Almon Street set for bike lane expansion

Expanding a bike lane on Almon Street in Halifax was debated at a virtual active transportation committee meeting Thursday amid growing concerns for cyclist safety.

In the last year, Halifax Regional Municipality saw a major increase in road collision deaths. According to the 2025 Road Safety Annual Report, there was an 85.4 per cent increase in general micromobility collisions, which involve bikes, wheelchairs, scooters and other small vehicles.

Dalhousie University economics professor Talan Iscan, a board member for the Halifax Cycling Coalition, said at the meeting that the benefits for safe biking infrastructure outweigh the costs to implement them.

“In our view, it’s unethical to continue to ignore the benefits of safe cycling,” says Iscan. “HRM should conduct a benefit-cost analysis that meets its stated priorities: road safety, modal shift and climate change.”

Construction on Phase 1 of the Almon Street bikeway, which stretches from Agricola to Windsor Street, was completed in winter 2025. The proposed expansion for the second phase will extend the bikeway between Agricola and Isleville.

The project is in its second stage of development where concept designs are being drafted. Transportation engineer Garrett Donaher presented two proposed design options alongside four rejected alternatives. 

One proposed design offered a one-way bike lane westbound on Almon Street, with tactical barriers bordering the road continuing southbound on Agricola. The design showcases two lanes of traffic for larger vehicles that maintain the current dimensions of the street, with a three-lane alternative to account for street widening.

The second design option leaves existing sharrows, or shared lane markings, on Almon intact, with a protected two-way bike lane on Agricola. Donaher said the concepts can offer a sense of security for cyclists in the area.

“If you prefer a more protected environment, then we’ll provide a protected bike lane southbound along Agricola between Almon and Bloomfield,” said Donaher, “and then provide a nice extended curb space at the intersection with Bloomfield to help you cross over to get to a local street bikeway on Bloomfield to access the north-south corridor.”

The proposed designs were criticized by many of those attending.

Active transportation committee vice-chair Milena Khazanavicius is completely blind. She takes issue with the two-way bikeway concept. She said the proposed idea could put visually impaired individuals at risk.

“Those of us who are blind or partially-sighted have to leave the sidewalk not knowing that we are actually crossing two lanes of cycling, and then going to a bumpout to push an audible pedestrian signal,” says Khazanavicius.

“So while we may not get hit by a car, no matter how many signs you’re putting out for cyclists whom I love and adore, not each and every one of them are paying attention.”

The project is set to move onto the third stage of its plan, focusing on community engagement and route selection. Public surveys will be released next week regarding the plan, with in-person public engagement sessions beginning the second week of February.

The next committee meeting will be held Feb. 26.