Lethbridge now has (some) Bike Lanes just in time for Winter!! It’s about time. Biking is a great way to get around, it’s free (once you buy a bike) and healthy. Just make sure and wear your long undies..
Residents will now benefit from newly installed dedicated bicycle lanes along 13 Street between 26 Ave N and 9 Ave N. This is the first project completed as part of a larger Pathways and Bicycles Master Plan.
“We are very excited that the bike lanes on the North side are complete,” says Transportation Planning Manager Ahmed Ali. “Residents can also look forward to additional bike lanes being added in the future.”
About Bike Lanes
A bike lane is a wide, signed lane marked with a large white bicycle stencil on the pavement. The lane is restricted to bicycle travel.
• On streets where there is on-street parking, bike lanes run to the left of parked vehicles.
• On streets without parking, bike lanes run alongside the curb.
• By providing a delineated bike lane it will improve cyclist safety by reducing potential conflicts between vehicular and bicycle traffic in the existing shared curb lane.
• The presence of clearly defined bike lane will also encourage vehicular traffic to travel a safe distance from the path of cyclists.
Safely Using Bike Lanes
With the symbols displayed in the bicycle lanes, motor vehicles, buses, and motorcycles are not permitted to travel or stop in this lane unless making a right turn onto a cross street. Transit buses may stop only at designated stops for passengers.
Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. The Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act and City bylaws apply to bicycles too. Take some time to learn or remind yourself of what you should do as a cyclists and driver.
Basic safety principles for cyclists:
• Maintain your bike in good working order
• Be as visible as possible to others
• Learn the skills needed to control your bike
• Cycle in traffic safely and predictably
• Know and obey the rules of the road, which includes;
o Obey all traffic regulations and speed limits
o Yield to bus when it is leaving a stop
o Signal before turning