Bike lanes back on council agenda with new motion from deputy mayor

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

The issue of bike lanes will be back before councillors at this week’s meeting.

First, it was the mayor tabling a motion to pause construction on new bike lanes. Now the deputy mayor is moving one to gather more information on bike lanes.

Tony Mancini is expected to table a motion at tomorrow’s council meeting, calling for a staff report on the triple-A bike network and all capital projects included in the current four-year capital plan.

The motion says that report will include:

• A list of bike lane projects proposed from 2026 to 2029 and the estimated cost
• An assessment of the feasibility of alternative network solutions that could reduce future costs
• Opportunities for additional external funding sources

Related:

• Councillor says N.S. could give Halifax ‘strong mayor powers’
• Mayor Fillmore proposes pause on construction of new bike lanes

Mancini’s motion comes after council earlier this month defeated Mayor Andy Fillmore’s effort to pause work on new bike lanes amid a ballooning price tag and congestion concerns.

What started the bike lane debate?

Earlier this month, council defeated a motion by Mayor Andy Fillmore to not pause construction of new bike lanes after a lengthy debate. One councillor said he was not convinced in the mayor’s arguments that bike lanes cause congestion, while another said the motion lacked further data.

Now, councillor Shawn Cleary is claiming there is more to the motion from Fillmore than what meets the eye.

“I’m told from folks I know in the provincial government that they’re modelling it on sort of what Ontario has done in giving strong mayor powers to some municipalities there, giving the potential to override council on certain decisions, hire and fire staff, etc.,” the district 9 councillor said in an interview with the Todd Veinotte Show. “Which, in my opinion anyway, endangers our direct democracy through the municipality.”

This came after Premier Tim Houston weighed in on the debate, saying Fillmore was on the “right track.”