Costs around off-road bike lanes could get closer look

The path to more off-road bike lanes alongside Barrie streets is beginning to smooth.

Councillors gave initial approval to a motion Wednesday night that city staff produce a cost analysis of separated bike lanes on existing collector and arterial roads.

“If we’re going to do bike lanes, let’s do bike lanes that are worth riding on,” said Coun. Sergio Morales. “If we’re thinning (narrowing) the road, let’s do that. Let’s not get a fail on both ends.”

Barrie has 1,583 kilometres of roads and 47 kilometres of cycling infrastructure consisting of multi-use paths, bicycle lanes and signed routes.

Off-road or separated (by the curb) bike lanes are considered safer than those created by a painted line to show the cycling lane on the side of a street.

If this staff analysis finds there is no additional cost to implement separated bike lanes, they could be implemented as part of the reconstruction of Grove and Duckworth streets, although the planning for these projects is well underway.

Should separated bike lanes come with additional cost, however, unspecified safety measures would be taken to provide additional protection to painted bike lanes on Duckworth and Grove streets.

Councillors also approved on-road cycling lanes on Grove Street from Bayfield Street to Johnson Street, and Dunlop Street/Blake Street from Berczy to Steel streets by narrowing the road, and changing the traffic bylaw to remove on-street parking where currently permitted.

City staff will also to assess the feasibility of accelerating the implementation of separated cycling lanes, including those on Grove Street from Johnson Street to Bayfield Street, and on Duckworth Street from Grove to St. Vincent Street.

“We have (painted) bike lanes on Grove Street, but no mother in their right mind would let their five-year-old ride their bike there,” said Coun. Clare Riepma. “It’s just way too dangerous right beside the traffic.

“I think it would be a tragedy if we built more roads and didn’t put separated bike lanes on (them)," he added. 

City council could consider final approval of these motions at its May 3 meeting.