Downtown PRATS Report
As part of a Public Realm and Transportation Study for Downtown Lethbridge (PRATS) the City of Lethbridge held a series of Charrettes Design Sessions where stakeholders came together to explorer ideas for some designated study areas specifically and downtown generally.
BikeBridge was included as a stakeholder to provide the perspective of the bicycle transportation user in Downtown Lethbridge. On behalf of BikeBridge, member Jeffery Walker attended the sessions. Here is his review: (also follow the link to the public presentation resulting from the design sessions)
space
Charrettes Design Sessions
June 13 through the 16 — Galt Museum
by: Jeffery Walker
As I took my seat on the first day of the PRATS design sessions, it seemed as though cyclists were not very high on the priority list. While the original plan was to expand the sidewalks and create a more pedestrian friendly environment; cyclists were once again left to run the gauntlet between the street and the angle parking.
However, as the days went on it became quite apparent that the cyclist friendly room had other ideas in mind.
Throughout the sessions, stakeholders were split into teams and asked to provide their feedback on the designs and what ideas they thought were most important moving forward. It was amazing to see was how cycling in the downtown core was a priority for so many of the stakeholders.
Over the next few days the PRATS team tweaked and refined their ideas, and as I watched the final presentation it was clear what influence cyclists had on the designs.
What started out as almost an afterthought for cyclists had now evolved into a proper solution in the form of a “multi-modal” section of the now expanded sidewalk. The idea being that cyclists would have a dedicated section of the sidewalk that they could use along side pedestrians, and give them much better access to the downtown core.
I must say how impressed I am by the amount of support for cyclists in the city, and by how enthusiastically the PRATS teams embraced the ideas and concerns.
I look forward to attending the public open house in September.
