Calgary's entire cycle track to open ahead of schedule

The entire networkofCalgary's inner-citycycle tracks will be open for Thursday morning's commute.

The city was aiming to officially open the entire bicycle-friendlynetwork at the end of June, but a dry month has meant the one-year pilot projectis finished ahead of schedule.

The final two lanes in the network, along Eighthand Ninth avenues, will open Thursday. Stephen Avenue Mall is also opening as a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The project is also under-budget, withfinal cost of the network at $5.75 million.

Don Mulligan, director oftransportation planning for the city, said fewer traffic lights for cyclists were needed.

The number of cyclists using the previously opened routeshas already increased significantly, Mulligansaid.The city will continue to gatherdata over the next 18 months, and then evaluate thepilot project to see if it should continue orbe altered or removed.

See a largermap of Calgary's cycle track here.