edmonton
Cold. Grey. Flat. Hockey town. Trucks. Oil. Country music. Suburbs. Car-centric.
Right?
Sure, to a certain extent. Without having visited, maybe this is all you might think of when you picture Edmonton.
But there’s more to a place than its stereotypes.
I saw many of those things on my recent trip to Alberta’s capital city. But I also saw a city full of promise. Vibrant, full of life, and building places that are welcoming and encourage human connection.
Here is a glimpse into the Edmonton I found.
people bike here
If there’s one thing I (weirdly) love to do, it’s reading the letters to the editor in my local paper.
One of my favourites was on the topic of a bike lane project I worked on that had recently finished construction. The letter said something along the lines of the following:
These idiotic bike lanes were designed by a pack of clowns and whoever approved them should be fired.
It can be tough out there. I’m cautious to share what I do for a living, because you never know what you’re going to get. A moment of dread when you realize the casual small talk is over and you have to decide whether to defend your position or smile and nod (depending on your mood). Or the relief when you find out they’re on your side.
The point is, there can be a lot of opposition, and getting this stuff installed feels like a serious victory. That's why I was impressed by what I saw in Edmonton, a city not well known for its bike culture. There is still work to be done. But from protected bike lanes and bike signals to continuous sidewalks and quality wayfinding, many streets are welcoming and well-used by people on bikes.
local street bikeways
Don’t mind the technical lingo. I’m talking about residential streets — not much traffic, moving slowly. The unsung heroes of a city’s bike network.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re not the end-all be-all. But speaking about opposition to bike projects, local street bikeways are usually well-liked by people who live in the area and easy to roll out.
Traffic calming means they’re not usually well-liked by people cutting through the side streets to beat traffic. But that’s the point. These streets aren’t intended for that.
frontage roads
A busy street on one side, houses on the other, separated by a strip of trees and bushes. Before this trip I thought of frontage roads as less busy access roads next to highways. And often, that’s exactly what they are.
But here, they offer something else: a comfortable bike route. It’s not completely quiet (you still hear the traffic), but it’s a step away from the noise. Gives you a bit of breathing room.
Riding here felt simple and low-stress. A practical solution that fits into the existing street network.
Easy wins.
the outskirts
Biking alongside the tracks, lined by vacant lots, abandoned warehouses, and industrial buildings, you get a sense of what these areas used to be. Rail corridors have always been the backbone of cities — important anchors, alive with activity, moving goods and people.
With the proliferation of cars moving people and trucks moving goods, these areas can feel half-forgotten. But with the light rail system and shared pathways in place, they’re ready to make a comeback. Located just outside the city and a quick train or bike ride into downtown, these are prime areas to develop.
speaking of trains
How do you get people to use them?
Make it the most convenient option. Don’t let it get stuck in traffic. Make sure it connects to useful places.
In Edmonton? The car is still king. But the light rail system ticks these boxes and is gaining traction every year.
I wish more places would take a chance on trains.
funicular
noun:a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope.
I had never seen or heard of a funicular before coming here. It’s like a mix between an elevator and an escalator. They could have picked the easy option and just made it a stairwell. Instead, it’s functional and novel.
Edmonton seems to get that there’s much more that can be done to make a place feel memorable.
embracing urban vitality
In and around the Strathcona neighbourhood, streets are lined with mid-rise brick buildings, murals, and patios. The character is strong, and I could feel the love and care for the area.
This is the kind of place where it feels like biking isn’t just tolerated or an after-thought. From the two-way bike path cutting through the neighbourhood, to the bakery offering free cookies for people biking, this is the kind of place where the bicycle is embraced.
reclaiming space
This used to be a road with parking on both sides. Now it’s an urban skate park.
Placemaking doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. And taking back some space from cars can bring new life to an area.
every city has challenges
Space is limited, and there will always be competing needs. We’re moving in the right direction, and cities like Edmonton are working hard to create places that welcome people, not just cars.
Cities evolve. They’re messy and imperfect. But with every dollar spent, every bit of opposition, change is happening.
