Kalvin Reid

The Standard

Wed, Oct 10,2001

THOROLD - Niagara Region should investigate prohibiting cycling on selected major thoroughfares, Niagara Falls Mayor Wayne Thomson said Tuesday.

Referring to the August accident that claimed the life of Niagara Falls resident Nicolino Vacca as he biked home from work along Thorold Stone Road, Thomson told regional council's public works committee the Region should try to limit or restrict cyclists on the Region's busier roads.

"There have been some fatalities on certain roadways," he said. "Some places are very, very dangerous."

Thomson wants to know if the Region can ban cycling on specific regional roads, much like the province does on its 400-series highways, including the QEW. But it is uncertain if the Region has the authority to do this under the Highway Traffic Act.

"I don't know if we can do that without an amendment to the HTA," said transportation director Joe Cousins.

St. Catharines Regional Councillor Brian McMullan, who chairs the Region's bicycling committee, said new routes and a new biking map are on the committee's agenda.

"We are limited in where we can restrict people from biking," McMullan said, adding the Region and municipalities should work together to develop new biking routes.