BY JOSH UNDERHAY
GUEST OPINION
I’m writing today to echo the sentiments of Greg McKee and Dr. Jenni Zelin, and to express my support for the proposed Fitzroy Street dedicated cycling corridor.
Since the 1960s, infrastructure budgets and urban design in Canada have usually put the automobile as our main priority and pushed other ways of thinking about transportation to the periphery. As we expand our vision of the city we want to live in, we have to think about the long-term costs and benefits of the type of infrastructure we build.
Having a fully-connected network of dedicated cycling and mixed-use paths will benefit residents in a number of ways. As more people choose to ride rather than drive, traffic congestion and road wear and tear will be reduced. Localized air pollution such as NO2 and particulate matter will decrease, residents’ physical and mental health and well-being will improve, and safety will improve, reducing cost in our health care system thus benefiting the taxpayer.
Less money will flow off-Island to oil and car companies, leaving more money in Islanders’ pockets to benefit our local economy. Carbon emissions will decrease, and as other cities in North America follow Charlottetown’s lead, will have an impact on climate change globally.
Although there are a number of wonderful nature trails, paths, and cycling facilities in Charlottetown, the reality of this network is that it remains disconnected, and cyclists must eventually venture into traffic to get where they want to go. This is a deterrent to many families and more timid riders, who rightly feel much safer when protected from traffic by a physical barrier. One such gap exists between the cycling path in Victoria Park on the west side of downtown, and the Confederation Trail on the east.
As noted in the CBCL engineering study recently commissioned by city hall, there are limitations to where we can place such a cycling corridor. The study looked at a couple of options, such as Kent Street as possibilities. However, CBCL noted that the angled parking and heavy commercial nature of Kent Street precludes a cycling lane. I would suggest that Grafton and Water Street would have the same problem, in addition to being busy two-way thoroughfares, they are crucial to tourism and commuter traffic.
Fitzroy Street is already marked with a shared lane for westbound cyclists, has a low traffic flow, and is a very direct route to connect the trail and Victoria Park. Removing some of the stop signs along Fitzroy while keeping those on Hillsborough, Prince, etc. would make up for the reduced capacity from the removed lane and improve flow for cyclists.
The Fitzroy residents I have spoken with are in favour of the project. Ridership will increase when the safe infrastructure for it exists. For example, civil servants at the government buildings coming from Stratford (once the Hillsborough Bridge project is complete) or eastern Charlottetown will finally have the option to use safe, active transportation to get to work every day.
Let’s connect the network. Let’s look to the future and build a city for our children and grandchildren.
- Josh Underhay, East Royalty, launched a petition seeking a cycling corridor connecting Stratford, Charlottetown and Cornwall. He is a teacher at Birchwood Intermediate and is an advocate for active transportation. He is seeking the Green Party nomination for District 9 (Charlottetown - Hillsborough Park)