[caption id="attachment_5415" align="alignnone" width="395" caption="This could be how Herring Cove Road might look after proposed changes are made."][/caption] HALIFAX - Over the past two months, a special road project has been working its way through City Council — a road project that would see our active transportation network expanded by nearly one kilometre. Although this doesn't seem like much, due to its proximity to schools, recreation centres, a bustling commercial district and residential neighbourhoods, this new AT corridor might be the most practical application of a bike lane that HRM has seen. As stated in a previous article, encouraging active transportation by installing more tangible infrastructure has numerous health, social and economic benefits. Despite all these factors, the Spryfield & District Business Commission has stood against the removal of car lanes in favour of bike lanes, citing anecdotal fears about losses to business.

HALIFAX - Something brilliant might be coming to the Spryfield area this summer. City staff have been working diligently on a new street design concept for Herring Cove Road.  This new plan would include a street diet --much akin to what is going on in Toronto-- to make space for bike lanes in the area. Therefore, Spryfield residents will see Herring Cove Road drop from its typical five lane cross-section to three, with two brand new bike lanes. Additionally, boulevards are also being installed as medians along the road to offer pedestrians refuge when crossing the proposed three lane street. This is definitely going to be a big step up for the community. Presently many cyclists and non-cyclists alike are dismayed as the five lane road (more akin to an ocean of asphalt) kicks up dust and sand in the air and encourages motorists to exceed posted speed limits when heading through the area. Furthermore, the inbound shoulder of the road is reminiscent of a potholed WW2 no-mans-land, making cycling in the area difficult for even the best of riders, and unthinkable to novice riders or those considering using the bicycle to commute to work over the summer. The commercial sector and developers are bound to see a boost in business as well. Neighbourhood studies out of Toronto and New York indicate pedestrians and cyclists account for up to 90% of patronization in local stores and shops. GPI Atlantic also indicates that neighbourhoods with increased transportation diversity encourage more commercial and residential interest in communities. Don't think people cycle enough in Herring Cove to warrant such optimism? GPI Atlantic continues to indicate that as active transportation infrastructure is installed, a 10-30% decrease in local motorized transportation is typically observable.

HALIFAX - The Halifax Cycling Coalition and the Halifax Bike Week Planning Committee would like to invite you all to the 2ND ANNUAL HALIFAX OPEN STREET PARTY at the North Commons in Halifax. This year is slated to be a jaw-dropper! Food, Music (by CKDU), dancing, synchronized cycling, bike fashion shows, a bike rodeo for the kiddies, bike valet parking on behalf of city staff, and possibly some dynamite prizes! So please, pick up your helmet, put on some rollerblades or walking shoes, or pull out your ...

HALIFAX - Over the past couple weeks, Halifax has been investing time in analyzing the feasibility of adding roundabouts to our transportation "toolkit". Although this seems like a new idea for HRM, Sydney's Alexandra Street Roundabout has been ushering traffic through since December, and in other parts of the world, roundabouts are quite common. The summer of 2007 was when I started biking again after a decade-long hiatus, and it happened in the most unlikeliest of places: Northern France. After months of talking about a France trek with some friends in London, England, we came to one important question regarding transportation: what is the cheapest way we can travel while seeing as much of France as we can? The answer was clear, and in May of 2007, after 10 years of relying on transportation modes requiring some form of internal combustion, I left the tiny town of Arras on a 300km tour to Paris. It was the best decision I've ever made in my life!

Brought to you in collaboration with the Ecology Action Centre and Halifax Cycling Coalition, SpokesPeople covers all things cycle-related. From the principles to the potholes, we're here to examine the realities facing the two-wheeled traveler. HALIFAX - I must confess: the biggest reason that I became a writer for Spacing Atlantic is a selfish one. I've been attending Dalhousie University for the past six years — three of which I've spent working on a BSc in Nursing. During this time, I've learned many hard facts about the health of Nova Scotians and of Halifax, and I have to admit that I'm more than just a little concerned. Nearly one in four children in Canada are overweight or obese. Less than 1% of young Nova Scotian women in grade 11 engage in the required amount of physical activity on a weekly basis. Nova Scotia is among the top three provinces with the highest proportional population of people with type 2 diabetes — a completely preventable condition. We have higher than usual rates of specific cancers, and our mental health — and mental healthcare system — is in rough shape (quick note, both of these factors can be prevented to a degree by engaging in physical activity).

Halifax - In the past few months, the North St. Church has hosted a bevy of big, bodacious biking bonanzas! The next big party — organized by and catered to our Velocipedal friends — will be happening today, April Fools Day (I kid you not!). Along with killer bikes and the best soundtrack of the night, the party will feature excerpts from V-Day Dal Vagina Monologues Productions and a Live Painting by Sharon Hodgson, which will be auctioned off at the end of the night. So brave the streets ...

[caption id="attachment_3769" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="From left to right: Steve Bedard (Co-Chair, HCC), Laura Smith (Workplace Health Promotion Planner, CDHA), Jeffery Horne (Supervisor Maintenance and Operations, CDHA), Emma Felts (Editor, Spacing Atlantic) and John Mason (Supervisor Maintenance and Operations, CDHA)."][/caption] HALIFAX - In early January, Spacing Atlantic teamed up with the Halifax Cycling Coalition and launched a poll of the best and worst bike parking spots in Halifax and Dartmouth. After over a month of voting, we're ready to announce the winners of the Best and Worst of Bike Parking in the HRM for 2009! Winner of Best Bike Parking: The Dickson Centre Entrance at the Victoria General Hospital This spot really blew all other nominees out of the water. With its high capacity, sheltered parking area, multiple bike rack designs and the security of the commissionaires office nearby, the Dickson Centre Entrance at the Victoria General Hospital site was the clear winner with 69% of votes.

[caption id="attachment_2819" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Without adequate infrastructure, commuting downtown can sometimes feel like this"][/caption] HALIFAX - On January 21, HRM's Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) held it's first meeting of the year in order to make plans and set goals regarding expansion and improvement of HRM's Active Transportation network (AT). Transportation Demand Management (TDM), having committed to expanding our AT network by 20 linear kilometres by the end of the year has really stepped up its commitment to improving AT by increasing transparency in regards to AT infrastructure installation. Nevertheless, we are still approximately 70kms short of reaching AT targets defined in HRM's AT Plan before including the 20 km expansion. I met up with Halifax Cycling Coalition Co-Chair Lauralee Sim and asked her a couple quick questions about ATAC's first meeting of 2010. --- Steve: Did any issues take the spotlight at the ATAC meeting? Lauralee: We didn't discuss AT issues in detail at this meeting. We spent our time discussing how we can work as a group and reviewed some key points in the AT plan. We're hoping to determine some priority issues at our next meeting in February. Steve: What did ATAC representatives have to say at the meeting?