Cyclist crash highlights need for better Calgary bike infrastructure, advocate says

A crash between a cyclist and a driver on a major Calgary roadway is highlighting a need for more infrastructure for active transportation, advocates say.

Getting around the city on a bike is becoming a more popular options for Calgarians, especially in the downtown core, but some say it remains dangerous towards the edges of the city.

A cyclist was sent to hospital in critical condition over the weekend after a collision in the merge lane heading northbound on Macleod Trail at 210 Avenue. The area is without sidewalks or bike lanes — meaning cyclists share the road with cars.

“We’re the most vulnerable to serious injury or death on the road,” says cyclist Brett Bergie. “So, it’s scary to contemplate that this is the transportation system that we’ve built.”

She says the cycling network in Calgary is great, for the most part, but on almost every journey there is a section where a cyclist will end up riding alongside vehicles.

A plan is underway to bolster the citywide network, but officials say it will take some time.

“Our transportation plan really sets the stage for how we will retrofit some communities that weren’t built with pathways,” says Jen Malzer, leader of Public Spaces Project Development with the City of Calgary. “That’s gonna take a couple of decades but we are moving ahead with projects in many communities.”

The city says new communities are designed to have pathways along all of the bigger streets, but that still leaves some gaps in the network.

“There’s so many destinations that sit outside of the cycle track network that just become invisible to people who rely on bicycles to get around,” Bergie says.

The city’s expansion plans prioritize certain areas based on safety, schools, equity, need and connectedness, and encourages Calgarians to share their thoughts on ongoing projects.

A man in his mid-60s remains in hospital in stable condition after Sunday’s collision on Macleod Trail.