Limiting the number of cyclists allowed on Halifax Transit ferries isn’t nearly as much of a concern for one city councillor as whether or not Segways will still be allowed aboard. Matt Whitman—who is not part of the Transportation Standing Committee—sat in on Thursday’s meeting and repeatedly went to bat for letting users of the self-balancing […]
Cycling
Posted inNews + Opinion
10 things that happened at city council
ACCESSIBILITY INACCESSIBLE Steve Craig is fed up with the lack of accessible transportation options in HRM. It’s been three years since the Lower Sackville councillor tried to expand the city’s door-to-door paratransit service, and now he’ll have to wait at least a few more months for an outside consultant’s strategic review of Access-a-Bus service. “I’m […]
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Macdonald Bridge bikeway connectors get green light from city hall
The city is going to drastically overhaul how cyclists travel to-and-from the Macdonald Bridge. Regional council voted Tuesday to approve the Macdonald Bridge Bikeway Connectors project—rebuilding access and exit ramps for cyclists in Halifax and Dartmouth. At $7.3 million, the new project isn’t cheap. But it is vital, said councillor Sam Austin, as the bridge […]
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Someone stole Lindell Smith’s bike
He might be getting interviewed by Peter Mansbridge on a national stage these days, but city councillor Lindell Smith is still a man of the people. Case in point: he just had his bike stolen. “Yeah, no one’s immune,” says Smith about the Halifax rite-of-passage. The councillor’s grey Halfway folding bike was stolen from his garage […]
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Take a ride with Roundabout Bicycles
As we head into peak bicycle season—and cyclists are able to use Point Pleasant Park on weekends till fall—it’s a great time to pull your old bike from the shed or garage. It’s probably a good idea to get the bike a check-up before going for a ride, though, and Jack Wong may be the […]
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SCIENCE MATTERS: Bicycling never gets old
Two hundred years ago this month, an environmental and fuel crisis inspired one of our greatest inventions—a device so simple, efficient and useful that it’s turning out to be part of the solution to today’s environmental and fuel crises. As a Treehugger article explains, the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Tambora in April 1815 spewed so […]
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(Bike) Feats of strength
Ben Wedge says more and more people are cycling—and changes need to be made to accommodate the growing number. Wedge’s consulting firm, Bike Feats, started up in fall of last year. It will have installed more than 150 bicycle racks by the end of June. The firm works with landlords and employers to provide “any […]
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Pump it up at Halifax Bike Week
Taking consistent care of your bicycle can save you from disasters down the road. For Bike Week, Mountain Equipment Co-op is setting up a slew of “mobile bicycle maintenance stations,” doing safety checks and offering advice on basic bike fixes. In the meantime, Brendan Sutcliffe—bike mechanic at MEC—gives a few tips for keeping your ride […]
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Macdonald Bridge closures have been havoc for cyclists
Since June 2015, cyclists have not been allowed to cross the Macdonald Bridge on their bikes. While drivers have only had to deal with bridge closures on evenings and weekends, the bridge has been closed to cyclists all of the time. As the bike lane re-opening keeps getting pushed further and further ahead, I continue […]
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Halifax should do more to make sidewalks walkable
[Image-1] Halifax is in the midst of a shift in the way that we think about our streets. In the newest round of ideas presented for the Integrated Mobility Plan, staff have made it clear that if we want to get more people out of their cars, we need to think about streets as places […]
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Bicycle Awards to recognize Halifax’s growing cyclist culture
[Image-1] “What makes Halifax great is that it is relatively flat,” says Kelsey Lane, executive director of the Halifax Cycling Coalition. “Obviously, we have some hills, but it hasn’t been an obstacle in riding a bicycle.” With new shops and cycling groups popping up in HRM, and council focusing on finally getting more bike lanes […]
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Bicycle trailers and electric scooters banned from harbour ferries
[Image-1] UPDATE: According to its Twitter account, Halifax Transit has altered its plans and cyclists towing child trailers “MAY” board ferries until further notice. Two-wheeled electric scooters are still banned. An updated announcement is scheduled for Wednesday. “Transit will work with stakeholders and community to develop other solutions that meet regulations and are safe for […]