Saskatoon Cycles asks city for “unusual solution” to open roads for active transportation

With Saskatoon’s streets quiet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a cycling advocacy group is looking to take advantage of the extra space.

In an open letter to the City of Saskatoon late Saturday night, Saskatoon Cycles pushed the idea of opening up some city streets to cyclists and pedestrians.

“This is a really, really terrifying, tragic event that we’re sitting in right now, and I really think people need to get outside, and they need to be safe,” Saskatoon Cycles chairperson Cathy Watts told 650 CKOM Sunday.

“I feel it’s an opportunity for the city to just rise up, and do something that is going to be way outside their usual box of thinking.”

Late last night, @SaskatoonCycles released an open letter to @cityofsaskatoon.

The non-profit is looking for the city to open up streets to active transportation during the #COVID19SK pandemic: #yxe #yxetraffic #yxecc pic.twitter.com/0XrBhchAbI

— brady lang (@BradyLangSK) April 12, 2020

Watts said the solution would take some creative thinking but would be a temporary measure. The system of roads that would potentially be opened would have to be a locally-driven network, with a focus on proximity to grocery stores and city parks,” Watts explained.

“Those streets that are going to be opened have to be close to where people are, and they have to have a local context to them,” she said. “It can’t just be plunked in the middle of nowhere it has to tie up with other things.”

With the mild, spring weather just around the corner, Watts explained that a “pent up desire” is there for Saskatoon citizens, and this is a way the city can act quickly and seize the unprecedented opportunity.

“(These) are unusual times, we’re asking for an unusual solution,” she said. “(The city needs) to just act on this. Do it right now, and do it all over the city, so people are free to get out.”

Moving forward, Watts says this could open the door to other opportunities, such as a day a week with streets dedicated to those in “active transportation.”

“Maybe in the end, maybe we can move to something like a ‘Sunday open streets’ concept in the city,” she said. “I really feel it’s just urgent that we make this safe for people.”

The open letter highlighted 32 people in support, ranging from a student in middle school to members of organizations such as the Saskatchewan Health Authority and local school divisions.

Watts admitted that Saskatoon Cycles has over 100 supporters on the concept— some of whom have been taking to social media to spread the idea of opening Saskatoon’s roads.

“They’re people that we know in the community, who feel very strongly about taking some initiative here, for safety for the people.”