Work crews this week began dismantling the 23rd Street bike lanes in Saskatoon\u2019s downtown, closing the book on a project that never found much love from drivers\u2014or, apparently, from many cyclists. At first glance, it may seem like another example of a disturbing trend of removing critical cycling infrastructure that is occurring across Canada. However, it may not be all doom and gloom.<\/p>\n
The lanes were installed in 2015 as a two-year pilot. Instead, they lingered for a decade, often the subject of complaints about traffic flow. City council voted in June to have them removed. That is a decision officials say will save roughly $50,000 annually in upkeep.<\/p>\n
Transportation director Jay Magus told CBC News<\/a> the city hasn\u2019t tracked ridership on the corridor in years. However, the savings will now support other active transportation projects.<\/p>\n Cycling advocates say the experiment still taught Saskatoon some lessons. \u201cIt actually had a purpose,\u201d Saskatoon Cycles chair Gord Holtslander said to the CBC<\/a>, noting the corridor linked the Meewasin Trail to Idylwyld Drive. But the bus mall interruption made the lanes less useful.<\/p>\n Holtslander described the plastic bollards separating bikes from traffic as \u201ca little bit of performance art,\u201d telling CBC they were often knocked over and failed to provide real protection. Winter made the path even less practical, as snow from sidewalks was routinely shovelled into the lane.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a little bit doomed from the get-go,\u201d Holtslander said. \u201cBut the city is not doing nothing. Props\u2014the city is doing quite a lot, and future plans are definitely moving in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Removing the lanes is expected to cost about $38,000 and take a week, according to a city release. The west-side 23rd Street lanes beyond Idylwyld will remain in place.<\/p>\n