground Friday afternoon on a new protected bike lane alongside Lake Merritt, honoring the memory of 4-year-old Maia Correia, who was killed in a bicycle accident on the same stretch of road two years ago. The Maia Correia Memorial Bikeway will span 0.7 miles along Lakeshore Avenue, from East 18th Street to El Embarcadero. It will be a two-way, fully protected lane separated from vehicle traffic by concrete barriers. Currently, cyclists ride between parked cars and a painted white line—an arrangement that offers little protection from moving traffic or the risk of being "doored" by people exiting parked vehicles. "It was a big price to pay to get to where we are right now," said Maia's grandmother, Hydeh Ghaffari. In August 2023, Maia was riding in a child seat attached to the back of her father's bicycle when the driver of a parked car opened their door. Maia and her father were thrown to the pavement. Maia died six days later from her injuries. Since then, Ghaffari and her family have become leading advocates for safer bike infrastructure in Oakland. Although the bikeway project faced funding challenges, the family's persistence kept it alive. "We've been up and down, up and down, up and down. Today is an unbelievable day. I never thought we would get here," Ghaffari said during the groundbreaking event. City transportation officials confirmed the project would not result in the loss of any existing parking spots along Lakeshore Avenue. Supporters said the bikeway could save lives. "We can prevent those deaths," said Maia's aunt, Sheila McCracken. "I think that's the hardest part of this whole thing. It's an accident. But it's a preventable death." Oakland District 2 Councilmember Charlene Wang, who represents the area and often bikes as her primary mode of transportation, echoed the urgency. "I don't often feel safe biking. It's kind of like, 'I'm going to risk my life to bike today,'" Wang said. "This corridor is one where there's a lot of speeding. People frankly ignore the red lights here." Frequent cyclists around Lake Merritt expressed hope and relief. "I have close calls frequently. The big problem is speeding motorists," said Brian Simmons, who bikes around Lake Merritt at least twice a week. George Spies, a member of the nonprofit Traffic Violence Rapid Response, emphasized that real safety comes from infrastructure, not enforcement. "The cops can't be everywhere. Enforcement is not the answer for safety," Spies said. "Safety is about infrastructure. So when this project is done, we're going to have a protected bike lane that you can't get hit in." While the Correia family continues to grieve, Maia's nine-year-old brother, Kai, said he plans to be one of the first to ride in the completed bikeway. "It feels unreal because it shouldn't be happening. She should still be here with us physically," Kai said. "So this shouldn't even be a thing at all. She should just be at home with us and we should be going on multiple bike rides and having a fun, safe time." Ghaffari said the family's advocacy will continue beyond this project. "I have now become a board member of Bike East Bay to continue my advocacy," she said. "I want kids all over Oakland to be able to ride safely." City officials said the Maia Correia Memorial Bikeway will be completed by next summer.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Houston says province will use new powers to overturn Halifax bike lane decision
The premier of Nova Scotia says his government will use a new bill to overturn Halifax council's decision on a local bike lane if councillors do not reverse the move, citing public safety and economic concerns. On Wednesday evening, Premier Tim Houston posted a letter to social media addressed to Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore, regional councillors and chief administrative officer Cathie O'Toole. Houston said he had great concerns about council's vote last Tuesday to move ahead with a bike lane design for Morris Street that would eliminate a vehicle lane and make the stretch one-way for car traffic. "To say that I find it disappointing that public safety and economic impact concerns have been dismissed with a simple shrug of the shoulders would be a serious understatement," Houston wrote. Houston said he remains hopeful that "common sense will prevail," and asked council to reverse their decision by Aug. 6. If that does not happen, Houston said "the provincial government will be forced to act" and use Bill 24 for the first time. The bill was passed this spring but not proclaimed, and allows the public works minister to override decisions by municipal councils related to transportation. Halifax council debated the Morris Street design for more than an hour and a half last Tuesday, and asked municipal transportation planning staff multiple questions. Many councillors said the chosen design of a two-way bike lane on Morris was the best option for cyclists in an east-west connection across the peninsula that kept most of the parking spaces and mature trees intact. The premier wrote that the move will "contribute to traffic congestion, create unnecessary public safety risks and potentially jeopardize port activity." Houston said serious attention should be paid to a recent letter from Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMCI) raising concerns about emergency services in the area. Ambulance service warns of potential delays EMCI, which operates the provincial government's Emergency Health Services division including ground ambulance, TeleCare, and air medical transport operations, sent the letter to Fillmore, Houston and other councillors and the provincial health minister on Wednesday. "Our first responders on and around the peninsula are facing increasing challenges due to increasing traffic congestion and call volume. This directly impacts on our ability to efficiently provide pre-hospital care, particularly in time-sensitive situations where every minute counts," wrote Matthew Crossman, chief operating officer for EMCI. Crossman said turning Morris into a one-way street could have "unintended consequences" for emergency health services. Emergency vehicles may need to be rerouted, leading to delays in reaching the scene of an accident or a hospital. Since January, Crossman said about 22,000 calls have occurred in the area with most vehicles using Morris Street. However, the "full scope of traffic impact," especially during peak hours, remains unclear without further study by the municipality, he said. A municipal traffic analysis has found the change would increase congestion and delay at two intersections without stoplights at Barrington and South streets as well as Spring Garden Road and Brunswick Street. Vehicles would be diverted to adjacent roads, which are residential streets that "may not be appropriate for increased traffic volumes," the report said. In his letter, Houston referenced concerns from Halifax's Port Authority and PSA Halifax, which operates the south-end container terminal, who have told the city they were worried about impacts to their operations. "Simply put, it is irresponsible to prioritize bike lanes over a key economic driver for the province, which is exactly what the port is," Houston said. Port, container terminal operator say alternative option not ideal Trucks leaving the south-end container terminal now take Morris Street as a secondary route when Lower Water Street is not available, a staff report said. But after consulting the port and the trucking industry, the municipality suggested an alternative option using Terminal Road, Hollis Street, Barrington, Inglis and Robie streets to replace Morris as that secondary route. However, a June 19 letter from the Halifax Port Authority said that alternative option involves "many more turns" and narrow streets compared to Morris, sending trucks by residential homes, schools and Saint Mary's University. "This presents added risks and operational complexity for both drivers, residents and students," wrote Jonathan Chia, deputy managing director for PSA Halifax, in a letter on June 20 to Halifax staff. A Halifax staff report has noted that the planned rail shuttle solution between the south-end and Fairview Cove container terminals is expected to shift 75 per cent of port-related container traffic out of the downtown area and onto rail by the end of 2027. "This will significantly reduce the number of port-related trucks using Lower Water Street, Morris Street, and other truck routes in the area," the report said. Halifax council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canadian Taxpayers Federation launches petition to scrap Halifax bike lane project
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on Halifax Regional Council to scrap its current bike lane project. The CTF said in a news release the project is 'over budget' and 'behind schedule.' 'Halifax city hall has turned this bike lane project into a bottomless money pit,' said Devin Drover, the Atlantic director of the CTF. 'It's time to slam the brakes on this bike lane boondoggle.' Halifax council agreed in 2017 to have the 53-kilometre bike lane network completed by 2022 at a cost of $25 million. 'Seven years later, only about 60 per cent of it is built, and the cost has ballooned to $93 million,' the federation said. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore tried to put the project on hold last month due to concerns over traffic congestion, but council voted the motion down. 'Council needs to stand up for all taxpayers,' said Drover. 'Residents are paying more in property taxes year after year, but they're getting delays, excuses and broken promises in return.' The taxpayers federation said the average homeowner in Halifax is now paying $302 more than they were two years ago due to a 6.3 per cent tax hike that happened last year. 'People are struggling to afford groceries so city hall can't afford to waste another dime on this failed vanity project,' said Drover. 'It's time for city council to listen to taxpayers and scrap this failed bike lane project for good.' The CTF has launched a petition calling on the municipality to cancel the bike lane expansion project. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
16-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Saint John's Main Street project brings fresh change, corrects old mistakes
One of the largest Saint John construction projects of the season is nearing completion. The Main Street project brings the city its first protected bike lane and corrects decades-old mistakes, city staff say.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Nonprofit creates tool to report obstructions directly to Philadelphia Parking Authority
It's getting even easier to report cars blocking crosswalks, loading zones and bike lanes in Philadelphia with a new tool from nonprofit Philly Bike Action. The nonprofit created a new tool called Laser Vision where people can report sidewalk, crosswalk and bike lane parking obstructions directly to the Philadelphia Parking Authority's Mobility Access Violation form, the website said. Philly Bike Action said the tool will help make the streets and sidewalks safer and more accessible. From a smartphone, people can take a photo, follow the prompts and then submit the violation. "Laser Vision will record the date, time, and location of the obstruction, as well as the make and model of the vehicle," Philly Bike Action! said on the website. To use Laser Vision, the user has to create a PBA account.
