Locals in Battlefords encouraged to bike to work this week
National Bike Week is officially underway in North Battleford and around the world; it’s a chance to make more people aware of how easily they can apply a more sustainable means of transportation into their daily commute.
The Battlefords may be a cyclist’s dream when it comes to riding alongside the vast nature trails spanning the North Saskatchewan River. But North Battleford may not fit the typical urban cycling culture as easily as a larger metropolitan centre might.
When the question of North Battleford’s “bikeability” was brought up the city’s mayor, Ian Hamilton, he said the potential to add amenities for cyclists – such as dedicated street lanes in the city – was not yet possible due to a lack of infrastructure. However, he also said he felt the community at-large should not be discouraged from taking advantage of the cycle opportunities the area does have to offer, both in the city and its surroundings.
“We are accessible to all means of transportation. I think we are quite known for our means of alternative transportation around our city,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think we have the infrastructure to support (bike lanes), but I do think we have all sorts of opportunity to make that happen.”