Cycling Plans & Projects

The City of Saskatoon is exploring potential policies and programs that focus on developing a city-wide active transportation network that is safe, comfortable and attractive for people of all ages and abilities. Given its unique users and functions, the Downtown requires focused consideration for the development of its active transportation network.

When the Downtown Protected Bike Lane Demonstration (23rd Street and 4th Avenue) wrapped up in November 2017, Council directed the Administration to report back on what a complete and connected downtown ‘AAA’ cycling network would look like in Saskatoon. 

The Downtown Active Transportation Network Plan will:

• Take into consideration how AT facilities connect to Saskatoon’s wider network;
• Determine how to integrate with other key Downtown projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit; and,
• Consider the impacts to all users in the Downtown to ensure that the most appropriate streets host AT facilities.

Planning for the Downtown AT Network is underway. 

As part of Saskatoon’s Strategic Plan, the Growth Plan to Half a Million has identified the need for active transportation in Saskatoon. Guided by community input, targets for active transportation have been developed, along with key directions and action items to improve active transportation facilities, policies and standards, support programs, education and awareness. 

Furthermore, there is a need to enhance education and awareness to support and promote active transportation, especially cycling. To do this, the City is undertaking a comprehensive Education & Awareness Campaign in 2019.  The goal of this campaign is to make traveling on Saskatoon streets safer and more comfortable for all road users by clarifying the roles and responsibilities and encouraging safe traveling behaviours and interactions between cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians.

The Protected Bike Lane Demonstration Project is now complete. A report outlining the results of the demonstration was received by City Council on November 19, 2017. The recommendations in the report were:

1. That a provision for protected bike lanes be included in the Downtown All Ages and Abilities cycling network;
2. That the Administration develop a Downtown All Ages and Abilities cycling network (including protected bike lanes) in concert with other downtown policy and planning initiatives in 2018;
3. That the existing protected bike lanes on 23rd Street (from Spadina Crescent to Idylwyld Drive) and 4th Avenue (from 20th Street to 24th Street) be retained until the Downtown All Ages and Abilities cycling network is presented to City Council; and
4. That the report of the A/General Manager, Transportation & Utilities Department dated November 6, 2017 be forwarded to the Traffic Safety Committee for information.

Additional details are contained within the full report. 

Protected Bike Lanes:

A Protected Bike Lane is a dedicated, marked lane for people on bikes that is physically separated from vehicles and pedestrian traffic by parked vehicles, a painted buffer and delineator posts.  

• Physically separate people on bikes from people driving vehicles
• Make biking a more attractive transportation option
• Increase the comfort level and feeling of safety by ‘protecting’ people on bikes from traffic and car doors opening
• Increase the comfort of driving by making the movements of people on bikes more predictable
• Increase the comfort of people walking by reducing ‘sidewalk riding’

Permanent Protected Bike Lanes have been built in Canada’s largest cities including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary. Demonstration projects are currently underway in Edmonton and Winnipeg, and now in Saskatoon.

Watch this short video on how Protected Bike Lanes work in Saskatoon.

Cycling Road Signs

Sign	Description
	These signs designate a portion of the street as a Protected Bike Lane. People walking should look for oncoming bicycles when crossing the lane. People driving are not permitted to travel or stop in this lane unless making a right turn on to a cross street or into a driveway. Transit buses may stop at designated stops.
	These signs remind people biking and people driving cars that the Protected Bike Lane ends. Drivers should watch for bicycles transitioning out of the Protected Bike Lane and into the traffic lane.
	These signs remind people biking that they are to dismount and walk their bikes through the Saskatoon Transit terminal on 23rd Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), just like they do today.
	These signs reinforce that people on bikes have the right-of-way through the intersection and turning vehicles must yield.
	This sign reminds people riding bikes to use the left turn bike box to access the shared pathway to the Broadway Bridge.
	These signs remind people on bikes to wait behind a bus that is stopped in the Protected Bike Lane

The City of Saskatoon is developing a multi-use pathway from the University of Saskatchewan to SIAST Kelsey Campus. The plan includes the construction of a multi-use pathway along the south side of 33rd Street and a roundabout at the intersection of 33rd Street and Spadina Crescent. The multi-use pathway on the south side of 33rd Street between Spadina Crescent and 3rd Avenue was completed in September 2013.

The following provides anticipated timelines and history for this project:

2019

• Construction of Quebec Avenue to 3rd Avenue/Warman Road is planned to take place and should be completed in 2019. 

2018

• Construction of Ontario Avenue to Quebec Avenue was completed.
• Construction details for Quebec Avenue to 3rd Avenue/Warman Road are currently being finalized.

2017

• Construction of the two projects had to manage two separate windows of opportunity:

  • Old Preston Avenue: Construction could not begin until after seeding of the U of S Crop Sciences research plot because the pathway crosses a key access to the U of S land. Work will be completed this year.

  • 33rd Street: Coordination with Sask Polytechnic has been ongoing. Some service connections on their site had to be modified to accommodate their construction plans. As well, a new program started earlier in August than previous years. 

2016

• Two projects were tendered together to secure best prices:

  • New multi-use path on Old Preston Avenue connecting Meewasin Trail to Preston Avenue

  • New multi-use path on 33^rd Street: Ontario Avenue to Quebec Avenue

• We were unable to tender until late in the season. Work began on Old Preston Avenue in September but an early snowfall stopped work.

2015

• Property acquisition process completed.
• Construction was anticipated in 2015 pending funding.
• 33rd Street (Capital Project #2447) received $100k while Bicycle Facilities (Capital Project #1137) did not receive any construction funding.
• As detailed design began, a large underground vault and additional industrial debris were discovered. Remediation became necessary as is often the case when excavating in industrial areas. Thus, project cost and time estimates increased. It was then decided to proceed to construct a smaller portion: Ontario Avenue to Quebec Avenue.

2014

• Design completed for the connection between Idylwyld Drive and 3rd Avenue/Warman Road.
• Property acquisition process began.

2013

• 3rd Avenue/Warman Road to Spadina Crescent constructed.

Background
The Active Transportation Plan identified both 19th Street and 20th Street as priorities for expansion of the bicycle network. City Council asked the Administration for an evaluation of All Ages and Abilities (AAA) cycling facilities on either 19th Street or 20th Street between Idylwyld Drive and Avenue H. 

What has been done so far?

• An evaluation of cycling facilities on either 19th Street or 20th Street was conducted in 2017. 
• Traffic Analysis of 19th Street indicated that reducing the travel lanes on 19^th Street from four lanes to two lanes can adequately accommodate the traffic demands, while having a positive impact on safety by narrowing the roadway and lowering motor vehicle speeds, while also decreasing the distance for pedestrians to cross.
• Meetings with stakeholders took place during the review process.
• A public open house was held June 20, 2017 at the Saskatoon Farmer's Market. Presentation materials can be found here. 

The evaluation recommends a AAA cycling facility be installed on 19th Street.  Reducing the number of lanes provides traffic calming, adds on-street parking, and allows for the addition of a dedicated cycling facility.

What's Next? 
The Administration will prepare a report to City Council recommending the installation of a AAA cycling facility on 19th Street, from Ave A to Ave H. 

Endorsed by Council in 2013, the West/Central Multi-Use Corridor is a three kilometre multi-use pathway adjacent to the CP right-of-way extending from Avenue W South to Idylwyld Drive and connecting Saskatoon’s westerly neighbourhoods to the Downtown area. The function of the West-Central Multi-Use Corridor or “Safety Pathway” is to reduce the number of pedestrians walking on or close to the CP Rail line. A multi-use pathway along the rail line would provide a direct connection between Saskatoon’s westerly neighbourhoods and the Downtown. Further, the Pleasant Hill, Riversdale and West Industrial Local Area Plans all included a recommendation requesting that consideration be given to accommodating a multi-use pathway adjacent to the rail line.

Phase 1
Phase 1 was constructed between Idylwyld Drive and Avenue D as part of the 25th Street Extension project. 

Phase 2 (Current Phase)
On April 26, 2018, the City of Saskatoon received notification that the Safety Pathway project was approved for funding through the The Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP). This program is delivered by Transport Canada and funded by the Government of Canada to help improve rail safety, contribute to the reduction of injuries and fatalities, and increase public confidence in Canada's rail transportation system. The next phase extends from Avenue D to Avenue W. Detailed design is currently underway and construction is anticipated to begin Fall 2018. 

The purpose of the Victoria Avenue Corridor Review was to identify potential transportation improvements along Victoria Avenue, between 8th Street and 11th Street, that could be incorporated into a joint project with water main rehabilitation work and other transportation improvement projects planned for the street.  With the recent adoption of both the Active Transportation Plan and the Complete Streets Design and Policy Guide, Victoria Avenue was identified as a great opportunity to incorporate a multi-modal design that considers pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

City Council endorsed the preferred street design in April 2017 which included the installation of a raised cycle track in each direction along Victoria Avenue. The project was completed in October 2018.