The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says Edmonton city council is “blowing” $100 million on bike lanes for a handful of winter cyclists.
Councillors voted on Friday to give $100 million to implement the city-wide bike lane network.
Kris Sims, Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says city politicians should “read the room.”
“Blowing $100 million on bike lanes in Edmonton while sticking households with a huge property tax hike is tone deaf,” she told True North.
“Working people can barely afford ground beef right now because of inflation and the federal carbon tax. Overspending on bike lanes that can only be used by the majority of cyclists for six months a year is wasteful and out of touch.”
Sims also said that she used to be one of the “handful of of hardcore winter cyclists” who endured -30 C temperatures and snow and still “this is way too much money to spend for what should be simple route changes and lane markers for bike commuters.”
Common Sense Edmonton said more than 4,000 Edmontonians signed its petition against “this incredibly expensive bike lane project.”
“We’re disappointed that Council has, once again, failed to listen to taxpayers,” the advocacy’s group spokesperson Will Vishloff said.
“This kind of reckless spending, while taxes are skyrocketing and the City is approaching its debt limit, is unsustainable.”
After Mayor Amarjeet Sohi introduced 17 amendments, council voted to add millions to the existing $7.75-billion budget for 2023-26 for initiatives like bike lane infrastructure, building retrofits and emissions-neutral vehicles.
Sohi said the cycling infrastructure contributes to the city’s climate change goals. Edmonton declared a climate emergency in 2019.
“If we don’t (invest), we will not be able to build a city that is net-zero by 2050,” he said.
