A discussion on MoveSJ, the city’s upcoming plan to increase active transportation options for residents, was met with resistance by some councillors at Tuesday’s meeting.
The goal of MoveSJ is to provide all Saint Johners with the ability to utilize their transportation of choice safely. Though the plan is not yet finished, an update was provided to council about the project’s cycling strategy by deputy commissioner of parks and recreation, Tim O’Reilly.
Councillor Blake Armstrong voiced the strongest opposition to the plan at Tuesday’s meeting. He doesn’t believe there are enough bikers in the city to justify what he predicts will be a hefty price tag for the project.
“When are we going to get back to democracy?” Armstrong asked. “I’ve never had a person, ever, come to me and ask ‘I need these bike lanes.’ This is going to cost a fortune. You’re shutting down arteries – arteries! Major roads in this city to do this.”
The MoveSJ plan is currently in its third and final phase and is expected to be completed with an estimated price tag by the end of 2020.
The report hailed the city’s contribution to the “Great Trail” project, and the campus harbour connection bike route.
Along with the “complete streets” approach of providing infrastructure and resources for citizens to choose their preferred method of transportation, Tuesday evening’s presentation encouraged further investments into cycling opportunities like bike lanes.
Several councillors, including David Hickey and Donna Reardon, vocalized support for the plan.
“I think it can still be scary for people who ride bikes in Saint John,” Reardon said. “I want to support you 100 per cent, however, you can facilitate and make that better and easier for people.”
Hickey said he is an avid biker, and investing in the cycling plan would likely prompt others to take up the hobby.
“We’re increasing accessibility. We’re making it easier for people to travel around the city in more affordable ways, especially when we talk about things opening up streets like Main Street, and truly connecting the old north end with the uptown.”
However, Armstrong wasn’t the only councillor to express hesitation about the yet unfinished plan.
Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary also said the report needs to consider ongoing maintenance costs into a final budget.
“We need to maintain (new bike lanes), we need to look after them,” she said. “(Residents) can’t ride their bicycles on sand, and garbage, and everything else.”
City manager John Collin agreed with McAlary. He said while the city does have some reserve funds for infrastructure projects, they don’t have any dedicated funding for things like bike lanes.
“Our own capital policy says that for all the money we put into capital, 90 per cent of it is supposed to go towards addressing our infrastructure renewal, fixing old stuff. 10 per cent is supposed to go to new stuff.”
The strong response from Armstrong prompted a point of order from Mayor Don Darling.
The mayor took issue with Armstrong exaggerating a statistic when he said there is “.0001 per cent of the population that might ride a bicycle.”
“You’re throwing data around, and we don’t know that that data’s accurate,” Darling said.
“Why can’t I speak, mayor? Am I allowed to speak?” the councillor asked in response.
Armstrong went on to pledge not to support the motion and encouraged anyone who doesn’t believe him about the lack of cyclists in Saint John to ask one of the city’s taxi drivers.
“The majority of people don’t need a bike lane. We never needed it in the 60s, we’re spending a fortune. I’m just repeating what I’ve heard… If you want the data, phone a taxi driver. They do the most driving in the city.”
