Scheduled repairs to the Disraeli Freeway would be an excellent opportunity to make the bridges accessible to avid cyclists, a Transcona resident has told local councillors.

"The bridge is extremely unsafe and inconvenient for cyclists," Kevin Miller told councillors Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) during the Nov. 21 East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee meeting.

ìThe Disraeli for cycling is absolutely atrocious.î Miller said he cycles to work every day, but prefers to take the newer Provencher Bridge, which was built with specific lanes for cyclists.

The Disraeli, he said, is one of the most narrow-laned bridges in the city, with no room for cyclists and the only one that does not have a barrier to protect pedestrians from traffic.

ìWhat I would like to learn today is a little bit more about the scope of the work (to be done) on the Disraeli bridge,î said Miller, who was also the cycling consultant during the planning of the new Provencher and offered his expertise for the Disraeli planning.

Coun. Thomas said she agreed with Miller, adding that her husband, who is an avid cyclist, prefers to take a longer route from their East Kildonan home to go over the Louise Bridge than try the ìkamikazeî route over the Disraeli.

Thomas said the Cityís 2007 capital budget includes just under $2 million towards the Disraeli refurbishing project, with more funding expected in the 2008 capital budget.

As part of this project, community consultations will take place to get feedback from residents as to what changes they would like to see, added Thomas, who is also a member of the Cityís public works committee.

Carl Sitarz, a traffic analyst in the Cityís public works department, said there is limited opportunity to expand the laneways without dramatically increasing the cost of the rehabilitation project, but bridge designers are looking at that possibility and will likely take into account a number of options in consultation with the public.

During this meeting, councillors Thomas, Wyatt and Browaty also passed a motion stating that rehabilitation plans for the Disraeli should include community consultations and be in keeping with the 2005 Active Transportation Study, which encourages cycling in the city.