A pro-bike lane group has organized cyclist caravans they call “bike buses” this week to ride in traffic on city streets. The YEG Bike Coalition says the intent of the caravans they’re holding across the city through Saturday is not to annoy drivers, but rather to show fellow users of the Edmonton road network what life would be like without bike lanes. “We just want to see if we have to ride in traffic, if we start to have to mix in, is that going to feel safe for people?” Aaron Budnick, lead volunteer of the coalition, told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday. “Are they going to want to continue doing it? Is it going to slow drivers down because we’re in the way? Is there enough room for both of us on the road?” The bike buses come with the provincial government expected to introduce legislation this fall that would require cities to complete traffic impact assessments for bike lane proposals that would be subject to provincial approval. The legislation could also call for bike infrastructure to be removed if it doesn’t meet provincial requirements. The debate over Edmonton bike lanes swirls as Ontario’s government moves to take out such infrastructure on several Toronto streets following a successful appeal of a court ruling that said the removal of bike lanes along three major arteries violated Charter rights. Edmonton city councillors last week voted down a recommendation from administration that 14 new bike lane projects be paused ahead of the anticipated legislation. The recommendation excluded projects already completed and 13 that are being built. Councillors heard from dozens of citizens opposed to pausing bike-lane projects last week at an infrastructure committee meeting. Over the last four years, the city has built 40 kilometres of new shared pathways and bike lanes. Some residents in established neighbourhoods such as Delton and Gold Bar have expressed opposition to the addition of bike lanes, protesting the removal of parking and suggesting the changes could hamper emergency services. As of May, Edmonton has 44 kilometres of protected bike lanes and 36 kilometres of painted bike lanes. Its total active transportation network, of which 80 per cent is made up of shared pathways, has more than 1,700 kilometres of routes for walking and cycling, among other means of transport. City council in 2022 committed $100 million over a four-year cycle, from 2022-26, to the active transportation network. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug
