Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion

[Conrad Yablonski]

insulting a long-time, well-educated forumer's definition of the word "wilderness"

Calling someone on the complete Bee Ess they've posted is SOP anywhere on the net-how long they've posted same has no bearing on the situation.

Also-This Just In-embarrassing oneself with puerile hissy fits is no way to make a point-have a nice time in the 'wilderness'.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

Calling someone on the complete Bee Ess they've posted is SOP anywhere on the net-how long they've posted same has no bearing on the situation.

Also-This Just In-embarrassing oneself with puerile hissy fits is no way to make a point-have a nice time in the 'wilderness'.

Can we please keep to the topic?

[tybuilding]

http://www.change.org/en-CA/petition...-bike-network#

North Vancouver District Council: Build a safe and complete bike network

On August 14, 2012 a cyclist was hit from behind by an SUV while he was riding up East Keith Road in North Vancouver. A bike lane that had been planned for this section of road would likely have prevented the collision. The bike lane was cancelled by North Vancouver District Council despite community support, extensive traffic studies and being part of the Bicycle Master Plan. On the same day, two other cyclists were struck by cars in North Vancouver.

The current bike network in the District of North Vancouver is a patchwork of incomplete, poorly signed bike routes and dangerous intersections. District Council does not seem to understand the benefits of cycling to health, the community, local businesses, the environment and public finances, and they do little to keep cyclists safe or to encourage cycling. A large and growing number of North Shore residents of all ages cycle in North Vancouver, along with people coming by bike to the North Shore from Vancouver, Burnaby and beyond.

Please sign this petition if you would like to see faster progress towards a safe and complete bike network in North Vancouver District. HUB: Your Cycling Connection is advocating for better cycling infrastructure in North Vancouver, but District Council also needs to hear from people who bike and from their families and friends who want to keep them safe.

[tybuilding]

When the bridge opens in late 2012/early 2013, it will open with eight lanes. The final design of the bridge will have ten lanes and one multi-use path on the east side of the new bridge. A portion of the existing bridge must be dismantled in order to complete the final two lanes and multi-use path on the north and south approach. As such, the multi-use path and connections will be complete when the final two lanes are complete in 2014. I apologize for any misinformation you received.

The multi-use path at 112 Avenue will be open this year, however, as mentioned above, the connection to the west to the bridge will not be complete. The drawings for the multi-use path at 112 Avenue and the commuter cyclist paths at 152 Street are shown in the following diagram:

http://www.pmh1project.com/Design%20...2020120207.pdf

As part of the PMH1 Project, we are building an off-road facility from the bridge to United Boulevard and Fawcett Road as shown on the following design drawing:

http://www.pmh1project.com/Design%20...2020120207.pdf

West of this location, the City of Coquitlam is still looking at how this will be continued to King Edward and further west to Brunette Avenue and the Central Valley Greenway. Any additional inquiries you have about this should be directed to them.

--- Email I received from Jodi

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

http://www.change.org/en-CA/petition...-bike-network#

North Vancouver District Council: Build a safe and complete bike network

On August 14, 2012 a cyclist was hit from behind by an SUV while he was riding up East Keith Road in North Vancouver. A bike lane that had been planned for this section of road would likely have prevented the collision. The bike lane was cancelled by North Vancouver District Council despite community support, extensive traffic studies and being part of the Bicycle Master Plan. On the same day, two other cyclists were struck by cars in North Vancouver.

The current bike network in the District of North Vancouver is a patchwork of incomplete, poorly signed bike routes and dangerous intersections. District Council does not seem to understand the benefits of cycling to health, the community, local businesses, the environment and public finances, and they do little to keep cyclists safe or to encourage cycling. A large and growing number of North Shore residents of all ages cycle in North Vancouver, along with people coming by bike to the North Shore from Vancouver, Burnaby and beyond.

Please sign this petition if you would like to see faster progress towards a safe and complete bike network in North Vancouver District. HUB: Your Cycling Connection is advocating for better cycling infrastructure in North Vancouver, but District Council also needs to hear from people who bike and from their families and friends who want to keep them safe.

Can't say I'm in favour of an E Keith road lane - my 100 hp Mazda 2 can barely make it up that hill - but I do feel sympathy for anyone suicidal enough to ride a bike on north shore roads. I tried to go down 3rd street once and ended up going on the sidewalk because it was too dangerous.

In related news, people are freaking out about losing three (3) parking spots on Esplanade to a bike lane. I don't think I've ever been able to park on Esplanade before 9pm.

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Can't say I'm in favour of an E Keith road lane - my 100 hp Mazda 2 can barely make it up that hill - but I do feel sympathy for anyone suicidal enough to ride a bike on north shore roads. I tried to go down 3rd street once and ended up going on the sidewalk because it was too dangerous.

In related news, people are freaking out about losing three (3) parking spots on Esplanade to a bike lane. I don't think I've ever been able to park on Esplanade before 9pm.

I think you can put me in the same boat. I've lived in North Vancouver almost my entire life and spent much of my youth biking around the District. I think the proposed Keith Road bike lane would be redundant because there is already a lane on 3rd Street. The limited number of cyclists using Keith hardly justifies the removal of 1 of the 2 lanes going up the hill.

To improve safety I think the lighting along Keith could be improved and bike arrows could be painted on the right lane to remind drivers that it is a shared lane.

[Pinion]

nm

[tybuilding]

New cycling infrastructure same old recycled garbage.

Brand new from the Gateway project, new and improved infrastructure to throw cyclists off their bike and into driving cars for possible injury or death. Watch out at 160th southbound at 104 Ave.





What should be installed:

[logan5]

Critical Mass ain't all that bad. It's mostly a fun bike pride parade that takes place on the last Friday of the (nice) months. Of course there are a few incidents here and there, but it's mostly pretty innocent - I can live with it.

(Previous Critical Mass post has disappeared!)

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

New cycling infrastructure same old recycled garbage. ...What should be installed:

Is that grate square? It may be that the worker who placed it was just clueless and didn't orient it the right way. It would be "mostly harmless" if it was just rotated 90 degrees.

[s211]

Originally Posted by logan5

Critical Mass ain't all that bad. It's mostly a fun bike pride parade that takes place on the last Friday of the (nice) months. Of course there are a few incidents here and there, but it's mostly pretty innocent - I can live with it.

(Previous Critical Mass post has disappeared!)

Riding again with those rose-coloured shades, instead of proper UV sunglasses, are we?

Critical Mass is getting close to being the Brownshirts of the cycling world. Makes the rest of cyclists embarrassed to be a cyclist in the first place.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Is that grate square? It may be that the worker who placed it was just clueless and didn't orient it the right way. It would be "mostly harmless" if it was just rotated 90 degrees.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Anyways if you (tybuilding) send these pictures to the project contact page I am pretty sure it will be corrected very fast. Hope you did that instead of just posting them here.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by s211

Riding again with those rose-coloured shades, instead of proper UV sunglasses, are we?

Critical Mass is getting close to being the Brownshirts of the cycling world. Makes the rest of cyclists embarrassed to be a cyclist in the first place.

I was compelled to check out critical mass by Vancouver radio personality David Pratt (who I would describe as a Rush Limbaugh/Homer Simpson hybrid), who was ranting and raving as usual about critical mass. I almost felt let down that there were no incidents, and then no incidents again the next time I went.

There are lots of youtube videos showing the same thing over and over again - people, some with kids, just out for a fun bikeride. There is a constant police presence, so this makes it difficult for those few individuals looking for confrontation; either motorist or cyclist.

If I'm wearing rose coloured shades (which I would never wear by the way), then you must be wearing the opposite, whatever tint that is, cuz nothin' much happens on these rides.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by logan5

I was compelled to check out critical mass by Vancouver radio personality David Pratt (who I would describe as a Rush Limbaugh/Homer Simpson hybrid), who was ranting and raving as usual about critical mass. I almost felt let down that there were no incidents, and then no incidents again the next time I went.

There are lots of youtube videos showing the same thing over and over again - people, some with kids, just out for a fun bikeride. There is a constant police presence, so this makes it difficult for those few individuals looking for confrontation; either motorist or cyclist.

If I'm wearing rose coloured shades (which I would never wear by the way), then you must be wearing the opposite, whatever tint that is, cuz nothin' much happens on these rides.

A incident like this? • Video Link

[WarrenC12]

Critical Mass is fine until they purposely stop traffic, especially in places like the Lions Gate bridge. Blocking traffic is irresponsible and immature. Emergency vehicles can't get to where they need to go. Individuals may face serious repercussions for being late to something (job interview? pregnant woman in labour?).

To argue that cyclists aren't well respected and provided for in the City of Vancouver is a complete joke. I don't think the City caters specifically to cyclists, but I'm happy with the progress made on cycling infrastructure.

If you want to make a change, go ride down No. 3 Road in Richmond and go to their city hall.

FWIW I commute by bicycle about 75% of the time.

[officedweller]

There are painted markings in the middle of West 2nd at Ontario for a bike island - so through traffic on Ontario (other than bikes) and left turns from West 2nd will be prohibited.

The left turn lanes at (I think) Quebec and maybe Main are aslo getting modified medians (not sure if they will contain trees or not). There may be a new left turn lane from westbound 2nd to southbound Quebec.

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

To argue that cyclists aren't well respected and provided for in the City of Vancouver is a complete joke. I don't think the City caters specifically to cyclists, but I'm happy with the progress made on cycling infrastructure.

If you want to make a change, go ride down No. 3 Road in Richmond and go to their city hall.

It should rotate through the burbs

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Anyways if you (tybuilding) send these pictures to the project contact page I am pretty sure it will be corrected very fast. Hope you did that instead of just posting them here.

I sent them to the Port Mann project, [email protected] and made an emergency service (pothole call number). The city responded and told them to fix that spot spot and the others that I found out about later.

I am disappointed that it seems this wasn't just one spot. I am considering writing the APEGBC magazine requesting engineers to step up their cycling infrastructure design and make sure the details are also safe, considering the recent news about the Sea to Sky Highway where recent construction still has bad detailing that is negatively affecting the safety of cyclists.

There is a lot to be desired when it comes to cycling infrastructure and new ways of making cycling safe. For example many bike lanes direct cyclists into right turn lanes, but a recent court decision found a cyclist to be partly at fault for a vehicle incident involving the cyclist straddling the lane (left side of right turn lane) and a turning vehicle where the driver must of thought that the cyclist was turning as the cyclist was in the de facto turn lane. http://www.rbs.ca/newsroom-publicati...ct-fiasco.html For example the lane could have been marked like:
http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/...gh-bike-lanes/ or http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/...laneturn-lane/.

[whatnext]

West End NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert is launching a campaign to get the City to enforce laws prohibiting cyclists from riding on the sidewalk, after numerous complaints from constituents, including a woman with a toddler in a stroller and a senior whose hip was broken after being struck by cyclists.

http://www.straight.com/article-7710...dewalk-cycling

[Porfiry]

Pedestrians walking on bike paths or crossing paths without due care should also be fined. It's equally dangerous if not more dangerous, considering that bike traffic on paths tends to be moving at a higher speed than elsewhere.