We’re midway along an important process working towards actually building safer, more liveable streets across Edmonton.

Paths for People is very excited about the opportunity Edmonton has to build a significant expansion of our biking infrastructure for biking. Administration has produced 4 options for Committee to review.

To translate this table to the map below, our understanding t

• Option A completes all purple dotted lines in dark grey areas (“Future” District Connectors in “Redeveloping Areas”) by 2026
• Option B completes about half of the purple dotted lines in dark grey areas (“Future” District Connectors in “Redeveloping Areas”) by 2026
• Option C completes all green lines (“Near Term Priority”) and many neighbourhood routes within the yellow areas (“Bike Trip Potential”) by 2026
• Option D completes all green lines (“Near Term Priority”) by 2026

These options have different benefits and drawback. This is our understanding

Based on our review, we strongly support moving forward with an Option A+!

This would have the City build out the district connector routes by 2026 (as is envisioned within Option A). It would also envision completing some key near-term implementation projects, specifically neighbourhood routes, in areas with high “Bike Trip Potential” like the Bonnie Doon area, Ritchie, south of Southgate, and north of Downtown. Within this approach, we may also be able to add some key routes connecting to West Edmonton Mall and take out some nice-to-have, but not need-to-have projects too.

We didn’t come to this conclusion lightly! Below you’ll find a full articulation of reasons we contemplated in coming to our decision.

Our thoughts regarding engagement

• A lot of our goals align with high-quality engagement to help folks understand why their communities are changing. These include; 
  • Busting Active Transportation Myths, 
  • Fostering community and relationships with allies,
  • Growing a diverse, engaged and inclusive membership
• Sometimes, biking infrastructure doesn’t need a lot of engagement. Take for instance a upgrading a sidewalk to a multi-use path through a public park. Sometimes, it does.
• Biking infrastructure is a required part of our multi-modal transportation system, therefore it isn’t a question of whether it will be implemented, but how it will be implemented. Public engagement can help communities understand why change is necessary. It will help shape that change in a way that best fits both the local communities needs and the broader city goals.
• Engagement can also be building out adaptable/temporary infrastructure and letting the community experience/understand it so that further improvements can be permanently made in the future.

Our thoughts regarding district connectors

• Our vision for Edmonton is for it to become a multi-modal city where active transportation is a safe, accessible, year-round option for all. This means increased cycling routes all across Edmonton. Option A does this best!

Our thoughts regarding neighbourhood routes

• Our vision for Edmonton is for it to become a multi-modal city where active transportation is a safe, accessible, year-round option for all. This means comprehensive routes, including district connectors and neighbourhood routes, that work for all ages and abilities. Option C will build out the most all ages and abilities infrastructure, though not all across the city

Our thoughts regarding Costs

• All options are less expensive and more expansive than other major transportation projects, like the 
  • Yellowhead Upgrade – $1 billion for the approximately 15 km long project
  • 50 Street Overpass – already increased by $34 million  to $179 million for a single overpass
  • Terwillegar Expressway conversion – $120 milion for the 4.5 km long stage 1 of the project  
• Implementation of the Bike Plan will provide more transportation options to Edmontonians and open up more opportunities for recreation across the city too.
• We don’t need cadillac projects. The more affordable the infrastructure, the more expansive the network we can build.
• Costs are estimates, but cycling infrastructure projects have come under budget before. Take for example the Downtown Bike Grid, which ended up being less than originally budgeted. Additionally, many of the costs with the project were actually focused on vehicle infrastructure (for example updates for left-turn signalization).
• We are not even factoring in potential savings in terms of climate, health, and infrastructure costs like; less fuel burned, better air quality, less road wear.
• This work contributes to completing so many strategic priorities and policies, including; City Plan, Climate Adaptation and Energy Transition, Active Transportation Policy, Curbside Management Strategy, and the Bike Plan of course. We want to achieve these priorities somehow, and more active transportation infrastructure across Edmonton ticks many boxes.

• There is a longer term higher capital cost built into Options A and B, because they focus on implementing adaptable infrastructure. These routes will need to be replaced with permanent infrastructure eventually.
• There is a higher longer term operating cost built into Options A and B, because they focus on implementing adaptable infrastructure. These routes are more prone to needing City maintenance due to their lower quality materials/treatments.

Our thoughts regarding Option D

• We can do better than this

When it comes to a preferred option, it’s tough to choose between Option A and C, which assure us the most amount of much-needed infrastructure in the fastest amount of time. 

• Option A gets better coverage across the City, but may not build up welcome as many new cyclists because there is less all-ages-and-abilities routes in high ridership potential areas (yellow areas in the map)
• Option C gets more all-ages-abilities infrastructure in parts of the City that are expected have higher ridership (like Bonnie Doon, Ritchie, and north of Downtown), but misses out on extending routes into some key areas of the City like the Northside, West Central, and Millwoods.

As noted above, we strongly support an Option A+. 

• This ensures we build out district connectors all across the City and builds out more local routes in high ridership areas. Building out the district connectors all across Edmonton makes active transportation more of a choice for more people all across Edmonton. 
• Building out neighbourhood routes in key parts of the network that are currently being planned, in areas where ridership potential is high, means that we will bring on more new cyclists and compel mode shift more quickly in certain parts of the City!
• This approach could also allow us to vet out some nice-to-have, but not need-to-have projects. 
  • Examples of these could include the 100 St Bridge over McDougal Hill near the Funicular and the 76 Avenue Bridge over the CN Railyards. 
  • Though these projects would bridge gaps in our active transportation system, there are also other proximate corridors/routes with all-ages-and-abilities infrastructure that provide some, albeit not as direct, connectivity.

It’s also important to remember that Bike Plan Implementation will not be the only way that the Bike Plan gets implemented. That sounds silly, but it’s true. 

• Arterial corridor renewal will continue occurring and expand major bike routes. It can result in awesome steps forward (like 132 Avenue) or some missed opportunities for big improvements (like 95 Avenue).
• Neighbourhood renewal will continue occurring and will build out lower-level neighbourhood routes (which is slated to occur in the North side, West Central, and Millwoods neighbourhoods).

Finally, we also have some lingering concerns about existing bike infrastructure. In some places, “existing” district connector routes are falling apart or failing when it comes to an all-ages-and-abilities lense. Think of Victoria Park Hill or 76 Avenue in King Edward Park. There are also projects like 127 St that appeared to be moving forward but are not clearly displayed on the map as a near-term priority. We will continue to advocate to improve these routes too!