COCHRANE— Looking to the future of the Bow River pathway, a delegation to the Town of Cochrane presented a unique proposal to ensure the area is as safe as possible for all users.
Bike Cochrane’s director of operations Paul Perrault and president Ross Stirling appeared as a delegation at the Jan. 18 council meeting to discuss the potential future of the Bow River multi-use pathway— Including the Jim Uffelmann off-leash dog park.
The proposed project would cost an estimated total of $62,100 and includes fencing for a 7.63-acre off-leash dog park and the paving of a new bypass section to create a safer pathway around the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. The goal is to have user groups, including Bike Cochrane and the Town of Cochrane, provide some funding to help cover the cost.
Perrault and Stirling called on council to direct the Town of Cochrane Administration to work with Bike Cochrane and other stakeholders to accomplish the solution in 2021 for the Bow River multi-use pathway with the caveat stakeholder groups contribute to the construction cost.
“Bike Cochrane has found a practical solution to make our town’s excellent multi-use pathway system safe for all users,” Perrault said. “We do believe this is important enough that we will put our funds and our time into making this better."
The costs of the project mainly include fencing, a small amount of paving, signage and gates.
The pathway is popular with users and is part of the Trans-Canada Trail and is a major commuter pathway for Cochrane’s multi-modal transportation.
The proposed project includes a fenced area on the west side, river access from the Bow RiversEdge Campground and fencing the park underneath the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge.
“There is a strong focus in this proposal to preserve the access you would have today in bringing your dog to the river,” Perrault said. “This proposal enhances a feature that off-leash dog park users value— River access where their dogs can play in the water, but without having bikes and kids to distract them.”
The plan also includes the idea to divert a pathway to the northeast connecting to the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge.
The centre of Cochrane is shifting from the downtown core further south, Perrault said, and this ais dding pressure to the Bow River pathway.
Perrault said there is a need to ensure the Bow River Pathway is made safer for all users. He explained mitigation steps are necessary to improve the safety of all users by planning for the future and acknowledging increasing growth is forcing a change in the community.
The trail saw a 156 per cent increase in cycling traffic from 2019 to 2020 before the opening of the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge.
One of the mitigating factors on the pathway is the off-leash dog park, Perrault said.
He cited 2018 Let’s Talk Cochrane Public Engagement Strategy survey which indicated 90 per cent of participants agreed off-leash areas should have clear and discernible boundaries, and 94 per cent of participants agreed off-leash areas should be fenced near roadways.
Perrault said his children will not bike in the area to attend swimming lessons at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre because they feel intimidated on the pathway. He added other user groups have indicated the area is unsafe for young children to bike in on their own.
Stirling said Bike Cochrane was compelled to present the proposal to council after speaking with other stakeholders that access the path.
“It became clear that we’re not the only group who are concerned about the potential for conflict and willing to get involved,” Stirling said. “The solution is within reach that preserves what’s really valuable about the area and makes it better.”
Bike Cochrane launched two years ago to promote and develop cycling-friendly culture and infrastructure in Town. Part of the mission of the non-profit is to identify safe routes through Cochrane to avoid congested traffic areas and minimize any potential conflict. The non-profit also supports healthy living by creating a community where walking and cycling can be enjoyed safely while enhancing the livability and protecting the small-town feeling of Cochrane.
Councillor Marni Fedeyko said council is familiar with the existing challenges faced by certain user groups accessing the Bow River pathway. She supported the idea of Town staff looking into the proposal, but stressed staff needs to work with dog park users as well.
“Our dog park lovers are loud. They are loud and they are boisterous and they are passionate,” Fedeyko said. “I would continue to have that open dialogue with them and find out some of the things that they would like to see.”
She added a happy middle ground will need to be struck to ensure they are not pitting user groups against each other.
“Is this the perfect solution, I’m not sure yet,” Fedeyko said. “But, I think you’re on the right track of at least starting that conversation.”
The Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre is increasingly becoming a community hub, said Coun. Tara McFadden, and there is a need to look ahead to ensure safe connections and interactions are in place, while respecting all current user groups who access the area.
“It’s a tough question, a tough balance to go through,” McFadden said. “You can only get there by taking the first step which is the meeting tonight.”
Coun. Susan Flowers said she appreciated the presentation included all user groups of the pathway and did not just focus on bikes.
“You’re coming forward with a solution, not just a problem,” Flowers said. “I hope that we can work together and make this place safe for everyone to use. It’s only going to get busier and busier.”
