Charlottetown cyclists could see improvements

Cyclists and walkers could soon find it easier to travel around the Charlottetown area.

The province is coming together with Charlottetown, Cornwall and Stratford to look at the current challenges of getting around on foot and by bicycle, and to find better ways to link up the neighbouring communities.

As avid cyclists and pedestrians know, there are two major barriers that create danger zones in the Charlottetown area: the North River Causeway and the Hillsborough Bridge. Both areas see heavy traffic and have narrow bicycle lanes.

The regional active transportation committee will look at these and other trouble spots.

"I think all levels of government will be involved," said Jeremy Crosby, manager of public works for the Town of Stratford.

"When you get into the Hillsborough Bridge and the North River Causeway there's likely going to be a requirement for additional funding in order to get those projects up and running."

Crosby said it's important to have the province at the table because Stratford and Cornwall rely on the Transportation Department to take care of their roads. "We're excited about someone being there to come up with solutions to the problems we're looking at and to bounce ideas off and to look at making this plan a reality," he said

Crosby said a number of options will be looked at for the Hillsborough Bridge. Sections might be added to the sides, or the committee could look at a completely separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

Nothing will be done, he said, until funding partners can be lined up.