I read with interest Jim Butler’s editorial in this paper July 5: “Alaska Highway: mitigating the urban dangers is a work in progress”.

I share Jim’s frustration with the driving habits of some Yukoners. And I support the speed reduction in Rabbit’s Foot Canyon.

Jim’s definition of insanity is spot-on: “massive transport trucks noisily zooming through Rabbit’s Foot Canyon only a car’s width away from frighteningly vulnerable cyclists, even during perilous winter conditions.”

The City of Whitehorse probably agrees with Jim. That’s why, several years ago, they constructed a paved multi-use trail south from the end of Pine Street in Porter Creek. They pack it in winter, plow it in spring, and sweep it in summer.

The cycling distance from Wann Road along the busy highway, through the narrow canyon, and down Two Mile Hill to Chilkoot Way is 7.5 km.

The distance between the same end points along slower Centennial, 12th, and Pine, then down the multi-use trail to Range Road and Two Mile Hill is only 300 metres longer.

So why don’t people take the multi-use trail route? Well, they do!

That route is well used year-’round by cyclists and pedestrians. The hill between Pine Street and McIntyre Creek seems to be little impediment.

Maybe the question is: why do cyclists take the highway route?

I fully support active transportation. I think that transportation planning should make that easy and safe.

But I’m not sure that the highest priority should be a cycle path through Rabbit’s Foot Canyon, given the much safer alternative that already exists.

Tim Green
Porter Creek