Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Sheba

That's the problem with riding a bike - it's a 'vehicle' and you're supposed to treat it like one and ride on the road. But you get a lot of drivers who either don't see you, or if they do they're pissed at you for riding on the road. But if you ride on the sidewalk pedestrians get pissed at you too, so where are you supposed to ride?

The law says you're supposed to ride on the road. Drivers can get as irate as they want, but "them's the facts".

[NetMapel]

I will, for the majority of the time, seek out bike lanes to ride on if my route can reasonably support it. However, my current commute will have me on a non-bike lane street for a few 5 blocks. In this case, I will ride in the middle of my lane and not be too close to the curb because I don't want a car door to slam me. It's downhill anyways so I try my best to go at a fast enough speed. I will treat my bike as a car.

[WarrenC12]

I find that some of the major "bike route" roads in Vancouver work really well: Ontario, Heather, 10th Ave, Adanac, etc. but I think that's mainly due to a critical mass of riders that use them. Other bike routes are no better than regular roads and suffer from the problems described.

Bike only lanes are fantastic. I often go out of my way to use them if possible.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I've never had any problem riding in bike lanes, but I agree with you. Bikes are caught in this middle ground, and the only real answer is exclusive lanes, which are as we all know not received very well here.

I've mostly had experience with the BC Parkway in Burnaby - and pretty much the only time I haven't had to play obstacle course with pedestrians is when I've been lucky enough that none have been around. They walk all over the bike path and avoid the walking path or sidewalk.

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

The law says you're supposed to ride on the road. Drivers can get as irate as they want, but "them's the facts".

A lot of drivers do not see anything smaller than a car, so when I ride on a street that has anything resembling traffic I'm an invisible moving target. When a driver runs over a cyclist, who do you think is going to be more injured.

[gillty]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I would never take up an entire lane on my bike... This guy is ridiculous.

I drive, I take transit and I ride so I see the argument on all sides, however as a cyclist you are extremely squishy and while it shouldn't be the case, you need to ensure your safety first and foremost, and that in many situations is taking the lane.

Drivers can be irate as they want, but you are in a better situation to anticipate road rage as opposed to being doored or being squeezed into the gutter.

You should be taking the lane if you feel your safety is compromised, end of story

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Sheba

A lot of drivers do not see anything smaller than a car, so when I ride on a street that has anything resembling traffic I'm an invisible moving target. When a driver runs over a cyclist, who do you think is going to be more injured.

I generally agree with you and I avoid riding on busy streets because there's just too much competition for drivers' attentions. But the issue of delaying traffic arises on side streets too, even those designated as bike routes on which you'd expect bikes to be present. Most drivers are very courteous, with many going so far as to yield the right of way even when the law says it's theirs. But as in every aspect of life there are a few who won't suffer any impediment to their progress whatsoever and aren't afraid to let you know how much it angers them.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I would never take up an entire lane on my bike... This guy is ridiculous.

'Claiming the lane' is the safe way of riding when there is insufficient room to safely pass parked cars outside of their door zone (a generous 1 metre to allow for the abrupt opening of the door). Plus to be safe from passing cars, there needs to also be 1 metre of room between you and the travel position on the road of people driving cars. If there isn't enough space to do accomplish this, then a person riding a bike may claim the lane.

Two road signs illustrate where people on bikes should be located:





Where there is not room to safely do the former, a person on a bike may do the latter.

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

'Claiming the lane' is the safe way of riding when there is insufficient room to safely pass parked cars outside of their door zone (a generous 1 metre to allow for the abrupt opening of the door). Plus to be safe from passing cars, there needs to also be 1 metre of room between you and the travel position on the road of people driving cars. If there isn't enough space to do accomplish this, then a person riding a bike may claim the lane.

Two road signs illustrate where people on bikes should be located:





Where there is not room to safely do the former, a person on a bike may do the latter.

Though the first sign is used quite often when the 2nd sign should have been used.

[tybuilding]

New BC Parkway signs

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

New BC Parkway signs

Nice. I like seeing the km information too. If only the trail were actually continuous between Edmonds and Metrotown....

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Large Cat

Nice. I like seeing the km information too. If only the trail were actually continuous between Edmonds and Metrotown....

The only spots I can think of on that run that don't have the bike path are a short bit on Beresford between roughly Curragh and Buller (the BC Parkway improvement plans did include adding it in as the area is redeveloped) and another short bit on Central right after Imperial (more annoying but not much can be done about it due to property lines). Is there somewhere else you were thinking of?

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by Sheba

The only spots I can think of on that run that don't have the bike path are a short bit on Beresford between roughly Curragh and Buller (the BC Parkway improvement plans did include adding it in as the area is redeveloped) and another short bit on Central right after Imperial (more annoying but not much can be done about it due to property lines). Is there somewhere else you were thinking of?

They are ripping out the rails and rail ties near Beresford and Macphereson Ave as we speak. I even saw old rail axles being loaded onto a flatbed truck. This will fully complete the Highland Park Line.

I was told that crews would also begin removing the old BCER rails that run between Nelson Ave in Burnaby to near Edmonds Station by the summer.

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by Sheba

The only spots I can think of on that run that don't have the bike path are a short bit on Beresford between roughly Curragh and Buller (the BC Parkway improvement plans did include adding it in as the area is redeveloped) and another short bit on Central right after Imperial (more annoying but not much can be done about it due to property lines). Is there somewhere else you were thinking of?

That's it, I'm just a perfectionist

Originally Posted by logicbomb

They are ripping out the rails and rail ties near Beresford and Macphereson Ave as we speak. I even saw old rail axles being loaded onto a flatbed truck. This will fully complete the Highland Park Line.

I was told that crews would also begin removing the old BCER rails that run between Nelson Ave in Burnaby to near Edmonds Station by the summer.

Awesome!

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

They are ripping out the rails and rail ties near Beresford and Macphereson Ave as we speak. I even saw old rail axles being loaded onto a flatbed truck. This will fully complete the Highland Park Line.

I was told that crews would also begin removing the old BCER rails that run between Nelson Ave in Burnaby to near Edmonds Station by the summer.

It looks like it goes south of Edmonds as well. Crews are in the area and some bushes have been trimmed and cleared right to 22nd Street station.

[tybuilding]

New way-finding signs and lighting on the BC Parkway in Surrey

[urbancanadian]

Nice pic of the Burrard & Cornwall intersection by the COV:


http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...esentation.pdf

I'm looking forward to Burrard & Pacific getting the same treatment.

[dandor31]

Looks like the CoV is starting consultations this week regarding the reconfiguration of the Burrard/Pacific intersection.

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transpor...-upgrades.aspx

Some highlights are:

• Removal of northbound vehicle lane
• Shift of bike lane off sidewalk into dedicated lane
• Reintroduction of pedestrian access to East sidewalk
• Removal of "slip" lanes off/on Pacific from the bridge
• Signals for all traffic movements
• Coordination with sewer/water construction from 1st to 16th Ave along Burrard

I'm actually surprise how much information is included in the open house information displays.

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/burrar...n-displays.pdf

One thing I would like to see is the re-introduction of the southbound bus stop nearer to Pacific (currently Burnaby St), but I have no idea if there is room.

[WarrenC12]

This is a great plan, and well detailed. The new south side intersection is fantastic, the horth side is in dire need of improvement.

But as predicted, people are lighting their hair on fire about it already.

[city-dweller]

They should just do it. I can't imagine any big changes from the consultation.

[idunno]

Very excited to see this finished. The south side improvements are so great!