5th and 6th Ave SW 'Separated Bike Lanes'

Calgary's cycling community recommended that the City initiate traffic studies of the Road Diet for 5th and 6th Ave south at the second of two community engagement sessions on October 29, 2011. The downtown Road Diet was leading as the priority project during the three independent focus groups at the first meeting. The cycling community engagement was required under the terms of a CtdnS proposal moved by Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra at Council on July 5th during the Cycling Strategy debate.

CtdnS has proposed a 'Road Diet' for both 5th and 6th Ave SW right through the heart of downtown. The project is a cost effective method of putting dedicated cycling infrastructure on the streets using existing municipal construction techniques for on-street bike routes. Ideally suited for massive one way avenues, each lane is narrowed and the newfound space is aggregated to create enough space for a dedicated bicycle lane. Downtown SOV (single occupant vehicle) commuters will likely not even notice any difference on their drive. The bicycle lane is placed on the left side of the avenue so transit stops on the right-hand side will not be affected. A portable, concrete jersey barrier separates and protects the bicycle commuters from the main flow of traffic. No new construction is required, which reinforces a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable mode of transportation in the city.