Saskatoon bike shops welcome possible cyclist bylaw update

Some bike shops in Saskatoon are welcoming updates that could be coming to the city’s cycling bylaw.

Council will discuss a series of updates to the cycling bylaw at a transportation committee meeting on Monday that include a minimum one-metre distance while passing bikes, allowing anyone under the age of 14 to ride on the sidewalk, allowing cyclists to use the road even when a bike path is available, mandatory use of hand signals and a fine for violating the rules.

Jason Woytowich, owner of Doug Spoke N Sport, thinks many of the updates are formalizing many of the practices currently seen on Saskatoon roads, but having everyone take part is another challenge.

“Education on both sides — the cyclists and the motorists — I think is the biggest thing, ” Woytowich said. “If we’re all on the same page… especially in driver training. Somehow we got to do some education, whether its through the schools, driver training, cyclists handbooks, have the city have bike bylaws up on the website.”

A one-metre minimum distance between motorists and cyclists is welcome news for Woytowich.

“A car is going to hurt us, we’re not going to hurt a car,” Woytowich said. “One metre as a minimum… it’s just a common courtesy.”

Gerald Reshetnyk works at Bike Doctor and has been biking around Saskatoon for over 30 years. He hasn’t had many close calls when sharing the road with vehicles, but has heard from plenty of friends that have been involved in collisions.

“It just points out the need that we as cyclists and the (motorists) need to be more aware of the conditions and what’s going on, especially with the increase in density in traffic,” he said.

With plenty of arguing over bike lanes in recent years, Reshetnyk feels Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods are easy enough to navigate on a bicycle.

“I’ve found Saskatoon lends itself well to commuting. We can reduce some of thos potential negative exchanges simply by using the grid system we’re built around. I’ll choose a side street instead of main artery where there is lots of traffic. It’s pleasant to ride on, it’s more relaxing and you’re still going to get there in the same amount of time or less,” Reshetnyk said.

Not included in the proposed changes is mandatory helmet use, which isn’t a huge concern for Woytowich.

“It’s their choice,” he said of cyclists wearing a helmet or not. “If you’re going to be riding lots, it’s good to wear a helmet.”

Any violation of the bylaw could lead to a $50 fine for first time offenders.