Charlottetown looks at rolling stops, traffic lights and sidewalk riding for bicycles
Charlottetown’s system of bike lanes and active transportation pathways is growing, but it still faces challenges with connection and other traffic.. Photo by Logan MacLean /The GuardianArticle contentFor a small city, there are plenty of people moving through the streets of Charlottetown.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentBut as the city grows from a car-dependent place to one with more transport options, regulations may need to evolve too.Article contentArticle contentAnna Keenan, Charlottetown’s sustainable transportation officer, recently presented a series of policy proposals to members of the environment and sustainability committee.Article contentArticle contentThey are based on the city’s active transportation plan and input from residents and would require a council recommendation to the province to change the Highway Traffic Act, Keenan told the July 13 committee.Article content“We identified a couple of areas where advancing active transportation in the city is not only within the city’s control, but it’s limited by our provincial policy framework.”Article content Anna Keenan is Charlottetown’s sustainable transportation officer. Photo by Logan MacLean /The GuardianArticle contentProposalsArticle contentThere are four proposals: add cycling turn signals at some intersections; allow rolling stops, sometimes called Idaho stops; legalize two-abreast riding; and expand permissions for who can ride a bike on the sidewalk.Article contentThe proposed changes are also based on studies and precedent in other jurisdictions.Article contentTraffic signals would increase safety at intersections that have dedicated bike lanes and infrastructure, Keenan said.Article contentRolling stops have been shown to be safer for cyclists than full stops. Bikes are most vulnerable when they slow down, leading to accidents with cars at intersection blind spots, she said.Article contentArticle contentTwo-abreast riding is already common with adults and children, and it would be a particular benefit to the city’s bike bus program, Keenan said.Article contentArticle contentThe Highway Traffic Act actually allows children under 12 to ride on sidewalks now, but the city’s bylaws do not. The recommendation to council is to expand this to anyone under 14, while adding permission for adults to ride on sidewalks under certain circumstances.Article contentThese would be areas where bike lanes drop off and have low pedestrian traffic and parts of the active transportation system that have plans for infrastructure that hasn’t been built. Bikes would still have to yield the sidewalk to pedestrians. It could serve as a temporary measure until the system fills out, Keenan said.Article contentQuestionsArticle contentThe proposals got a mixed response from the committee.Article contentCoun. Trevor MacKinnon, committee chair, pushed back on the call for two-abreast riding and sidewalk riding in particular. While he agreed with the benefits of two-abreast for the bike bus, that program is monitored by adult volunteers, he said.