Grab your helmet -- cycling is back on the city's priority list.

Councillors have given initial approval to hiring a new city staffer to oversee alternative transportation for the next two years.

"This is tremendously significant," said Councillor Brian McHattie, who fought for the position after the city's cycling funding took a hit in this year's budget.

"I think the cycling community will be doing handstands on their bicycles."

The city's cycling committee disbanded this spring to protest the $300,000 cut to the cycling program. It started meeting again after receiving positive signs about new funding.

"It gave us some peace of mind," said chair Daryl Bender. "It bodes well for the future of cycling in the community."

The new position, worth $170,000 over two years, will be responsible for accelerating outstanding cycling and pedestrian projects. There's currently a $772,000 backlog in projects because there is no designated city staff to shepherd the work.

In addition to working on planned bike routes, the new staffer will also review the city's cycling master plan, promote alternative transportation and monitor the condition of existing lanes.

The goal is to encourage greener and healthier transportation, said Scott Stewart, manager of public works.

"This is a vision for the next decade plus."

The position must still be approved at council next week. It was supported by all members of the public works committee yesterday, except for Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson.

He said he could not justify spending taxpayers dollars when he hasn't seen any cyclists using lanes along Golf Links Road.

Cycling projects in the works:

York Boulevard bike lanes

This project is ready to go ahead after the province signed off on an environmental assessment. Negotiations need to be finished with Burlington and the Ministry of Transportation.

North Service Road

This $500,000 project will fill a missing link in the provincial waterfront trail. It will feature 10 kilometres of cycling lanes, either on special road lanes or trails. The work, already more than half-done, will be finished this year.

CP Main Street West Rail Trail

Funding for this project was just approved this year. It is expected to be a complicated project, requiring an environmental assessment, land purchases and leases and construction of a multi-use trail.

West Hamilton Cycling System

This project will connect the CP Rail Trail, McMaster Innovation Park and Longwood Road to King Street. An environmental assessment and design are complete, but work hasn't started. It is expected to cost $50,000.

On the buses ...

Cutting down ticket vendors

The city is looking to dramatically cut the number of bus ticket vendors.

The reduction from 180 locations to 90 is intended to prepare Hamilton for the new Greater Toronto Area fare system. Under that system, which will be implemented over the next three years, transit riders will use a fare card instead of tickets.

Ticket vendors will need a machine, like a lottery terminal, to put money on the cards. Staff believes the cards, which can be loaded online, by phone and in other communities, will reduce the need for vendors.

The city will save about $220,000 in equipment costs and another $93,000 every year by cutting the number of locations with the new machines.

Scott Stewart, manager of public works, said he expects some vendors will be upset with the change because they count on ticket sales to bring customers into their stores. They also retain a 1 per cent commission.

But Stewart said the city has to balance business concerns with concerns of taxpayers, who are on the hook for rising transit costs.

Vendors will have to apply for one of the new spots.

Advertising brings in bonus

Advertisers are jumping aboard Hamilton's buses.

For the second year, the city exceeded its target for advertising profits on its transit system.

StreetSeen Media presented city officials with a $37,000 bonus cheque yesterday, nearly double the year before. That's above the $320,000 the city is guaranteed every year.

"Our local content has increased significantly," said company president Richard Morin, noting Hamilton is outpacing other cities. "We've just found that Hamilton is extremely responsive."

The company sells ad space on the inside and outside of buses. The extra profits will go to the city's transit budget.

New Year's buses go to 2 a.m.

The pressure is off planning your New Year's activities this year, at least when it comes to getting home.

The city is offering free bus service from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Transit officials got flak last year when they decided to stop buses at midnight. They quickly extended it two hours after a public outcry. Some 1,800 people used the service that night. It costs the city about $4,000 to offer the free service.

nmacintyre@thespec.com

905-526-3299