Metro Vancouver Bike & Pedestrian Discussion - Page 187

WarrenC12 · #**3721** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 3:22 PM**

Is there any map of the Tsawassen upgrades available?

CanSpice · #**3722** Posted **Sep 17, 2015, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Large Cat

Glad to see the Sapperton upgrades too. New West is plugging along on connecting its waterfront. Fingers crossed that Cote accomplishes it during his term.

It probably won't happen any time soon because of the businesses that are along Front Street between Pier Park and Sapperton Landing. They'd have to go first for a proper waterfront connection between those two.

Or they could put a boardwalk on the other side of Front Street with pedestrian bridges connecting everything, but then it wouldn't be waterfront any more. And it'd probably be pricey, and if they wanted to put elevators in then it'd take forever and a day.

tybuilding · #**3723** Posted **Sep 18, 2015, 6:10 PM**

Repaved BC Parkway in New Westminster along Stewartson Way

tybuilding · #**3724** Posted **Sep 18, 2015, 6:37 PM**

Surrey's first separated bike lanes are being built on 105 Ave in City Centre

Klazu · #**3725** Posted **Oct 7, 2015, 9:34 PM**

I have been taking a good use of our biking infrastructure this summer. Last week's great weather got me to do a bit over 200km in 7 days with trips to Steveston (54km) and Westminster (51km) being the longest day trips. I also made my personal record to go around the Seawall (18km) in 48 minutes. Note, these are all leisure trips.

Based on my experience we have a great biking infrastructure that is easy to use and pretty well thought out (in terms of steepness). There could be more maps around major intersections as it is sometimes difficult to find some specific bikeway especially around the Central Valley Greenway. They should also replace the map next to Brentwood Home Depot, which some idiot has vandalized.

Last week (200km).

This summer (500km+)

Next I need to expand my horizon. Weather permitted, I still plan on doing a run from Downtown to Coquitlam and back, as well as Tour de Richmond. Any other nice paths you like?

aberdeen5698 · #**3726** Posted **Oct 7, 2015, 11:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

Last week (200km).

Looks like a very nice set of trips you've taken there.

I just wanted to point out that you didn't have to bike that small stretch along 41st Avenue if you didn't have a reason to be there. There's a nice bike route along 45th Avenue that has minimal hills in that area. I often use it in place of the hillier 38th Avenue route even if it takes me a bit out of my way.

Klazu · #**3727** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 1:45 AM**

That's actually not a GPS track, but just me drawing on map.

But you have good eyes. I actually took Ridgeway from Metrotown to Ontario, but couldn't remember how exactly it travels from that zoom level. It's a nice and gentle ride mostly downhill.

Large Cat · #**3728** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tybuilding

Surrey's first separated bike lanes are being built on 105 Ave in City Centre

I would love to see these photos, but they seem to be down!

officedweller · #**3729** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 9:16 PM**

Pics of work on the Stanley Park Causeway bike path here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157658257710368

The post in the middle of the path looks to be for the lane control signals.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157658257710368

TransitJack · #**3730** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 7:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Pics of work on the Stanley Park Causeway bike path here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157658257710368

The post in the middle of the path looks to be for the lane control signals.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157658257710368

Cyclists will use the existing sidewalk, and pedestrians will use the new blacktop?

Klazu · #**3731** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 3:11 PM**

Correct

TransitJack · #**3732** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

Correct

Cost-wise that makes sense. As a cyclist, it would be nice to get the blacktop on the whole project: Way smoother than the bumps every metre on the sidewalk.

Still a massive improvement!

idunno · #**3733** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 9:01 PM**

There are rarely pedestrians on that stretch, so I think it'd be safe to say that cyclists could technically use the blacktop too.

TransitJack · #**3734** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 10:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by idunno

There are rarely pedestrians on that stretch, so I think it'd be safe to say that cyclists could technically use the blacktop too.

Except the light posts that would be an obstacle to avoid

Large Cat · #**3735** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 5:04 AM**

I was surprised and aghast with joy to discover today that the city of Burnaby has begun building an urban trail along Rumble in the South Slope neighbourhood. Coinciding with road repaving, the city is upgrading the sidewalk and sidewalk letdowns on the south side of the road, and building a full-fledged multi-use pathway on the north side, including full crossbike pavement markings to help cyclists and pedestrians continue at intersections. This is something I've suggested before in this thread, citing the overabundance of gravel street parking on Rumble, and it looks like something productive is finally being done with the land. The section currently under construction, and almost complete, is between MacPherson and Gilley, and will connect to the BC Parkway multi-use pathway under the skytrain at Rumble and Gilley. I am assuming the construction will continue westward in the near future, as there is certainly space for the pathway to continue, and the road all the way to Boundary could use some repaving. That said, the Willingdon urban trail extension still hasn't begun construction, so it remains to be seen what will be done first (or both!).

Pictures to follow the next time I'm in the area.

TransitJack · #**3736** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 5:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Large Cat

I was surprised and aghast with joy to discover today that the city of Burnaby has begun building an urban trail along Rumble in the South Slope neighbourhood. Coinciding with road repaving, the city is upgrading the sidewalk and sidewalk letdowns on the south side of the road, and building a full-fledged multi-use pathway on the north side, including full crossbike pavement markings to help cyclists and pedestrians continue at intersections. This is something I've suggested before in this thread, citing the overabundance of gravel street parking on Rumble, and it looks like something productive is finally being done with the land. The section currently under construction, and almost complete, is between MacPherson and Gilley, and will connect to the BC Parkway multi-use pathway under the skytrain at Rumble and Gilley. I am assuming the construction will continue westward in the near future, as there is certainly space for the pathway to continue, and the road all the way to Boundary could use some repaving. That said, the Willingdon urban trail extension still hasn't begun construction, so it remains to be seen what will be done first (or both!).

Pictures to follow the next time I'm in the area.

I was going to ride out that way today but opted to a different plan. I often ride along Rumble. I like Rumble as a route to Queensborough Bridge. I usually drop down to Neville east of McPherson to avoid that odd gravelled shoulder section. They were doing road work/sewer work when I was last in the area.

Though I'm appreciative of a bike route/lane/path, I hope the road itself will still have space for cyclists. As a road biker, the road is where I'd prefer to be and tend to be a hazard to other users on the shared-use paths.

Sometimes cities build multi-use paths at the expensive of on-road cycling space.

GlassCity · #**3737** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 5:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TransitJack

I was going to ride out that way today but opted to a different plan. I often ride along Rumble. I like Rumble as a route to Queensborough Bridge. I usually drop down to Neville east of McPherson to avoid that odd gravelled shoulder section. They were doing road work/sewer work when I was last in the area.

Though I'm appreciative of a bike route/lane/path, I hope the road itself will still have space for cyclists. As a road biker, the road is where I'd prefer to be and tend to be a hazard to other users on the shared-use paths.

Sometimes cities build multi-use paths at the expensive of on-road cycling space.

This, shared-use paths are just an easy cop out sometimes. In downtown Ladner (I know

) they installed a shared-use path about 15 metres long, and barely wider than a standard sidewalk. Does absolutely nothing for cyclists. I'd much rather be in an on-street bike lane than a shared use pathway where I have to dodge between pedestrians. That being said, separated bike lanes would be ideal

aberdeen5698 · #**3738** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 3:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

This, shared-use paths are just an easy cop out sometimes. In downtown Ladner (I know

) they installed a shared-use path about 15 metres long, and barely wider than a standard sidewalk. Does absolutely nothing for cyclists.

Cities often have a master plan that they are working towards but don't have a budget to fully implement. So they build these features into sections of road that have to be worked on for other reasons. Over time the plan will come to fruition. You can see this happening in places like Willingdon, where the cycle path is gradually being filled in as work is done on sections of the road.

GlassCity · #**3739** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Cities often have a master plan that they are working towards but don't have a budget to fully implement. So they build these features into sections of road that have to be worked on for other reasons. Over time the plan will come to fruition. You can see this happening in places like Willingdon, where the cycle path is gradually being filled in as work is done on sections of the road.

You can make that argument for its length, but the width is just not good enough. If it ever does get lengthened and so actually have people use it, it would be really unsafe due to its width. It just feels like cities take a regular sidewalk and put a "shared use" sign up so they don't have to actually do anything to improve cycling, since that would usually involve taking away space from cars. Calgary had paths like this all over the city.

Large Cat · #**3740** Posted **Oct 12, 2015, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

You can make that argument for its length, but the width is just not good enough. If it ever does get lengthened and so actually have people use it, it would be really unsafe due to its width. It just feels like cities take a regular sidewalk and put a "shared use" sign up so they don't have to actually do anything to improve cycling, since that would usually involve taking away space from cars. Calgary had paths like this all over the city.

That may be true, but in this case Burnaby IS taking space away from cars and giving it to pedestrians as well as cyclists. Previously there were NO or inadequate sidewalks on either side of the street, and literally 2 metres width of gravel parking for cars on each side. The residents couldn't possibly even use it all, even those with 3 cars per house. So this is a GREAT sign for the walkability of the neighbourhood, something Burnaby as a whole has been rather crappy on, on top of the benefit to cyclists.

On top of that, it DOES work for cyclists and pedestrians to share multi use trail in the suburbs, at least for the present. This isn't the Seawall, at least not yet lol. Cyclists just have to be willing to slow down a little bit and not act like motor vehicles. The whole BC parkway between Metrotown and 22nd St is already an example of how this can work. The more difficult aspect on Rumble honestly is that homeowners will have to obey the city and not continue parking their cars on the completed multi-use trail as they are doing at present.

Where "shared trails" don't generally work is where some or all of the following apply:

-there is no directional or instructional signage for cyclists
-the "trail" is immediately flush with the roadway and constrained on the other side by poles or trees
-the trail is made out of concrete or some uneven surface material other than asphalt
-there are no crossbike/wide crosswalk treatments at intersections where roadway must be crossed
-there is no connection at all to other multi-use pathways or adequate walking infrastructure except other sidewalks
-the trail isn't actually at the recommended width for multi use pathways

There is a lot of "shared space" in Vancouver that has these features, and I agree that usually such right of ways are useless or awkwars for cyclists. But none of these conditions apply here.