New north-south cycle track connects 17 Avenue with heart of downtown

The latest phase of the City of Calgary’s cycle track network pilot project officially opens on Friday morning allowing cyclists a route stretching from the Red Mile to Eau Claire.

The 5^th Street portion of the cycle track provides cyclists with exclusive lanes from 3 Avenue Southwest to 17 Avenue Southwest, including the underpass below the CP Rail tracks.

“The CP Rail tracks are hard to get past,” said Tom Thivener, spokesperson City of Calgary cycle track pilot project. “It has been a big barrier to cyclists in Calgary.”

Thivener says there are only a handful of underpasses that allow travel under the rail tracks and, prior to the opening of the 5^th Street portion, contained limited space for cycling.

Much like its 12^th Avenue counterpart, the new segment of the network was constructed with automated counters in the asphalt to tally bike traffic.

Thivener says the counters along the 12^th Avenue cycle track have supplied encouraging results.

"Since it opened, we have been averaging over1,000 bike trips a day on it,” said Thivener. “It’s surprised us a little bit, but the weekend numbers and the evening numbers have stayed right up there. It’s not just commuters that are using this corridor, it’s a lot of local traffic, a lot of people going to the businesses and doing local trips.”

Construction continues on the 8^th Avenue and 9^th Avenue portions of the cycling project.

The City of Calgary is asking for public feedback on the cycle track network pilot project. Citizens are encouraged to contact 311 with questions or suggestions.

For additional informaion about the pilot project, visit Cycle Track Network