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Farrell offers fix for Calgary's 'flat-footed' pathway detour headaches

After a summer of seemingly random pathway closures, and hard-to-follow detours, one municipal politician is asking that the city better signal ahead of construction projects that might affect walkers and bikers.

Coun. Druh Farrell has written a notice of motion to address future concerns over pathway detours and closures. Her request calls on administrators to co-ordinate between departments and come up with a consistent and reliable protocol that would roll out the same no matter who is in charge of the construction project.

"I think we can do a lot better in that area," she said. "We would never consider a detour for a vehicle that goes nowhere, for example ... so we have to start treating the more active modes of mobility with the same respect."

Eight policy suggestions

Her motion includes eight specific requests for pathway closures and detours:

  • Advance notice for detours, including on-site and digital communications for pathway users and local stakeholders (such as community associations).

  • Better pathway signage that's clear and can be read at walking and cycling speeds.

  • More intuitive signage along detours that is similar to signs put up for car detours.

  • Barriers that actually stop people from accessing construction sites on pathways.

  • Detour routes that are accessible, comfortable and safe for all users, where possible.

  • Temporary mid-block and intersection modifications on detours to improve how those new routes function as an alternative route.

  • Clarity and consistency in terms of what's expected from contractors on pathway detours and closures — including inspections done by city officials to make sure the reroutes are done properly.

  • Better co-ordination between Calgary's parks, transportation and other departments on closure timing and detour routes.

This summer, the City of Calgary had several construction projects that detoured and closed sections of some well-used parts of the pathway network.

One construction project that continues to befuddle cyclists is on the pathway beside Parkdale Boulevard N.W. Work between 14th and 29th Streets became a safety hazard when cyclists ended up on a busy section of Memorial Drive being caught off guard by the pathway closure.

More barriers were put in place and the city had to play catch-up by adding more signs for the closed sections. Later in the summer, the route also put cyclists and pedestrians at odds, as a nearby sidewalk was used by some instead of the nearby detour because the signs weren't clear.

"The Parkdale detour was one of the more flat-footed ones that I've seen," said Farrell. "We got a ton of complaints, and I think there's a recognition that we need to do better."

Pat Fogg/ CBC
Pat Fogg/ CBC

Other detours across the city had citizens frustrated, including a diversion in Inglewood that prompted a pathway user to take matters into their own hands, defacing a sign in sarcastic protest.

A lot of the construction, especially along the Bow River, was for flood mitigation projects and upgrading water outfall systems. So, pathways on both sides of the river had to be closed to complete the work.

Federal government dictated timelines

Timelines for those projects, according to the city, were largely dictated by the federal government. Work in the Bow River has to be approved by Fisheries and Oceans, the federal department that ensures fish habitats and breeding grounds aren't disturbed by construction.

This summer, there were more than 44 kilometres out of the city's 800-kilometre pathway network closed for construction. Last year, there were more than 63 kilometres of closed pathways in the network.

Anecdotally, the city said, more cyclists were diverted to the south side of the Bow River because of pathway detours, making one side busier than the other.

Farrell's notice of motion is set to be heard at the Oct. 15 council meeting.