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The final two amendments to Saskatoon’s bike bylaw were passed Monday, opening the door to the changes set in motion in mid-November.
During the mid-November endorsement, two amendments were requested to be studied. The revised amendments unanimously passed through the transportation committee on Feb. 10.
The changes solidified the original endorsement of children 14 and under being permitted to ride on city sidewalks. Additionally, cyclists will now have the freedom to ride outside of the bike lanes, even if one is readily available.
Monday’s discussion in the council’s chambers ran for nearly two hours and was full of discussion on amendments that ultimately failed, leaving the original revised amendments to be sent through to the city solicitor.
Coun. Hilary Gough was one Saskatoon Councillor who brought new motions to the table. Her idea of allowing children 14 and under, along with their guardians, to ride on sidewalks ultimately failed by a vote of 5-4 with Mayor Charlie Clark, Coun. Mairin Loewen, Coun. Sarina Gersher and herself in favour. Both Coun. Zach Jeffries and Troy Davies were absent at Monday’s meeting.
Gough told 650 CKOM she wanted to create the opportunity for guardians to be alongside the youth that are riding on the sidewalks.
“Part of the reason for allowing youth on sidewalks is to create a safe environment where youth can learn to ride, and that’s often not alone,” she said.
Coun. Darren Hill also had an idea of how to maximize the potential of Saskatoon’s downtown bike lanes. He set a motion forward outlining two protected bike lanes downtown to be mandatory for cyclists to use.
The motion was defeated by a vote of 7-2, with Coun. Cynthia Block and Hill in favour. If passed, the administration would have set forth on another study into which lanes to designate.
A separate motion that did pass from Hill was a study with the business improvement districts, and what effects riding on city sidewalks would have in those areas. The motion passed by a vote of 6-3.
As Saskatoon prepares to change into a city where cyclists are allowed to ride on streets, even if there’s an adjacent bike lane, Gough showed her stance on the amendment during Monday’s meeting.
“The point is, we need better infrastructure, and we need it all around the city, and we need it to be well connected, and we need it to be safe for cyclists. We don’t have that.”
She added on her comment in chambers following the council meeting, explaining that when the infrastructure is great and works for cyclists, they will use it.
“I think creating that flexibility in our bylaw is reflective of just the need for that flexibility. I think it’s going to be appropriate for a long time to come.”
The bylaws are not solidified by law, yet. The city solicitors will now draw up the bylaws, and council will get one last look in the spring before they become law in Saskatoon.
