HALIFAX – Cyclists across the city are applauding council’s decision to move forward with plans on a new bridge bikeway, but some ideas on how to help fund active transportation projects like it are getting plenty of criticism.
District 2 councillor David Hendsbee pitched several ideas to raise revenue during Tuesday’s regional council meeting — including a toll for cyclists on the Macdonald Bridge, a license fee for bikes, or a surcharge when purchasing a bike.
“We used to have a bicycle registration program in the city. We used to have a toll on the bridge back in the 50’s when it first opened for pedestrians and cyclists. So why could they not be considered?” Hendsbee said on Wednesday.
“We have technology now available to us that would be easy for a cyclist to have a MacPass or a QR code on their helmet, or registration label on their bicycle showing they’ve paid their access fee across the municipality. So I think it’s something that shouldn’t be quickly disregarded.”
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Members of the Halifax Cycling Coalition, however, are concerned the move would only deter people from taking part in active transportation.
“Is the small amount of potential revenue there really wroth the cost of reducing the amount of people biking and the benefits that people on bikes have on society?” said coalition member Blair Barrington.
“I think if we are serious though about building this and wanting to create a place where people want to bike, something like a toll very much impedes on that goal.”
Hendsbee says he’s only floating ideas that he hopes will spark conversation as the bridge bikeway project enters the public consultation process.
Halifax Harbour Bridges says there is no plan to impose a toll for cyclists, nor would it fall under municipal jurisdiction.
“That would have to go before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. The UARB are the people who set our tolls so we would have to make a formal application to the board and then they would have to consider that,” said communications manager Alison MacDonald.
“There would be hearings, it would be quite a process, but there are no plans to do that.”