SooNews.ca: $7.9 Million Cycling Path Pedals Forward

A dream of developing a city wide master cycling plan was passed by Sault Ste. Marie council Monday night. At a cost of $7.9 million, the cycling routes will connect every part of the city with 3 metre wide paths built to accommodate both cyclers and pedestrians. Andre Riopel, representing the Sault Ste. Marie Cycling Club was more than happy to praise the plan, something Riopel has advocated since the 1990’s.

Riopel told council that with the Cycling Master Plan, there will be a 400 per cent increase in bicycle usage in the Sault and when completed, the cycling plan would make Sault Ste. Marie one of the most “cycle-friendly” cities in Canada. Each phase of the plan will come before council for approval. Last year, the hub trail was completed as part of the Carmen’s Way and truck route project.

The Sault Ste. Marie Cycling Master Plan Route will combine the 2006 Hub Trail with a series of cycling routes occurring outside and within the perimeter loop to create a comprehensive network of on and offroad trails connecting destination points throughout the City.

The concept behind the Cycling Route is to integrate and link exterior routes or “spokes” stemming fiom the Hub, together with interior routes or “spokes”, which represent the inner workings of the Hub. Through analysis and identification of destination points and appropriate trail connections, the Cycling Master Plan will recommend a construction schedule and hierarchy of trails to be developed, implemented and / or maintained.

In thanking the many groups and individual persons who help create the cycle plan, Riopel singled out the late Jim Miller. Miller was one of the main contributors to the over all master plan and was passionate about cycling and the importance of establishing cycling as an integral part of the transportation system of Sault Ste. Marie. Miller died three weeks ago while on an hiking trip. His body was found in his tent near Agawa Bay. Riopel, holding back the tears spoke highly of Miller, “we would not be seeing this today if it wasn’t for Jim Miller”