Campaign Goal:
By August 2025, ensure administration is creating an implementation plan for the 5A / Primary Wheeling Network as identified in the draft Calgary Plan, with funding for dedicated additional active transportation staff tasked with its creation

Campaign Rationale:

Burning of gas and diesel in vehicles represents 32% of Calgary’s emissions. A key means of eliminating these emissions is by shifting vehicle use to active modes such as walking and cycling. CCH had a big win in funding at the 2022 4-year budget cycle as well as the 2023 budget adjustments, gaining budget amendments from council to the budget, totalling over $55M in additional funds, for cycling (called 5A) infrastructure.

While CCH and partner organisations have successfully gained funding for 5A deployment, a lack of planning is leading to a relatively fragmented build out of the network. The creation of a Primary wheeling network in the draft Calgary Plan provides an opportunity to create an implementation plan for the buildout of a truly connected and city wide active transportation network.

Without high-quality connected cycling routes, such as those identified in the Primary Wheeling Network, Calgary will not be able to achieve the mode shift targets in the Climate Strategy. With more detailed implementation plans for a high-quality express 5A network, similar to the Primary Transit Network, 5A infrastructure will be more coherent and complete and CCH will have a more solid project from the city to advocate for.

While decarbonisation is an important reason to pursue mode shift, many other benefits exist as well and this may be worked into advocacy, especially in partnership with other organisations. Additionally, wheeling users beyond cyclist could be engaged to show a larger coalition

Partnership opportunities exist via CCH’s existing relationship with Bike Calgary, More Neighbours Calgary, Strong Towns Calgary, Unsprawling YYC, Sustainable Calgary, Critical Mass YYC and more.

Campaign Activities

Join our Campaign Kickoff Event (October 26, 2024)