Metro Vancouver Bike & Pedestrian Discussion

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Just turn off at Beatty to Dunsmuir and use that bike lane.

I notice there is an unloading zone at the Orpheum which is absolutely needed, but what does that mean, bikes have to veer out into traffic there?

Same as other passenger unloading zones like at L'Hermitage.
They just have to watch out of bikes.
But I guess the Orhpeum probably has more older patrons who may not be as aware of their surroundings.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Just turn off at Beatty to Dunsmuir and use that bike lane.

One could say the same for the cars. In fact they have more route options than the bikes do.

[Klazu]

If Vancouver would really aspire to become a bicycle friendly city, we would do something about the rampart bicycle theft. Owning a bicycle in this city has become a huge headache and there is nothing these expensive bike lanes will do to change that.

Also, for every new cyclist there are two new drivers being created, as most of the new inhabitants live in far-flung suburbs where car is the only mean to commute.

I stopped supporting bike lanes the moment they started building them on the busiest roads instead of calm side streets.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I stopped supporting bike lanes the moment they started building them on the busiest roads instead of calm side streets.

In most of the city the bike lanes are on the calm side streets (10th Ave, Ontario, Central Valley, etc.). But there no calm side streets downtown.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Klazu

If Vancouver would really aspire to become a bicycle friendly city, we would do something about the rampart bicycle theft.

Come now. Having a bike stolen is a rite of passage here.

I had one stolen a month ago.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Klazu

If Vancouver would really aspire to become a bicycle friendly city, we would do something about the rampart bicycle theft. Owning a bicycle in this city has become a huge headache and there is nothing these expensive bike lanes will do to change that.

Yes it's a huge problem. But at least in the central area there is bike share. I use that if I'm going somewhere for a while and don't want to think about my bike's safety.

Originally Posted by Klazu

Also, for every new cyclist there are two new drivers being created, as most of the new inhabitants live in far-flung suburbs where car is the only mean to commute.

Got some stats to back up that weird claim?

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

In most of the city the bike lanes are on the calm side streets (10th Ave, Ontario, Central Valley, etc.). But there no calm side streets downtown.

Ya in / near the CBD for a west route that is "calm" I can only think of Robson, but with conflicts with transit on that road south of Granville, and what to do with the route west of Burrard (connect at Bute with Alberni?).

As Van's mode share of cars decreases each year (under 55%, lower in the core) and last data* for 2018(?) showed cars coming into downtown are not higher than decades ago (considering the population increase in the region), I think it's reasonable, digestible on Smithe.

*Data is in Viaduct thread, beaten to death. I don't work on a project near there anymore and can't be bothered to dig it back up.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Yes it's a huge problem. But at least in the central area there is bike share. I use that if I'm going somewhere for a while and don't want to think about my bike's safety.

Got some stats to back up that weird claim?

Doesn't sound odd for Metro Van data.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

One could say the same for the cars. In fact they have more route options than the bikes do.

Sure, then we could remove the bike lane on Dunsmuir to accommodate that increased vehicle volume, right? And of course the increased volume of cars turning off Smithe, across the bike lane to Dunsmuir would be no problem.

The fact the Bike lobby will never admit is the bike lanes are very poorly used outside of the morning and evening commute. There's a far greater imbalance in usage than in vehicle lanes. You can shoot a cannon down the Hornby bike lane even during a summer evening.

[GenWhy?]

Regional data for bike commuters will obviously be lower than transit and cars until suburban downtowns get more office space. Then the mode share than Vancouver sees will be realized in those municipalities. Big opportunities for bike mode increases for Burnaby, especially.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Sure, then we could remove the bike lane on Dunsmuir to accommodate that increased vehicle volume, right? And of course the increased volume of cars turning off Smithe, across the bike lane to Dunsmuir would be no problem.

The fact the Bike lobby will never admit is the bike lanes are very poorly used outside of the morning and evening commute. There's a far greater imbalance in usage than in vehicle lanes. You can shoot a cannon down the Hornby bike lane even during a summer evening.

Why would a bike lane be busy when most people are at work?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The fact the Bike lobby will never admit is the bike lanes are very poorly used outside of the morning and evening commute. There's a far greater imbalance in usage than in vehicle lanes. You can shoot a cannon down the Hornby bike lane even during a summer evening.

Vast majority of roads are the same all hours of the day. What's your point?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Vast majority of roads are the same all hours of the day. What's your point?

Vehicle lanes downtown retain a much higher percentage of their usage in the off hours than the bike lanes do.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Also, for every new cyclist there are two new drivers being created, as most of the new inhabitants live in far-flung suburbs where car is the only mean to commute.

Not too many new inhabitants in the far-flung suburbs commute to Downtown by car. Most of the jobs in Vancouver are taken by people who live in Vancouver. Because we have such a significant population living Downtown, in the West End and nearby in the rest of the core, we have easily the highest proportion of walking and biking to work of any sizeable community in Canada. Since 2016 biking has increased significantly within Vancouver, so the 2021 data will probably show a higher number again.

Downtown Vancouver has a practical limit on the number of cars that can fit anyway - most of the new office towers being built are replacing parkades, so there's no additional parking being provided, and in future developers can choose not to build any parking Downtown.

About 170,000 people commuted into the City in 2016 (numbers from the last Census, so the last reliable data). That's from within the Metro Region, and beyond. About 40,000 travelled from Burnaby, 30,000 from Surrey and 22,000 from Richmond. 20,000 come from North Vancouver (mostly from the City) and 10,000 come from New Westminster. All of those are locations with good transit links to Downtown. Since the 2016 data was collected transit has extended further to some of the far-flung suburbs. Future transit investment will extend the locations accessible by transit, both as destinations and where high-density residential developments are being built.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Vehicle lanes downtown retain a much higher percentage of their usage in the off hours than the bike lanes do.

And that's why there are so many more vehicle lanes than bike lanes downtown.

[GenWhy?]

Appreciate typing what I'm too lazy to, Changing.

We were working with a client that is looking at a office downtown in the CBD with only car share... love the new no parking requirement in the parking by-law.

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Vehicle lanes downtown retain a much higher percentage of their usage in the off hours than the bike lanes do.

Do you actually have stats to back this up?

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

Do you actually have stats to back this up?

Well, it isn't that crazy to think of especially since most roads downtown connect properly, while the bike lane (AAA or otherwise) are not all connected or complete. For instance, think of biking to Waterfront Station from anywhere without using a sidewalk. I'm okay using Cordova, but it is very nerve-wracking even before construction at the corner of Granville.

The bike lane extended to Richards / Cordova / Water makes things easier in that intersection a bit when I'm in or going through Gastown, but god things just are not connected yet for your average cyclist around there.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Vehicle lanes downtown retain a much higher percentage of their usage in the off hours than the bike lanes do.

And... so... what?

Should we get rid of a lot of our roads because cars don't use them very much in the middle of the night?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Well, it isn't that crazy to think of especially since most roads downtown connect properly, while the bike lane (AAA or otherwise) are not all connected or complete. For instance, think of biking to Waterfront Station from anywhere without using a sidewalk. I'm okay using Cordova, but it is very nerve-wracking even before construction at the corner of Granville.

The bike lane extended to Richards / Cordova / Water makes things easier in that intersection a bit when I'm in or going through Gastown, but god things just are not connected yet for your average cyclist around there.

It'll be interesting to see the bike lane usage on Richards, the lane always seems to be dead (on the north end of it near Gastown).

With the newer office developments incorporating bike lockers/end of trip rooms it would probably be useful to gather statistics on usage to guide future developments.