New and improved bike infrastructure in the HRM should be accessible and comfortable to use for people of All Ages and Abilities (AAA Infrastructure). This means that every person on a bike, with any level of experience or confidence in traffic, is comfortable getting around the city.
Bike lanes that are raised above the level of the road with necessary curb ramps and access points.
More attractive to a wider range of bicyclists at all levels and ages than less separated facilities.
Keeps motorists from easily entering the cycle track.
Encourages bicyclists to ride in the bikeway rather than on the sidewalk.
Can visually reduce the width of the street when provided adjacent to a travel lane.
Minimizes maintenance costs due to limited motor vehicle wear.
With new roadway construction a raised cycle track can be less expensive to construct than a wide or buffered bicycle lane.
Other Acceptable Infrastructure
While these types of bike lanes are ideal wherever possible, there are some instances where Local Street Bikeways and Multi-Use Trails make the most sense.
Local Street Bikeways are quiet residential streets adapted to be safer for cyclists. Elements of Local Street Bikeways include:
reduced traffic volumes
low speed limits
physical infrastructure (e.g. bump outs, curbs) to restrict traffic speeds
Multi-Use Trails can also be great infrastructure in certain areas where people are walking, biking, and rolling using different modes. However, these trails should be:
at least 3.5 meters wide
in places where the volume of active transportation users is lower
Infrastructure We Do Not Support
Bi-Directional Bike Lanes
HCC advocacy does not consider bi-directional bike lanes as quality infrastructure because they are:
often over-crowded and dangerous for cyclists who are moving at different speeds
difficult for cyclists to access shops/residences etc. on the opposite side of the street
challenging to make turns into or out of
unsafe at intersections
Painted Bike Lanes
Painted bike lanes are not accessible to people on bikes of all ages and abilities because they do not provide a safe barrier from vehicle traffic.
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