Let's Ride, Hamilton!
Suitability Analysis for a New Bike Path in Hamilton, Ontario
Beautiful Hamilton
Hamilton is located on the western most point of Lake Ontario. It is divided in two by the Niagara Escarpment and is also protected by the Canadian Greenbelt Plan.
This gives Hamilton a very unique environment including beautiful cliffs, waterfalls and vast greenspace.
Bike Share
Hamilton is an active community with a mature bike share program with over 800 bikes available to community members and visitors.
There are also has a number of bike racks and bike paths in place to help with mobility around the Hamilton area.
There are however some gaps and the community is asking for more bike paths and active transportation options.
Hamilton's Existing Bike Paths and Bike Racks
Bike Path Suitability Analysis
Slope
Incline is a important factor to consider when planning a bike path. Seeing as the Niagara Escarpment cuts through Hamilton, it is important that the new bike path doesn't have an incline of more than 10 degrees.
Slope was reclassifies into 4 groups from most suitable to most unsuitable.
Land Use
Some land is more suitable than others based on how it is being used. For example, a wetland is unsuitable for a bike path because it would interfere with the environment and may be at risk of flooding or water damage.
The new bike path is for the bike share program meaning urban areas and vegetative areas are suitable.
Bike Racks
The Bike share program in Hamilton already has infrastructure in place. It is ideal for the new bike path to be placed near existing bike racks.
Bike Paths
Hamilton also has a number of existing bike paths. The new path will however be placed in a unique area where there isn't an existing path.
Protected Areas
The Niagara Escarpment is one of the few world biosphere reserves to be protected by legislation.
As a result, environmentally sensitive areas will be clipped from the analysis to ensure the areas remain protected.
Bike Path Suitability in Hamilton, Ontario
Where would you put a new bike path?
Hamilton Suitability Analysis