Local support to add paved shoulders to highways

Posted January 25, 2012

Prior to Christmas, Ward 5 councillor Donna Jebb suggested New Tecumseth lobby Simcoe County to start adding paved shoulders as part of its road construction program, to accommodate bicyclists.

In particular, Ms. Jebb identified the Tottenham Road as an ideal avenue that would make it safer to travel north/south between Alliston and Tottenham.

This week, she suggested New Tecumseth add its name to a Township of Carling resolution that calls for Ontario communities to support Muskoka MPP Norm Miller's private members's bill which would "require a minimum one metre paved shoulder on certain provincially owned highways to improve public safety for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists."

Over the past year, local cycling enthusiasts have been doing their own leg work, in conjuction with the Town, to help boost bike riding trails and lanes throughout the community. There is also a reinvigorated process to move on developing the trail system through New Tecumseth so it connects with the Canada Trails System at Caledon to the south, and Cookstown to the east.

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