Council approves updated Bicycle Bylaw

Some trends from the 1980s are best left in the past.

The City’s Bicycle Bylaw from 1986, however, was in serious need of a refresh. By passing second and third readings on Tuesday, Lethbridge City Council voted to approve Bylaw 6427 – an updated Bicycle Bylaw that will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

The updated Bicycle Bylaw includes regulations on the use of various types of cycling infrastructure, continues to regulate bicycle parking and removes requirements for bicycle license plates. Since 1986, practices and philosophies relating to cycling have changed. New cycling infrastructure is being introduced to create safe and comfortable separation between drivers and cyclists and the attempt to mandate license plates for bicycles has long been abandoned.

Council approved first reading of Bylaw 6427 - Bicycle Bylaw at its regular meeting on October 22, following a recommendation from a presentation at the October 3 Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee meeting.

“We know that the previous Bicycle Bylaw was quite outdated, so this updated version will provide a single point of regulation for roadway cycling and dedicated cycling infrastructure for our growing community,” says Councillor Mark Campbell, Chair of the Assets and Infrastructure SPC.

“As we continue to consider new cycling infrastructure, the updated Bicycle Bylaw will allow for improved understanding and regulation moving forward,” says Adam St. Amant, Transportation Engineer.

Key changes between the existing Bicycle Bylaw 3515 and the update Bicycle Bylaw 6247 include:

• Adding e-bikes to the definition of a bicycle. While bicycle and e-bikes are defined by other orders of government, the updated definition makes it clear that the bylaw applies to both bicycles and e-bikes
• Adding details for managing the use of bicycle lanes. Bicycle lanes are a relatively new type of infrastructure. Sections in the proposed bylaw are intended to provide clarity related to the use of bicycle lanes
• Adding an abandoned bicycle removal process. This section allows the City Manager or Lethbridge Police Service to deal with bicycles that appear to have been abandoned on public property for more than 72 hours
• Adding wording around the use of multi-use pathways. Sections of the proposed bylaw are intended to provide clarity relating to the use of multi-use pathways and the need for bicycles to yield to pedestrians
• Adding that the City Manager can provide exemptions to some sections. For example, the City Manager could provide micro-mobility service providers an exemption allowing their e-scooters to operate in bicycle lanes
• Removed need for bicycle license plates. The City does not have a process, or resources assigned to issue bicycle license plates
• Updated bicycle parking section. This includes removing the section requiring bicycle owners to pay the police for transportation and storage of their stolen bicycle and simplifying the language relating to the parking requirements
• Updated penalties to better reflect the cost of enforcement
• Updated definitions and terminology

Background:

• The previous Bicycle Bylaw, Bylaw 3515, was originally passed in 1979 and revised in 1986
• On July 17, 2017, City Council adopted the Cycling Master Plan – which proposes the installation of various types of cycling infrastructure not yet constructed in Lethbridge and provides a vision to make cycling a realistic transportation option in Lethbridge
• On June 29, 2021, City Council adopted the Municipal Development Plan. The new Bicycle Bylaw supports Policy 133, which states: “Ensure the maintenance, growth and improvement of the city-wide integrated pedestrian and bicycle networks, by implementing the Transportation Master Plan and other related transportation plans, design standards and documents.”
• Various stakeholder engagement opportunities since 2019

During the bylaw update and review, an initial draft of the bylaw was made available to stakeholders and the public for review and comment. More than 600 comments were received across the engagements to be considered in the bylaw. A summary can be found in the What We Heard Report.

A stand-alone bylaw may not be necessary in the future as Provincial legislation is updated to regulate cycling infrastructure. The remaining relevant components of the Bicycle Bylaw could then be amalgamated with the Traffic Bylaw. Until then, the stand-alone bylaw will provide continuity from the previous Bicycle Bylaw.

Implementation of the Bicycle Bylaw will occur on January 1, 2025, and the existing Bicycle Bylaw would be repealed.