Courtesy: Bike Medicine Hat

By Darren Rathwell

Proposed ‘one-metre’ bicycle bylaw gains traction at city hall

Feb 23, 2022 | 12:16 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A push for a proposed “one-metre” bicycle bylaw, in which vehicles would stay a metre away from bicycles on roadways, gained some traction at Medicine Hat city hall Monday night.

Councillors debated the merits of proposals put forward by bicycle advocates “Bike Medicine Hat,” including a reduced speed limit in residential areas, and the proposed one-metre “safe passing” bylaw.

“You would be required to, when overtaking a cyclist, give them one metre. If the roadway for whatever reason isn’t wide enough to do that and you can’t safely pass a cyclist, you should not pass a cyclist within one metre,” said Bike Medicine Hat’s Carter Gramlich.

And some city councillors jumped on board with urgently putting the proposed distance bylaw into motion, including Ramona Robins and Allison Knodel.

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“I think the ‘safe passing’ bylaw is something we could.. do quickly. The reduced speed (change) I think could use a little more work and effort but I see where the benefits are,” said Robins.

But fellow councillor Shila Sharps had reservations with acting quickly.

“I want to be very cautious… (we act) for all the right reasons,” Sharps told council, adding community feedback is needed.

“Not that I’m saying let’s take a year to do this.. there’s a lot of us who don’t bike right? I want to make sure people like me are well aware (of changes),” Sharps said.

The proposals are going the city committee level for further review.