Updated cycling bylaw gearing up for discussion at Saskatoon committee

The rules on Saskatoon’s roads and sidewalks could be about to change as city staff propose a series of updates to the local bicycle bylaw.

Updated regulations would include mandating cars to keep a minimum of one metre away from cyclists on the road, loosening rules around how cyclists use bike paths and allowing children to use sidewalks while cycling.

The updated bylaw will be presented to Saskatoon city council’s transportation committee on Monday.
The bylaw was aimed at updating “antiquated” rules for bicycles around the city, while at the same time improving safety on Saskatoon’s roadways.

Among the major rule changes that affect motorists is axing the requirement for cyclists to keep as close to the curb as they can while riding on the road.

Cathy Watts, co-chair of Saskatoon Cycles, said her group advocated for that change because it’s otherwise unsafe.

“Cars can’t really see you if you’re off to the side, you really need to be in their line of vision,” she said.

Another adjustment would be in how cyclists are encouraged to use multi-use pathways and bike lanes.

The current bylaw specifies cyclists must use those paths and lanes along roads that are equipped with them.

The new bylaw would allow cyclists to choose to still use traffic lanes, even if there is a specified bike lane.

Watts, a cycling advocate, said that’s a reasonable rule due to many bike lanes merely being lines painted on the road — rather than being separated infrastructure.

“It’s not particularly safe to (use that kind of bike lane) when there’s lots of traffic, so riding with the traffic and being very visible sounds like a very reasonable idea.”

Cyclists would also get a reprieve on bridges. The current bylaw forces cyclists to dismount their bikes to walk along pedestrian pathways across bridges when they’re near people on foot. The update would allow them to stay on their bicycles.

Children under the age of 14 would also be able to use sidewalks on any roadway without any repercussions.

The proposed bylaw update does also put some onus for safety on cyclists. It would mandate the use of hand signals to indicate stops and turns, and will mandate penalties for disobeying the bylaw — specifically a $50 fine.

ENFORCEMENT A QUESTION

While the bylaw does outline a fine for violations, Watts wondered how enforceable any new rules would be.
She pointed to roads where cycling is allowed, but remain extremely dangerous to do so in traffic — such as the commercial stretch of 8th Street. She questioned whether police and bylaw officers would “turn a blind eye” to adults riding on the sidewalks on those streets.

“If you don’t have a bylaw that’s enforceable, then what’s the deal?” she said.

“I’d like more explanation about that because I’m probably going to get picked up every day.”

HELMETS NOT MANDATORY

One item city staff declined to pass judgment on was the mandatory use of helmets.
A report attached to the bylaw update recommends that the city continues to encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and to push the province for regulations surrounding minors and helmet use.
However, the report writes that mandating helmets could act as a financial barrier to those wishing to cycle.