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The proposed buffer zone represents a move in the wrong direction, Swanson said, noting other cities have found more effective ways to address pedestrian-cyclist conflicts.

“Fundamentally, people on foot and people on bicycles are allies,” he said. “Cities across Canada need to focus on things that work.”

Cathy Watts, co-chair of the Saskatoon Cycles lobby group, pointed out in an email that there are areas, such as the multi-use paths on some of the older downtown bridges, where there is not enough room for a one-metre buffer.

“I think it would be better to put some real effort into education for everybody,” Watts said. “Cyclists need to be really polite to pedestrians.”

Saskatoon Cycles provided a comprehensive submission on the new cycling bylaw, but Coun. Randy Donauer proposed the pedestrian-cyclist buffer on Monday night. Council endorsed the proposed revision in a 9-2 vote.

Donauer said he kept the proposal vague so the city administration could come back with a provision that addressed issues like insufficient space.

The city’s senior transportation engineer, Marina Melchiorre, who conducted research on the revisions, also said she had not found a jurisdiction with a similar pedestrian-cyclist buffer.

The rule changes also include a one-metre buffer for motor vehicles and cyclists when there is sufficient space on the road.

“People who walk need to get rid of their ear buds (plugs) when they are sharing space on a multi-use trail or on the bridges,” Watts added. “Also, walk close to one side.”

The City of Saskatoon’s transportation department does not track collisions between cyclists and pedestrians.

The StarPhoenix attempted on Tuesday to contact Walking Saskatoon, a pedestrian lobby group. The Meewasin Valley Authority, which maintains the river valley trail system, could not provide a comment on Tuesday.

ptank@postmedia.com

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