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Cycling Cities on the Move – Halifax, Nova Scotia
April 13, 2022 - Like many cities, Halifax is seeing a strong uptick in cycling due to the pandemic. With a population of 439,819, the city is now focussed on the creation of a connected “all ages and abilities” (AAA) cycling network to double the modal share of bike-to-work trips made by 2031. The city adopted an Integrated Mobility Plan in 2017 in hopes of fast-tracking its walking and bicycling agenda.
Halifax boasts a total of 201km of its planned vision of 300km of separated multi-use facilities, which was a key goal of its Active Transportation Priorities Plan back in 2014 to connect communities. Another 70km of painted on-street bike lanes are slated for expansion.
Another priority for Halifax is building 57km of AAA bikeways in the Regional Centre of the municipality, as the city recognizes that safety is a key concern for residents. Of the 23km now completed, about 5km are protected bike lanes, which will be expanded to approximately one-third of the total city centre network.
“Developing an AAA bicycle network within the Regional Centre offers the highest potential to attract new riders,” says David MacIsaac, the Manager of Active Transportation at Halifax Regional Municipality. The first segments of protected bicycle lanes were installed as a pilot project in 2015.
The Halifax Cycling Coalition (HCC), a local advocacy group, also launched a bicycle parking corral as a pilot project in the summer of 2015. Since then, five additional corrals have been installed at various locations, with each corral providing on-street parking for 10 bicycles, and moreare planned.
“We have a goal to have all Transit Terminals connected to the bike network,” says MacIsaac. “We also have a fairly robust use of bike racks on buses.”
While there is no bike-share program as of yet, MacIsaac says a plan is in the works to present options to Council in 2022.
Halifax has come a long way since its first Bicycle Plan back in 2002, and it is ramping up to realize the city’s potential to create mobility options that coincide with its climate change goals and the security of its residents.
