A proposed bike lane on Fitzroy Street in Charlottetown would be a temporary system that can be removed to install a permanent lane or change locations if needed. Photo by Logan MacLean /The GuardianArticle contentAfter a successful pilot program, Charlottetown is seeking federal funding to help expand its bike bus program and bring back an abandoned plan for a proper bike lane on Fitzroy Street.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 contentThe bike bus is a volunteer-led service that travels along a set route, stopping to let students on bicycles join a line that ends up at school, or begins at school and drops kids off.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentLast spring, West Kent and Lucy Maud Montgomery elementary schools took part in the pilot, and another four were interested.Article contentBike bus program expandingArticle contentNow, the program is expanding to other schools, with Stone Park Intermediate on board, and the city’s environment and sustainability department is looking for infrastructure funding to build bike lanes and make the bike bus and other cycling safer.Article contentAnna Keenan, sustainable transportation officer for the city, said the goal is to secure up to $125,000 from the safe and active school routes program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.Article contentThe program requires municipalities to have local school partners, which Charlottetown has through the bike bus. Keenan was also clear that, at this stage, the department’s request is not to begin infrastructure work at any particular location.Article contentArticle content“It’s approval for, to say that in principle you support this concept of working with schools like West Kent to create designs and plans for infrastructure that will support their bike bus routes to school,” Keenan told the Oct. 28 environment and sustainability committee.Article contentArticle contentLane optionsArticle contentIn 2018-2019, the city had planned a permanent bike lane on Fitzroy, but it abandoned those plans after concerns from businesses, drivers and churches about parking and traffic.Article contentOne thing that concerned residents was the installation of a hardscape — pavement — lane. Keenan’s new proposal would instead see the city install a modular lane for a trial run.Article content“(It) uses modular prefab materials like concrete curbing, flexposts to enable us to trial the upgrade for two years. And then, if and when the trial is successful, we can look at a project to convert it to permanent hardscape infrastructure, and those quick build materials can be moved to another location in the city,” she said.
Federal funding could help Charlottetown build bike lane on Fitzroy Street, support bike bus program
