Active Transportation Coalition Moncton (ATCM) is a group of citizens urging the City of Moncton to launch an educational campaign targeting both drivers and cyclists.
ATCM spokesperson Michael Roy told City Council it is critical given several high-profile incidents including the recent death of a cyclist at Connaught Avenue and High Street.
“The intersection currently has zero active transportation infrastructure and has a multi-use trail dropping novice and intermediate riders into the middle of a nightmare scenario to be quite honest. And frankly, that left turn lane at the corner of High Street needs to go.”
ATCM members recently held a vigil in honour of the cyclist near the site of the fatal accident.
Roy called the hiring of an active transportation coordinator in 2023 a big step in the right direction.
But he added committing $1 million dollars to an $80 million active transportation plan is not enough.
“We need to do better and move forward with more sense of urgency. For example, Halifax recently turned $4.5 million of municipal investments into $25 million into their active transportation strategy next year.”
Councillor Shawn Crossman stated the City won’t have the right plan or infrastructure in place until there is respect from the vehicle to the bike and from the bike to the vehicle.
Crossman expressed frustration to city staff about why more action hasn’t been taken recently such as getting an educational campaign off the ground.
As for the coalition, Roy wants to see a city councillor join the group to improve accountability and impact.
He also thinks active transportation should fall under a department with more expertise such as Sustainable Growth and Development as it does in many other jurisdictions and not under a Parks or Recreation umbrella.
ATCM has a plan in mind for next spring to encourage more students to bike to school given the region’s high childhood obesity rates but Roy acknowledged it would mean changes such as lowering speed limits in areas near schools.
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