More street-friendly biking options are needed in the city, not higher speed limits on the city’s pathways, according to a city alderman.
Ward 11 Ald. Brian Pincott said he heard from concerned multi-path users about Ward 12 Ald. Ric McIver’s motion at council today to review path speed limits, possibly increasing limits in some areas.
“We have to remember that these are multi-use pathways and I don’t think increasing the speed limit is the right answer. That would put users at risk,” Pincott said.
Instead, Pincott would like to see more street-friendly bike areas and more bike-only paths.
“We have some spots in the city where they are bike only and there we can look at raising the speed limits. But we need more of those in the city.”
McIver is putting forward the motion after he heard from hundreds of people who want higher speed limits when no one is around, but he said bikers would need to slow down to pass users.
Marco Huevo runs along the river several times a week and doesn’t support higher speed limits.
“To be honest, I think they already go too fast and I wouldn’t feel safe if they went faster,” he said.
