A former mayor of Saskatoon is calling on the current city council to let people vote on a proposal for bike lanes on Idylwyld Drive.
Henry Dayday, who served as mayor from 1988 to 2000, wrote council urging a referendum on the bike lanes be included on the 2020 civic election ballot.
Speaking with 650 CKOM, Dayday said he has serious concerns about a proposal to take out a lane of car traffic and add raised bike lanes as part of a re-design of Idylwyld between 20th Street East and 25th Street East.
“Closing off traffic for bikes, I have trouble with it because we don’t even close off traffic for buses.”
Dayday said he also worried the elimination of a lane could create an issue for police, fire trucks and ambulances.
“I don’t want anybody taking away a lane for emergency vehicles, because if it happens to me in that vehicle I want that vehicle to be able to get to the hospital,” he said.
Given the city’s long winters, Dayday said he also worried the bike lanes would prove a costly and little-used option for commuters.
“We’ve got to respect whatever mode of transportation people use.”
A council committee will consider Dayday’s letter on Monday.
—With files from 650 CKOM’s Chris Vandenbreekel