Halifax was going to vote on downgraded, cheaper bikeway without consulting cyclists' groups first

People in bike helmets stood and high-fived each other in the gallery at Halifax City Hall on Tuesday.

They got what they came for — even though it was a small victory.

A motion to proceed with a cheaper version of the University Avenue bike network — a downgrade from the all ages and abilities (AAA) standard — was deferred to committees so the municipality could get public feedback on it first.

But cyclists’ groups weren’t being consulted.

“We’re insulted that they listed all the stakeholder groups that they consulted with on the University (Avenue) design, and there wasn’t a single group . . . actually representing people who cycle who would use the facility,” said David Trueman, chair of the Halifax Cycling Coalition.

Something is better than nothing, he said, but AAA infrastructure would make the most sense and difference.

There will be plenty of feedback when it appears at the active transportation, transportation and budget committees.

Trueman said he gets cc’d on a lot of correspondence directed at councillors about this and it’s all basically saying “Don’t do it.”

“One letter this morning was so poignant. It was someone who’s a professional practitioner in acquired brain injuries, and she was speaking out that this is a wrong-headed move to degrade our safety.”

Downgrading from the AAA standard leaves many nervous about switching to bikes to get around instead of cars, he added.

“It may seem like a lot of money, to save about $3 million per year, but you have to put that in perspective of the overall roads budget, which is $140 million every year,” Trueman told reporters Tuesday. “So a very small trimming of the roads budget would pay for all these so-called savings.”

Two council members — Mayor Andy Fillmore and Coun. Trish Purdy (Cole Harbour – Preston – Westphal – Cherry Brook) — were against sending the issue to committee instead of voting on it right away.

“Right now, the University Avenue segments are up around $3,900 a metre, and the intention of my motion that resulted in us being here today at this moment was really looking for more savings than that,” said Fillmore.

He said there are other opportunities for feedback and he wants it to move along to complete the bike network downtown rather than sending to committees, which would add “process and cost and time.”

According to a staff report, the cost to construct the bikeway, including lighting, a potential new traffic signal and other amenities, is estimated at $3.5 million.

The report also lists alternatives for seven network bikeway segments that would reduce construction costs by about $9.7 to $11.4 million.

Mike Connors, manager of transportation planning, said the University Avenue bikeway is scheduled to be built in 2028, and sending it to committees won’t delay that timeline.

Purdy, who was reluctant to start debating bike lanes again, said they’ve received enough correspondence from residents.

“I think we know where people stand, and we have a responsibility to our taxpayers to be spending in the most responsible way possible.”

Last year, council voted to proceed with a bikeway on Morris Street that would limit traffic on the street to one way. It faced heavy opposition from Fillmore and Premier Tim Houston, who threatened to use legislation that gives the province authority over municipal transportation decisions. Left with little choice, a few months later council rescinded the decision.

Pushing back the Morris Street bikeway had ripple effects for the bike lane on University Avenue that was ready to go out to tender on a design in April 2025. During budget season earlier this year, Fillmore’s motion passed for staff to find cheaper alternatives for University Avenue that would complete the network but not likely meet the AAA standard.