The bike lane will be closed as October 26, 2011 for the winter season, and will be open again for the 2012 construction season.
There is no left turn from Main Street to Portland Street. Access to
Hilyard and Portland Streets is available via Simonds Street.
The bike lane
The Main Street bike lane is a temporary solution to allow cyclists better access to and from the Uptown core during the closure of Harbour Passage for the construction on the Harbour Bridge.
The bike lane occupied the third lane of the eastbound side of Main Street. Traffic on Main Street was reduced to two lanes, and the speed limit has been reduced to 50 kilometers per hour while the bike lane is in place. Turning and through lanes at the intersections of Main Street with Simonds Street and with Union Street have been repainted to reflect the change to the traffic pattern.
Cyclists and motorists have rights and responsibilities under the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act. Motorists must obey the posted signage on Main Street. Cyclists are reminded that they must not ride on the sidewalks or in crosswalks.
Tips for cyclists:
Cyclists must use this bike lane when it is operational. Riding bikes on the sidewalk is not allowed.- The bike lane is for two-way cycling traffic. Always ride to the right side of the bike lane to allow another cyclist from the other direction to pass.
- To access or leave the bike lane cyclists must dismount their bike at the intersection of Main and Chesley, the intersection of Main and Union, or the intersection of Main and Simonds and use the marked crosswalks, obeying the pedestrian signals.
- Cyclists cannot leave or enter the bike lane at the various on and off ramps on the Viaduct or at Portland Street. They must continue to the intersections at Union, Metcalf, Simonds, Chesley or Lansdowne to leave or enter the bike lane.
- Additional traffic lights at the intersection of Main and Simonds Streets are being installed for cyclists to cross the intersection to continue on the bike lane in either direction while vehicles remain stopped at a Red light. These new lights will have the usual red, amber and green look but will have a bike symbol indicating times when only cyclists can travel through the intersection. As a cyclist, obey these new lights by only proceeding through the intersection when the Green light with a bike symbol is shown. A longer Amber light with bike symbol will be provided to allow cyclists enough time to cross the intersection if the light turns from Green to Amber part way through. Do not travel through the intersection when the Red light with bike symbol is shown. If not yet proceeding through the intersection and the lights with bike symbols change from Green to Amber, stop and wait for the next Green light. When approaching this intersection within the Bike Lane be sure to travel up to, but not beyond the white Stop line as the Green light for cyclists may be activated by travelling to this point.