Canmore Cycling intersection
Fernie has proudly become a bike town. From families cruising along the river trails to visitors arriving with bikes strapped to their cars, cycling is woven into our culture. Yet, for all the growth in biking, Fernie still lacks one crucial piece of infrastructure: dedicated bike lanes that safely connect Downtown to our neighbourhoods.
With the City currently drafting a new Official Community Plan (OCP), the timing could not be better to rethink how we move through town. The OCP is more than a planning document—it’s a vision for how Fernie grows, develops, and adapts to the needs of its people. If cycling is truly part of Fernie’s identity, then the OCP must include dedicated, separated bike lanes.
Right now, cyclists in Fernie share narrow streets with vehicles or rely on sidewalks. Parents often hesitate to let kids bike to school, and many visitors stick to trails instead of venturing into town. Bike lanes aren’t just about recreation—they’re about safety, mobility, and offering people choices in how they get around.
They also tie into Fernie’s broader goals: reducing traffic congestion, cutting emissions, supporting tourism, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. For a community of 6,000+ people, that’s not just idealism—it’s practical planning.
Nelson BC bike lane ribbon cutting
Other communities of similar size have already shown how to make it work:
Canmore, AB (pop. 15,900) – Larger than Fernie, but a tourist-driven mountain town that built dedicated bike routes using existing streets. Their network now connects Downtown with neighbourhoods and trailheads, reducing vehicle pressure during peak tourism.
Nelson, BC (pop. 11,000) – Like Fernie, Nelson’s streets are tight and historic. Yet the city introduced designated bike routes, lane markings, and traffic-calming measures to create a more bike-friendly environment without removing vehicle access.
Rossland, BC (pop. 4,100) – Despite being smaller than Fernie, Rossland integrated bike lanes into its narrow streets, prioritizing active transportation in its OCP. Their system demonstrates that even steep, compact mountain towns can safely mix cars and bikes.
If these communities can find space for bikes, so can Fernie.
It’s no secret that some residents push back against change. Fernie has a strong old-school streak: there is long-standing resistance to altering the character of certain streets. But bike lanes are not just “urban luxuries”—they’re essentials for a growing town.
The compromise is in smart design. Bike lanes don’t need to take over streets or eliminate parking. They can be created through re-striping, one-way conversions, and use of underutilized road width. In some cases, a “complete streets” approach—designing roads for vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians—can ease concerns while upgrading safety for everyone.
Fernie’s OCP is the opportunity to get this right. Dedicated bike lanes would connect Downtown to key neighbourhoods—Annex, Ridgemont, Parkland, Montane, and the schools—while linking to existing trail networks. This isn’t just a cyclist’s dream; it’s an investment in safer streets, healthier citizens, and a community identity that matches who we already are: a bike town.
The new OCP must move Fernie beyond hesitation and into action. It’s time for dedicated bike lanes. Help shape Fernie’s future, attend the OCP Public House on September 10th.
