Do Edmonton's bike lanes ease traffic congestion or make it worse?
· Said in 34 comments · 6 claims
Going ahead
Before-and-after traffic counts and travel times on converted corridors can show whether reallocating lanes changed congestion, while the general claim about roads carrying services adds nothing checkable.
- How far the work has got
- Registered
- Whether it is worth checking
- Going ahead
- What a reader can see
- Not published yet
The City's record of which lanes it reallocated, plus traffic counts and travel times on those corridors, answers both directions and shows what else the road carries.
People arguing in both directions raised this question, and every claim they made about it is checked, whichever way it points.
Where it came from
Taken from Yegscoop post on council's 2026-08-26 bike lane decision, read end to end. Every factual claim in it was extracted and merged, so this question is listed whatever became of it.
Facebook post · captured · 621 comments
The names below are pseudonyms, one to a commenter within this source.
The claims under it
Taking traffic lanes for bike lanes increases congestion, slows traffic and causes idling and emissions.
Said in 13 comments
Removing traffic lanes for cyclists and increasing the number of crossings increase congestion.
Granite Hare D.
nope, it causes it.
Bright Goose S.
they force traffic into one lane not two, impede turns, slow the flow of traffic significantly causing idling which creates more emissions.
Rustic Hare L.
Now instead of 2 lanes you now have one. Now you have more cars backed up and more carbon
Windy Bison C.
turn a two lane each way into a one lane each way so that cyclist feel safe, how exactly are you reducing congestion? Now that one lane is permanently unuseable for cars
Riverside Bluejay S.
not have them idoling while bike lanes are not being used.
Rustic Moose R.
It will also increase congestion in some areas.
Misty Heron R.
what was once 2 lanes of moving traffic is now one.
Prairie Waxwing D.
there design does nothing but hinder traffic flow.
Amber Marmot E.
taking away from roadways (both in driving lanes and in roadside parking) adds to the congestion you see.
Bright Chickadee P.
without contesting our streets more?
Dusty Bluejay G.
lanes that obstruct traffic
Foggy Crow C.
there's year round maintenance, huge traffic congestion and related pollution
Bright Grebe R.
Cycling infrastructure reduces motor-vehicle congestion because every person who bikes is one less car on the road.
Said in 11 comments
Using a bicycle helps reduce traffic congestion.
Quiet Goose B.
Bike infrastructure reduces traffic congestion
Riverside Merlin T.
The more cycling infrastructure there is, the fewer people there are driving in cars. The fewer people driving, the better Edmonton's traffic situation gets.
Granite Vole D.
if you want less traffic congestion then start biking.
Misty Hare K.
And every person who takes the bike lane is one less car, reducing congestion.
Cedar Pelican C.
every person who chooses to bike is one less car. The more comfortable and safe cycling is, the fewer cars we have on the road
Cedar Pelican C.
giving people viable alternatives to driving reduces traffic congestion
Cedar Pelican C.
fewer cars on the road resulting in less congestion, less pollution(noise and air), and a healthier population reducing health care costs
Cedar Pelican C.
every person on a bike is one less car in front of you!
Granite Beaver P.
drivers also benefit from bike lanes as every person on a bike is one less person in front of you in traffic in a car!
Granite Beaver P.
the better they are the more people will choose them instead of driving
Cedar Pelican C.
The City has removed motor-vehicle traffic lanes across Edmonton and replaced them with bike lanes.
Said in 5 comments
102nd Ave between 121st and 111th. Used to be 2 ways, now one way with a bike lane. 102 Ave east of 109 St also reduced traffic lanes for bicycle lanes.
Granite Hare D.
they absolutely have removed traffic lanes all throughout the city
Boreal Crow K.
The city is removing traffic lanes all throughout the city for bike lanes
Boreal Crow K.
they sure have removed Traffic lanes and replaced with bike lanes! Just check out what they did on 132nd ave!
Golden Sparrow J.
remove a vehicle lane for a bike lane
Prairie Waxwing D.
Roads carry the goods, services, buses and emergency vehicles society depends on.
Said in 2 comments
Roads also move the goods and services need by society
Granite Hare D.
service vehicles to move products; bus transportation to move people; ambulances to save lives; fire trucks to do the same
Bright Elk G.
79 Street carries traffic that would otherwise use 75 Street and is a school-run route for parents.
Said in 1 comment
It is an important street for alleviating traffic from 75 St and for people to navigate & drive their kids to school before work.
Hardy Vole C.
Edmonton is removing lanes for traffic calming, not for cyclists, and adding bike lanes where that work is already happening.
Said in 2 comments
they are not removing lanes for cyclists. They are removing lanes for traffic calming measures and in places where applicable putting bike Lanes there to save money combining the two.
Riverside Muskrat A.
Even if they had never planned bike lanes for hermatige road they are still getting traffic calming measures
Riverside Muskrat A.