I just read a column in today’s Chronicle Herald that just proves the problems of this city. I am sure it is the same elsewhere but I don’t live there so I will stick to bitching out Halifax.

The story was about how the writer was fined $225  for riding her bike in Point Pleasant Park on a Sunday. She and others were busted because it is against the law to ride a bike in the park on weekends or holidays. Apparently there are signs saying so but of course they are very hard to see. Furthermore the signs state the fine is $100.

We were told that there is clear signage at all the entrances and that we were to take it up with the city if we had a problem. Now I do wear reading glasses and am admittedly not the most attentive person by times, but you’d think that in the past five years of running in the park (minus the Juan hiatus) three days a week, I would have noticed any signage of the sort.

Fact of the matter is, there is no clear signage and I have the pictures to prove it. In fact, the only signage is what I’ve already referred to, the large “Attention Cyclists” order to stay on the gravel path and out of the woods.

After some hunting, I and my band of deviant riders found this quote-unquote clear signage. This sign, which is weathered, behind a large shrub and facing away from the trail, does in fact prohibit bikes on weekends or holidays.

Curiously, it also states that the fine is $100. Now, I haven’t had a math class in a long time, but I’m pretty sure that $225, no matter how you add it up, is not the same as $100.

I actuallty got my bike out of the attic lastnight and did a little riding around the hood and in the short time I was out I was frustrated by the following:

  • cars don’t look for you
  • it costs 5o cents (quarters only) for air at most gas stations
  • if you need to go on the sidewalk for a second people give you the stink eye
  • cars don’t look for you

I hope to do more biking this summer but the question always is where? The city first off is not that biker friendly just because of the layout of the land. Halifax is very hilly so it means a lot of work going up steep hills just to get anywhere.

There are very few bike paths and the ones that are there are not that safe to be on. Has anyone seen the newly added bike path on St. Margaret’s Bay Road??? It is put right along where the speed limit is 80KM and there is not a lot of room to ride. Yah that is safe.

So we can’t ride in a park on the weekends, the roads are an accident waiting to happen and the city wants to become more earth friendly.

The real  sad part is to actually enjoy a good bike ride, you have to have a car, load your bike into the car, drive outside the city and ride freely. Yep that seems like a good way to go green doesn’t it!

I hope the writer of the article wins her fight to not pay the ticket and this city gets more in tune to healthier ways to get around town.

To read the full Herald article click here. 

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