Fredericton sets up bike lanes for riders

Bicyclists in Fredericton will soon have city street lanes designated especially for their use.

Adding the bike lanes is part of the city's trail and bikeways master plan, which has already recently led to paving on parts of Fredericton's trail system.

A map and list of the new bike lanes are expected to be posted on Fredericton's website by the end of Friday, said Bruce Grandy, chair of the city transportation committee.

The new lanes will only be for bicycles, Grandy said. Skateboarders and people using other methods of transportation are being asked to stay out of the lanes, he added.

"We have to start somewhere, and we're starting with bicycle lanes. We'll be addressing the issue of [other] transportation methods as we go along."

The lanes will with be marked with lines on the pavement or designated by street signs in the city.

Ann Dunn, a spokeswoman for the Fredericton Trails Coalition, says the change may cause some controversy, but hopes people will eventually accept it.

"There will probably be some backlash from motorists who don't believe that cyclists should be on the roads at all," Dunn said. "But, you cannot push bikes off of the road because things like the trail system are not extensive enough to cover all the areas that cyclists would want to go."

The lanes will be important as the price of gas goes up and more people start using different methods of transportation in place of their cars, Dunn said.