Alberta’s transportation minister is urging Edmonton and Calgary to reconsider bike lane projects on key roadways, sparking debate over government intervention in municipal planning. As part of this initiative, Devin Dreeshen has requested the city of Edmonton to halt an ongoing bike lane project. He argues that these lanes contribute to traffic congestion and hinder efforts to expand road networks needed for Alberta’s growing population.
Dreeshen emphasized the importance of aligning municipal projects with provincial goals of expanding vehicle lanes to accommodate increasing traffic. He expressed concern that reducing driving lanes in favor of bike lanes counteracts efforts to manage traffic growth in Alberta’s major cities. He aims to meet with city officials from Edmonton and Calgary to discuss bike lane expenditures further.
The minister’s remarks followed a social media post addressing an Edmonton councillor, wherein he specifically sought the cancellation of a multi-year bike lane development on 132 Avenue. Despite the province not directly funding the nearly $96-million project, Dreeshen insists that the provincial government should have a say due to its financial support for other local roads.
In his video message, Dreeshen criticized the utilization of bike lanes, claiming insufficient usage to justify their cost and impact on road space intended for drivers, public transport, and emergency vehicles. He described the reduction of road capacity on significant arteries as poor planning, leading to congestion and delays.
While the minister did not specify which Calgary bike lanes should be re-evaluated, he identified several in Edmonton, including two in the downtown area and others located to the west and north. He expressed a desire for Edmonton and Calgary to demonstrate “goodwill” by delaying or canceling bike lane projects as construction season approaches.
Dreeshen mentioned that Alberta might consider adopting similar legislation to Ontario, requiring provincial approval for any new bike lane that replaces a vehicle lane. Ontario’s law, enacted last year, grants the province authority to direct municipalities to remove bike lanes and reinstate traffic lanes, though it faces a Charter challenge.
The proposal quickly faced opposition from cycling advocates and the Opposition NDP. Bike Edmonton, a non-profit organization, criticized the minister’s interference in municipal affairs, while NDP municipal affairs critic Kyle Kasawski accused the province of overstepping its jurisdiction and questioned the rationale behind targeting children’s bicycle routes.
Aaron Budnick from the Edmonton Bike Coalition expressed concern over Alberta potentially following Ontario’s path, advocating for equitable access to city infrastructure for all transportation modes. He emphasized that as taxpayers, residents deserve the choice of how they navigate their city.
