STEVE BEDARD
COVID-19 has caused people to look to new ways of doing almost everything.
As a result, cities and towns around the world are experiencing a growth in cycling. It’s hard to miss the long lineups at cycling stores as people seek new solutions to staying active or to cheaply and safely get to work. Cities are responding by rapidly expanding active transportation networks to provide more room so that pedestrians and cyclists can move around safely.
Truly, if nothing else, the COVID-19 crisis has forced us to slow down in ways we hadn’t expected before. This includes dusting off bicycles and riding in near-empty streets with our children, where it finally feels safe to do so.
Over the past several years, Nova Scotia has experienced a boom in cycling-related events — from the Baie St. Marie Gran Fondo that attracts over 1,000 cyclists every year, to fundraising rides, to a network of bicycle-friendly businesses, workplaces and residential buildings that number over 100 (cruise over to bikefriendlyns.ca to find bike-friendly businesses near you!). Cycle-tourism has been growing, from organized group rides led by touring companies to single-day cycling & wine-tasting tours.
In order to facilitate this growth, the province adopted the Blue Route in 2013. Since then, over 300 kilometres of trails and low-traffic roads throughout the province have been designated as cycling routes. Twenty-four municipalities have created active transportation plans — of which cycling is a major component — and last year, $25 million was allocated for advancing cycling routes in Halifax.
So how do we identify opportunities in the changes caused by COVID-19 crisis? Opportunities that would allow Nova Scotians and non-Nova Scotians to experience more of Canada’s Ocean Playground on two wheels?
As governments at all levels plan for our economic recovery, they are looking for new ways to encourage growth — ways that are better for the environment, better for our public and mental health and still generate jobs and investment.
Increased cycling as a transportation option in our cities and towns meets those objectives. The growth opportunities for cycle tourism in our province are enormous. Just look to Quebec. It has exploited cycling tourism to the point where annual cycling tourism revenue was $1.2 billion, supporting thousands of jobs.
Bicycle Nova Scotia has mapped out five steps to growing the bicycle economy in Nova Scotia in ways that contribute directly to the recovery of our economy, communities and environment.
- Complete the Nova Scotia Blue Route by 2027, taking advantage of dedicated active transportation funding from the federal government and leveraging partnerships with provincial and municipal governments. This would result in a 3,000-kilometre network connecting communities, with a focus on rural Nova Scotia. It would be the basis for a robust asset to greatly expand cycle and adventure tourism.
- Build and energize our cycling tourism industry. As COVID-19 restrictions start lifting, Nova Scotia must continue to encourage residents to explore our province by bicycle. Bicycle Nova Scotia has just published the definitive guide to cycling in Nova Scotia. We are eager to help promote cycle tourism and recreation in our province.
- Adopt firm goals under the Sustainable Prosperity Act (formerly the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act) for increasing cycling as a mode of transportation to 25 per cent by 2030.
- Dedicate five per cent of the provincial transportation budget annually to building cycling infrastructure. Without dedicated funding in place, Nova Scotia will resign itself to missing opportunities to boost tourism, to provide cost- and health-effective modes of transportation, and to meet our climate-control targets.
- Conduct a baseline study on the current cycling economy, with a goal of increasing provincial cycling-related revenue by 200 per cent by 2025, and creating 500 new jobs.
Nova Scotia’s journey into dealing with a global pandemic has certainly been challenging, but we have discovered the strength and commitment of our neighbours and communities. We have been inspired by the sheer amount of new riders we’re seeing throughout the province and are grateful to see the government recognize local bike shops as essential businesses. Let’s work together to ensure that new riders and families find out Nova Scotia is one of the best places to ride a bicycle.
Steve Bedard of Halifax is administrative officer, Bicycle Nova Scotia
