Calgary mixes community engagement with block party on 20th Avenue

Hay balecycle tracks and chalk-drawn bike lanes were on display in Capitol Hill as the City of Calgary tried out a new form of community engagement on Saturday.

"Instead of looking at traditional maps in a gym in a community, we can actually build some temporary pedestrian, cycling, placemaking enhancements to see whether the community likes it," said Jen Malzer, a transportation engineer working on Calgary's pedestrian strategy.

"Sort of a try before you buy approach."

Rather than those static displays, Saturday's event on 20th Avenue N.W.had more of a block party feel, with food, music and residents riding their bikes down possible future cycle tracks to get a feel for what their community could look like.

'It's just another way for Calgary to get around'

Sarah Birch, a mother of two young children, likes what she sees.

"I love it. I am so excited to have as many bike lanes as possible in Calgary," she said, adding the infrastructure wouldmakeit easier for her to get around by bike with her children.

"It's just another way for Calgary to get around. The more cars that we can get off the road, the better it is for everything because if I'm driving somewhere, there are bikes so that cuts down on the traffic that way, and if I want to be more active, then I can be more active as well," said Birch.

The city is looking at how 20th Avenue could evolveover time to better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

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