Cyclists plan ride to celebrate new lanes

Call it a victory lap? A party on wheels?

Cyclists will take to Queen Street East tomorrow to celebrate the completion of what advocates hope will be the first of many cycling lanes on city streets.

“It is a symbolic moment because it is a first. We are behind other communities when it comes to bike lanes. Finally we’ve got them,” said Andre Riopel, a founding member of Sault Trails Advocacy Committee that pushed for the changes to Queen Street.

The new lanes were painted on in recent weeks following the completion of road work on Queen.

The old four-lane layout is replaced by three lanes for automobile traffic - one lane going in each direction and a centre turning lane - with a bike lane running along each curb.

While snow has made it hard to find the new bike lanes this week, Riopel said he is confident they will have a huge impact in coming years.

He said tomorrow’s event is meant to demonstrate to the public that cyclists have been eagerly awaiting the new lanes and that they will be well used.

He said Queen Street has been a trouble spot for cycling for years, as it was the only real option for cyclists in the east end looking to go downtown, but it was a challenge due to the narrow four-lane structure.

“It was very intimidating, to say the least, for anybody but the hardcore,” said Riopel.

Cyclists are to meet at Algoma University tomorrow (Saturday), with plans to embark on their ride at noon, riding single-file along Queen to Church and back.

Riopel said he isn’t sure how many people will show up with their bikes, but he said he has heard significant interest.

Riopel, who owns cycling shop Velorution, said he believes the John Rowswell Hub Trail has led to an increase in physical activity in the city with more than 35 percent of his customers being new cyclists who got into the sport because of the trail.

He said he sees bike lanes having a similar effect.

“We have been creating a culture of a more physically active population,” he said.

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(PHOTO: A cyclist rides along Queen Street East on one of the new bike lanes that has been added this fall, in this Nov. 5 file photo. Michael Purvis/SooToday)