Metro Vancouver Bike & Pedestrian Discussion

[NetMapel]

I guess for somebody without a car to get an ebike is a net negative since that's an increase in my power consumption as I need to charge an extra bike. Hence no incentive for a net negative action!

[Sheba]

Metro Vancouver greenways plan could be 'game-changer' for the region

Imagine being able to ride a bicycle, wheel a mobility aid or walk from Langley to Lions Bay on an uninterrupted greenway that traverses parks, skirts waterways and weaves through every Metro Vancouver municipality.

The regional district is now updating a plan that, over the next 30 years, could make that vision a reality and almost double the length of the region’s greenways.

“This will be a game-changer for our region — I’m so convinced of it,” said Anmore Mayor John McEwen, who chairs Metro Vancouver’s regional parks committee. “I think this is a big one. I think this could rival SkyTrain when it first started up.”

The plan maps out 830 kilometres of greenways, which will connect with other multi-use corridors, such as TransLink’s major bike network and municipal greenways. About 480 km are already in place, but there are large breaks in the system, in particular south of the Fraser and in Richmond, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Some connections have been in the works for years, while others are new in this draft plan and meant to make the greenways “gap free.”

The expansion would help protect natural areas, support climate change mitigation, accommodate growth while maintaining livability, and provide more safe cycling infrastructure to keep up with demand.

...

Expanding the greenways network is not easy. High urban land prices and a reluctance to expropriate land mean development can be slow and expensive. Competing land uses make integrating greenways into existing development difficult.

...

A second phase of engagement on the plan, involving municipalities, agencies, First Nations and other interested parties, is set to take place this summer and fall. The results will help with development of the final report.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Metro Vancouver greenways plan could be 'game-changer' for the region

I am quite happy to see this network becoming a serious consideration for Metro Vancouver. Greenways are underrated IMO and relatively easy to implement.

I mean I seriously doubt someone from Langley is going to be walking to Lion's Bay anytime soon like it says in the article BUT the greenway connections to transit hubs and major destinations around Metro Vancouver will certainly help make active and green transportation more comfortable and easier to access.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by scryer

I am quite happy to see this network becoming a serious consideration for Metro Vancouver. Greenways are underrated IMO and relatively easy to implement.

I mean I seriously doubt someone from Langley is going to be walking to Lion's Bay anytime soon like it says in the article BUT the greenway connections to transit hubs and major destinations around Metro Vancouver will certainly help make active and green transportation more comfortable and easier to access.

I'm with you on this. I just wish they would quit making them multi-use pathways and divide them up a bit by type of users.

[officedweller]

Richards Bike Lane just south of Georgia.

Pic by me today:

[officedweller]

Richards bike path south of Georgia.
Pics by me today.

The path has been paved partially and is raised to the level of the [old crappy] sidewalk
(that will eventually be replaced with the adjacent redevelopment).

[Sheba]

City of Vancouver seeks feedback on 'slow streets' network

The City of Vancouver wants to know what's working and what's not with the 50 kilometres of streets it calmed to car traffic in an effort to promote more walking and cycling.

It's asking residents to fill out a survey about the so-called "slow streets" so that staff can either improve or enhance the spaces.

"So far we've been hearing really positive things," said Paul Storer, director of transportation for Vancouver. "There are no immediate plans to remove them."

In mid-April the city began installing signs and traffic barriers on some neighbourhood streets outside the downtown core to allow for people to use the streets for cycling and walking.

...

"We're trying to get feedback on them, kind of how they're going, what they're seeing out on the streets, are they working for them, are there improvements they'd like to see?" he said. "Did we miss some streets that really should be identified? That's going to inform some of what comes next."

Storer said the biggest complaint about the slow streets so far is that there is still too much vehicle traffic on them.

This month staff will add more signs and barriers to try to further reduce traffic.


A second survey

The city is also running another survey about street use called Making Streets for People, which overlaps with slow streets.

Making Streets for People encompasses other initiatives such as patio dining, pop-up plazas, and cycling routes.

[whatnext]

Fianlly some sanity though it likely comes too late for the businesses in the Park:

Stanley Park restoring vehicle, cycling access to pre-pandemic level
BY MIKE HALL
Posted Sep 18, 2020

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Stanley Park will restore vehicle and cycling access to pre-pandemic levels next week.

The Vancouver Park Board announced Friday that traffic restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic will be reversed Sept. 26. That includes opening Park Drive to two lanes of vehicle traffic and restoring cyclists’ access to the Seawall.

A rally was held Saturday to restore traffic in the park to the way it was.

In a move meant to reduce crowds and encourage physical distancing, the park was closed to all vehicle traffic in April. In June, the Park Board voted to allow traffic once again at reduced capacity by closing one lane, turning it into a bike lane, and limiting available parking spots....

https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/09/18/...full-vehicle-access-seawall-to-cyclists/

[officedweller]

Richards @ Robson by me Tuesday Sep 22:

[WarrenC12]

I was disappointed to see big sections of this lane 99% complete but still totally blocked off a few weeks back. Grand opening in time for winter I'm sure!

[officedweller]

It's been a very piecemeal construction. The north half of this same block was essentially finished with pavers before they started digging the south half of the block.

[jollyburger]

They approved the first phase of the Granville Street Connector project:

https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/...se-of-granville-bridge-connector-project

[logan5]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Agreed.
It puts cyclists in a dangerous position with lots of vehicles turning and parking, as well as narrow clearance to trucks and buses.
That's versus using a parallel route a block away and turning at the proper street for your destnation. A cyclist forced to use an arterial bike path may not even be interested in browsing the shops.
i seem to recall the basis being to make cycling more "visible".

You certainly move a lot faster when cycling along an arterial, because you don't have to slow down at every side street in case a car is crossing in front of you. So I would suggest putting bike traffic signals along 10th Ave. You can time them so that you see only greens, given a certain speed. That would be a lot of traffic lights though.

Maybe at some point, the Millenium Line will reduce car traffic driving into the Central Broadway office district, just as the Expo Line reduce car traffic coming into the dt peninsula, then we can look at adding a protected bike lane on Broadway.

[Sheba]

The Buzzer Blog - Bicycles to be temporarily allowed on SkyTrain during rush hours

TransLink customers can now take their bikes on SkyTrain at all times and in all directions on both the Expo and Millennium lines. This change will make it easier for customers to cycle and take transit during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the ridership is still low.

“We’re always looking at ways to improve our customer experience, especially as we navigate these unprecedented times,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “This change will give customers more opportunity to integrate cycling into their daily commute with transit and will hopefully encourage more people to leave their cars at home and support more greener modes of transportation this fall.”

This rule change is temporary and will run through until March 31, 2021. Previously, bicycles had been banned on the Expo and Millennium Lines during weekday rush hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bicycles have always been allowed on Canada Line at all times given the larger train configuration.

...

[Aroundtheworld]

Work has begun on the block between Nelson and Smithe:



Work finishing up between Robson and Georgia:

[Feathered Friend]

BC Cycling Coalition
@bccycle
· 20h
Coming soon - options for everyone.

5000-block Cambie Street, Vancouver.

https://twitter.com/bccycle/status/1319392984299786243?s=20

[s211]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://twitter.com/bccycle/status/1319392984299786243?s=20

Ummm... what? Options for everyone?

[officedweller]

That'll help with safety on the curve though - a lot of people can't drive well on curves.
That lamp base is awfully close to the lane edge though - I could see a car clipping that, even when the lamppost is installed.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by s211

Ummm... what? Options for everyone?

Well what mode of transportation doesn't go down that stretch? Ferry?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

That'll help with safety on the curve though - a lot of people can't drive well on curves.

it wont... this is south of the curve and north of the other curve. this is only on a straight stretch.