Strong Towns Steinbach held its first public event on Sunday at E.A. Friesen Park in Steinbach. The group met with their bikes and with like-minded citizens to bring awareness to active transportation.
“We’re living in a city that is well suited for getting around by car and it’s possible to actually get around by walking and by riding. So, I think we’re wanting to encourage people to think more consciously about the fact that they can get to so many places by bike and do it efficiently and safely,” said Gary Snider, co-founder of Strong Towns Steinbach.
While there are bike routes in the city, the group feels that there needs to be more especially at major roadways.
“There are in the original square mile – the older community – there are a lot of bike paths. The challenges is where you come into crossing the larger streets like Main street and (Highway 12) there isn’t a lot of access for that…I have three kids that are under six-years-old and I would like them to cycle safely with me on their own bikes and really to be able to get anywhere in Steinbach,” said co-founder Wade Wiebe.
“As more people choose cycling as a way of getting around they will let the councillors know what we need is more access to bike paths, which are separate from car paths. Bike paths alongside car paths are OK, but it’s not ideal for kids unless they’re with an adult and even with an adult it can be challenging or intimidating sometimes. We want to make a push to make that happen.”
Wiebe hopes that within 10 to 15 years there will be bike paths all over the city and that biking will be encouraged.
“I think we can do a lot better as a city and that’s the hope,” he said.