Leeway from Lloyd: How safe are city bike paths?

ously, these new trails are not accident-proof. Most other safety barriers are painted highvis yellow.

How safe are the city’s new bike paths? This question came to light after an avid senior cyclist broke her leg in two places on a newly paved trail near 18 St. and 59 Ave.

The cyclist hit a black-coloured “safety bar” set up to keep other types of vehicles from entering and broke her leg in two places from a fall. She required emergency surgery in Edmonton to keep her leg. Obvi -

The city is currently constructing other bike paths including one along 50 St. from 25 Ave to 18 St. intersecting six busy driveways to businesses with motorized traffic going in and out.

One of the busiest sections is the entrance from 50 St. to and from the Co-op gas station with traffic also entering across from the Mcdonald’s Restaurant.

A cyclist travelling this bike route has to look left and right at each entrance/exit point and who has the right of way? Vehicles entering and exiting the businesses will also have to look left and right, but will they?

Without some warning signs, this path could be an accident waiting to happen. It requires cyclists and motorists to have their heads on a swivel.

All of these vehicles need to be alerted to oncoming traffic somehow without creating any barriers that could lead to another accident by a cyclist.

In addition, once a

Border Banter with Benoit-Leipert: Is age just a number?

Keep that spark alive for as long as physically possible.

I think it’s so important to do what makes you feel young and vibrant for as long as you can.

cyclist travelling from 18 St. arrives at 25 Ave. where are they supposed to go? There is no connecting trail to the north. Does the city want fast-moving bikes on sidewalks to be shared with pedestrians?

The city also may soon need to regulate what types of e-vehicles and speeds are allowable as well or this issue is going to get out of control quickly

Major cities like Montreal and Vancouver build one-directional bike paths to prevent accidents and allow for passing especially for commuters.

If you are walking on a bike path and a cyclist zips by you from behind, it can star - tle you if the cyclist doesn’t have a warning bell etc. That’s why one-directional trails are so much better and safer.

The explosion of e-bikes and the general growth in cycling is positive for people’s health in our city too— but these new routes need to be as safe as possible.

You’re only as old as you feel.

After catching the Tom Cochrane concert last Friday at the Lloyd Ex Fair, I’m beginning to think that’s a true statement.

Man, what a show

Tom Cochrane and his band put on!

Afterwards I just had to know how old he was so I Googled it, and was shocked. The man that was up there rocking the heck out of that stage is 70 years young.

There is something to be said for raw talent, and passion… that’s something that Cochrane has no shortage of. You could just feel it in the air, in the way he was singing and playing his guitar like it was literally what he was born to do.

If you’re one of the few lucky humans who have found what you’re passionate about, right on!

I have a lot to live up to in this category as my mother is still an avid gardener, and seamstress, and still takes the dog for a walk daily at her age (which she refers to as ‘not a spring chicken anymore’). And then there’s my dad who, up until a few years ago, was ripping snowmobiles up mountains and climbing tall trees, just for fun. Those hobbies, unfortunately, were a little tougher on his body, but I’m sure he wouldn’t trade any of the exciting times with friends and family for one day of feeling 25 again. Well, maybe— I’ll have to ask him about that.

Either way, I think it’s important to find what ignites that spark and keep it lit for as long as possible because life is just too short not to.

Or perhaps for some, it’s more like a highway.

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Bingo at the Moose

The Moose Lodge, located at 5213-57 Street, Lloydminster, hosts bingo nights every Monday and Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m.

North Bend

Musical Afternoon

North Bend Musical afternoon is held the second Sunday of each month except for August. Join us from 1-4 p.m. at the historic North Bend Hall,