Vancouver city council votes to make separated downtown bike lanes permanent
Vancouver city council voted unanimously today (June 13) to make the separated bike lanes on Dunsmuir and Hornby streets permanent.
The vote followed presentations from supporters of the bike lanes and concerns from some local businesses.
Erin O’Melinn, the executive director of cycling group HUB, told council she has heard “countless stories” of the ways the separated bike lanes have had a positive impact on residents, visitors and workers in Vancouver.
“The fear of drivers coming too close or being impatient has been replaced by a feeling of comfort, convenience and belonging that comes with a dedicated space for those that choose bicycles to get around,” she said.
The head of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, Charles Gauthier, asked council to spend $2.5 million on implementing right-turn lanes from Dunsmuir Street onto Seymour and Hornby Streets on a trial basis.
He cited a study released by the city last summer, which rated the impact of the bike lanes on local businesses as moderate, and recommended the enactment of mitigation strategies.
“I think a year has gone by and there were a number of mitigation strategies that could be implemented and haven’t been to the fullest extent,” Gauthier told reporters following the vote.
“At the end of the day, I think…we’ll probably see some businesses that aren’t able to adapt and as their leases expire, won’t renew their spaces."
Councillors said implementing the right-turn lanes could pose a risk to pedestrian safety.
The city’s transportation director Jerry Dobrovolny noted installing the turns would reduce the sidewalk width to the minimum of 1.8 metres from three metres.
The separated bike lanes on Dunsmuir Street, the Dunsmuir Viaduct, Hornby Street and connecting streets were approved on a trial basis in 2010.
According to a staff report, the lanes have led to a growth in cycling along the routes, including a 19 percent increase in annual bicycle trips on the Dunsmuir Viaduct between April 2011 and March 2012, compared to the previous year.
The city plans to continue making safety modifications to the separated bike lanes.
City council also discussed another cycling issue today, after hearing an update from staff on a public bike-share system for Vancouver.
Comments
7 Comments
Clay
Jun 13, 2012 at 6:53pm
Wow! I'm shocked! Well then! You better make God damn sure you fine these Fikers and I mean F***ers everytime they blow red lights and stop signs. I see it all the time and you gotta nail them hard now before it's too late.
Ian G62
Jun 13, 2012 at 9:27pm
Thank you Vancouver City Council for bringing us in to the 21st Century - too many people getting hit by cars in the city still - this helps a bit, but we need to expand it further still.
trixie
Jun 13, 2012 at 10:20pm
I really like the bike lanes and use them all the time. Since the council vote was unanimous, it feels like there is a turn in the tide, bringing us steadily out of the auto era and into the era of choices.
Thank you City of Vancouver.
Taxpayers R Us
Jun 14, 2012 at 8:59am
There's policy, and then there's law and its administration.
Time to start leaning on the VPD from the other direction and see an increase on cycling tickets :)
Kim Hearty
Jun 14, 2012 at 10:52am
Hurrah! The most sustainable, fun, affordable and fastest mode of urban transport is somewhat more protected from lethal, self-important, elitist car-drivers and infrastructure. I love those bike lanes. They make me feel safer by virtue of making me less vulnerable to injury and death by reckless drivers. Thank you to HUB and to everyone who advocates for cyclists' rights.
cyclepath
Jun 14, 2012 at 11:30am
Now fix the entrances & exits off of burrard bridge, now that we don't need the curbs....and take off the concrete barricades from the sidewalks for more room!
Reality Check
Jun 14, 2012 at 12:46pm
@Taxpayers R Us
Dangerous and careless driving is a serious threat to everyone on the road including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers are responsible for over 80% of collisions with pedestrians and 100% of the collisions with motorists causing around 20 deaths in the city of Vancouver. Taxpayers foot the bill for the hundreds of millions it costs our health care system to patch people together. It is time the VPD crackdown on the real problem by ticketing speeding, distracted and reckless drivers who are the cause of traffic problems in the city.