Smithers Council says no to downtown protected bike lanes

Smithers Town Council voted down a motion at its Tuesday meeting to award WSP a $30,000 contract to design protected bike lanes from King Street to Queen Street.

This would have been entirely funded through Northern Health and Northern Development Initiative Trust grants.

Mayor Gladys Atrill clarified this would include public engagement about which Avenue between the two streets would be used for the bike lanes.

During the January 24th, 2023, meeting, council expressed concern for using Third Avenue which were re-echoed.

“When I look at that two block stretch, I think it is probably the busiest in all of downtown,” said Councilor John Buikema.

“When I think of Home Hardware, the Post Office, Heartstrings, the Brewery, and a soon to be completed medical clinic, adding two protected bicycle lanes to me doesn’t seem like the best place for it.”

Atrill added the town has an Active Transportation Plan based on community feedback for its recommendations.

“One of the dilemmas we face is how do people get across town. There is no way to get across town that doesn’t involve Queen and King Street,” she said.

Councilor Sam Raven said, “Regardless of where the bike lane goes, Third Avenue is already congested and that’s where the bike lane is. Without having this study, that is where it is going to remain.”

Councilor Frank Wray pointed to issues from when the town added protected bike lanes along King Street such as reducing available parking in the area.

“If I’m riding my bike, I’d rather be in traffic there than on a bike lane where somebody might open their door. If it’s on the sidewalk I don’t think that’s safe for pedestrians, so I do have reasons for not wanting to do it,” he said.

Adding consideration for protected bike lanes to the public engagement was brought up by Councilor Laura Leonard which would have her mind changed into voting for the motion.

Councilors Leonard, Calvin Elliot, Wray, and Buikema voted in opposition.