By Ian Holmes

MP Gord Johns wants national plan to improve cycling infrastructure

Oct 4, 2016 | 5:56 PM

NANAIMO — A local MP is pushing for cycling to become a much bigger part of society in Canada.

Courtenay-Alberni New Democrat Gord Johns introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday. He wants a National Cycling Strategy which would create clear targets for expanding cycling infrastructure across the country.

“Greenhouse gas emissions, soaring healthcare and infrastructure costs and traffic congestion. Cycling is a sustainable solution to transportation,” says Johns, referring to all of the benefits of his idea. “It’s low cost, environmentally friendly…and can be done anywhere.”

Johns, an avid cyclist, says only two per cent of Canadian children ride their bikes to and from school, compared to European countries like the Netherlands which he says has an estimated 50 per cent of kids relying on their bikes to get to school.

“Have had huge success in terms of growing their countries into cycling nations…and we need to do the same here in Canada. We’re lagging far behind those countries in getting ridership, especially among our children.”

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Johns notes he’s hearing positive signals from across party lines about his concept to boost cycling amenities in Canada, including Senators who he says are excited about the bill.

Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition chair and B.C. Cycling Coalition director Leo Boon applauds the effort by Johns.

“Building a kilometre of a highway is the same cost as building 460 kilometres of bike lanes,” says Boon.

Boon says he’ll be interested to see what funding model would emerge should the effort by Johns eventually come to fruition. He notes that many municipalities are often hand-cuffed in their ability to fund cycling projects.

“Having a fund where we get contributions both from federal level and provincial level would certainly help those communities.”

Johns’ National Cycling Strategy bill was introduced for the first time in the House of Commons on Tuesday, however, a staff member of Johns points out that it likely won’t be debated for a second time until 2018.