Banff is considering improvements to a trial of the controversial Banff Avenue greenway in 2016.
The issue was on the agenda at a service review meeting Wednesday (Nov. 18), but the discussion and results of the meeting on whether or not to continue with dedicated bike lanes on Banff Avenue could not be reported at the time the Outlook went to press.
Officials say comments from the public on this year’s greenway trial were polarized, but there are ways to improve the trial for next year and continue to encourage people to ride instead of driving.
“Much was learned from the trial, despite its relatively short duration,” said Chad Townsend, the Town of Banff’s environmental coordinator.
“What we did this summer was temporary and affordable for the purposes of the trial, but we can make improvements to the greenway.”
A four-year strategic plan that came out of Banff’s trails master plan aims to increase visitors using bicycles in town and encourage locals to use alternative transportation to get to work.
As part of this, temporary two-way cycling lanes ran along Banff Avenue and connected with the Legacy Trail East. The trial, which began at the end of August and ended in early November, was marked with temporary painted lines and poles.
If the trial is to continue, protective services would like to see better vehicle pull-over options so vehicle aren’t in the way when they’re responding to an emergency, as well as improved intersection controls on the greenway.
One of the options before council was a two-way bike lane, but with rollover curbs so drivers could pull over to allow better access to emergency vehicles trying to respond to emergencies.
Another option is a straight alignment of a two-way bike lane down Banff Avenue, delineated by a rumble strip and occasional flexible bollards with vehicle parking inside the greenway.
A third option is to have the two-way dedicated greenway only from Legacy Trail East to the crosswalk at Marmot Crescent, then shared street bike markings – not a dedicated lane – along Banff Avenue in northbound and southbound directions.
“All 2016 options would include improved intersection controls developed in conjunction with RCMP and other protective services,” said Townsend.
Reaction to this year’s trial greenway was mixed. Many who used the dedicated bike lanes gave it a thumbs up, while others raised concerns about the potential for accidents and traffic congestion.
Local Jess Harding said he loved the trial, noting friends and family from out of town found it very useful.
“I recognize that some of us are comfortable riding in traffic, but many are not – they just won’t ride where they have to compete with cars, especially pickups, campers and RVs,” he wrote.
“Now the greenway makes access to the Legacy Trail, Cascade Ponds and the Tunnel Mountain Loop safe and convenient for casual cyclists and families. It gets them out of their cars.”
Another local, Deb Boutilier, raised concerns.
Boutilier said it is dangerous to drivers pulling out from Beaver or Muskrat Street, as they cannot see beyond the parked cars without pulling into the bike lane.
She also said Banff Avenue is congested most of the time, and taking it down to one lane is dangerous and causes traffic issues.
“I believe the bike lanes are good in theory, but not on Banff Ave.,” she wrote. “Direct them to Cougar Street and remind them that they must obey all traffic signs.”
