Bike lanes a possibility for Belleville

By Kristen Oelschlagel

A cycling network in Belleville could bring local cyclists some relief when it comes to their safety.

The Belleville Cycling Advisory Group, a citizens cycling advocacy group, is working to bring a cycling network to Belleville. They want the city to improve cycling infrastructure by creating bike lanes and trails.

The City of Belleville is currently waiting for recommendations from Morrison Hershfield in Ottawa, the consultants for the project, before moving forward with any plans.

Morrison Hershfield, an engineering consultant company, is assessing the 20 year need for all transportation in the Belleville area. In November 2011, they asked the advisory group to give them specifics of what cycling infrastructure is wanted in the city.

The proposed network includes paths along Dundas Street, Bridge Street and other frequently travelled roads. A trail from Moira Street West out to Loyalist College is also part of the proposed plans.

Dave Smith, coordinator of the group, said he would also like to see better access to existing trails.

“The major bottleneck is the bridge across Moira River,” Smith said.

“The CPR has had empty piers for about 40 years on that bridge, I don’t know if it’s a possibility of getting a connection to existing Bayshore trails, Riverside trails and the Zwicks trail across the piers.”

Smith said cyclists passing through Belleville would also benefit from the cycling network.

“The tourist cycling across Ontario on the Cross Canada Trail would come through Belleville from Trenton. Unlike other areas we haven’t met the needs of this trail system at all by providing at least even a marked lane on the road or a paved side strip of a meter and a half.”

Smith said they are not even close to starting construction on the cycling network. The assessment, financed by the city, started fall 2011 and could take up to two years. After the transportation master plan is drawn up, it will still need to be approved before companies can be hired and construction can start.

Smith said he doesn’t think cost is a barrier at all.

“It costs about $1,000 a kilometer to paint lines on the road, and we’re looking at about 10 kilometers in Belleville so $10,000.  But with a multi-million dollar budget, that’s just a drop in the bucket,” said Smith.

It is one of the cheapest ways of providing transportation infrastructure said Smith. He said the best way to accomplish the project would be by doing construction on four to six streets at a time.