Bike lanes part of 2 new roundabouts for Cornwall bypass

Avid cyclist Josh Underhay says he is pleased the P.E.I. government is going to include bike lanes in the plans for two new roundabouts between Charlottetown and Cornwall.

The roundabouts are thepart of the first stage of construction on the Cornwall bypass.

• Cornwall bypass plans: Around one construction zone and through another

Underhay had recently started a petition to have proper bike paths out in place to connectStratford, Charlottetown and Cornwall.

Now that plans for the roundabouts at Poplar Island and theMaypointintersection will include bike lanes, Underhay believes itis a positive step in the right direction.

"The fact that government itself is concerned about sustainability, is concerned about Islanders well being and physical activity level and that we're actually thinking a little bit in the long term, than just putting in more automobile infrastructure, is quite frankly fantastic," said Underhay.

"If they're already spending 65 million, they only have to have a little bit of extra pavement on the side. If we look long term at the expense and the cost of this project, what that means is that fewer people are driving. More people are being active, That means less burden on our health care system. It means less wear and tear on our pavement and on our roads."

Thebike laneswill be self contained, since thereare currently no bike paths connecting Cornwall to Charlottetown.

Underhay, who saw the plans at the public session in Cornwall Tuesday, saidhe would like the province toextend the bike lanes during the rest of the Cornwall bypassconstruction.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Bagpipe lung easily prevented, says College of Piping instructor
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Island charity feeding families in Mali