Smithers has a great chance to make biking downtown feel safe and easy for everyone—from kids heading to school to older residents running errands. A protected bike lane on 3rd Avenue would link Queen Street to King Street, tying together the Civic Centre, Central Park, local shops, The new Library, Muheim Elementary and more without forcing riders to mix with busy traffic or dodge car doors. Town staff had a plan to explore designs, talk with residents and businesses, and show clear costs—paid for entirely by $30,000 in outside grants.

Unfortunately, in March 2025 Council cancelled that study and sent the grant money back. That decision effectively killed the project and risks future funding, even though the project has been a top promise in the Town’s Active Transportation Plan since 2019.

By signing this petition, you’re telling Council you still want a safer, healthier downtown and respectfully requesting that the Town of Smithers Council reinstate the conceptual design and public-consultation study for a protected, all-ages-and-abilities bicycle lane on 3rd Avenue (Queen Street to King Street) and take the necessary steps to build this critical east-west link as outlined in the Town’s 2019 Active Transportation Network Plan (Big Move #1).