Charlottetown aims to improve cycling, pedestrian infrastructure with new transportation plan

Downtown Charlottetown, P.E.I., is pictured. (Leo Carter/CTV Atlantic)

Charlottetown City Council has adopted a new transportation plan that aims to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in Prince Edward Island’s capital city.

The Active Transportation Plan includes recommendations for bike lanes, pathways and sidewalks over the next 10-to-15 years. It also includes recommendations for amenities like bike parking and water fountains and proposed locations for a 2026-2027 bikeshare pilot program.

The city says it hopes the plan will reduce car dependency and the number of vehicles on the road, thereby reducing emissions.

“Active transportation is about more than just getting around – it’s about building a healthier and more vibrant community with more choices for everyone,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “The investments we make in active transportation today will benefit our residents, visitors, and environment into the future.”

The city says the new plan prioritizes routes that will help create a “complete, functional network” over the next 15 years.

It also says the plan builds on the outcomes of public consultations conducted by local advocacy group Bike Friendly Communities in 2022 and incorporates feedback from consultations conducted by the city this year.

The plan focuses on four key themes that emerged from the public consultations.

• year-round maintenance: improving conditions and winter maintenance to increase rider comfort and numbers
• connected network: connecting complete routes to enable full pedestrian and cycling journeys and connections to transit
• road safety and education: focus on designated active transportation routes, slow vehicle speeds in neighbourhoods, improved crossings, and education for drivers and active transportation users to support road-sharing
• supportive amenities and wayfinding: improving amenities, including bike parking, seating, and repair stations, and wayfinding signage to make routes easier to navigate

“With this plan, we are committing to real, achievable improvements in safety, connectivity, and access,” said Councillor Trevor MacKinnon, Chair of the City’s Environment and Sustainability Committee. “We want to build a community where everyone – regardless of age or ability – can use active transportation safely and efficiently.”

City staff will now work to implement the plan and will provide annual progress reports to council, which will consider initiatives during the annual budgeting process.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.