Cycling in Halifax can be intimidating. A new app aims to change that

A New App to Make Cycling in Halifax Easier

Halifax cyclists can now breathe a sigh of relief with the introduction of a new mobile app designed to ease their concerns and provide them with stress-free routes. Cycling Guide, launched earlier this summer for Haligonians, aims to suggest comfortable routes based on riders’ experience levels.

The app, developed by the Cycling Guide Foundation, offers a color-coded system to indicate the level of comfort and safety of each route. According to David Trueman, the chair of the foundation, “If your route is all green, you know that it’s going to be comfortable and feel safe, whereas if parts of it are magenta or amber in color then you know those are going to be challenging sections.”

Financial support from the HRM and Halifax Climate Investment, Innovation and Impact Fund helped bring the app to life. Both groups contributed $5,000 each, which was matched by the Halifax Cycling Coalition, where Trueman also serves as co-chair.

Jackson Bonn, a cycling enthusiast and employee at Long Alley Bicycles, believes that the app will be beneficial for new riders in the city. While the HRM’s Pocket Bike Guide provides valuable information on existing bicycle infrastructure, Cycling Guide offers personalized route suggestions to enhance riders’ safety and comfort.

Compared to other mapping options like Google Maps, Cycling Guide ensures that cyclists are directed to safe and effective bike routes. Bonn notes that Google Maps often leads cyclists onto streets without proper infrastructure, posing potential dangers.

Since its launch in Halifax, the app has garnered between 200 to 300 downloads, with expectations of further growth as more cyclists discover its benefits. Additionally, Cycling Guide is available in other regions such as Ottawa, the Waterloo Region, and Sarnia-Lambton.