Written by Cycle Hamilton
October 16, 2024
What we Understand:
The City is considering removing the bike lanes (marked in red) due to safety concerns following a cyclist’s death in this area. The idea is that removing the bike lane would discourage cycling here since the current infrastructure is unsafe. The City plans to create a long-term solution in the future, with better infrastructure to reopen this bike lane. In the meantime, a detour is proposed (marked in yellow).
Our Concerns:
As Councillor Kroetsch pointed out, we’re worried that once the bike lane is closed and infrastructure is removed, it may not be replaced. The timeline for reopening the bike lane is unclear.
The City originally installed a bike lane that was unsafe, leading to a cyclist’s death. Now, with the proposed closure, our main concern is about signage and detour awareness. For instance, the current detour for York/Cannon construction is confusing—’bike lane closed’ signs are up, but there are no ‘bike detour’ signs placed before or at the closure. This leaves cyclists without clear directions and forces them to use unsafe roads with no infrastructure.
Our proposal:
We propose that Cycle Hamilton be consulted before the City and third-party vendors make decisions or changes to cycling infrastructure, including detours. This would help ensure safe and effective solutions for cyclists.
