Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion

[Porfiry]

Originally Posted by s211

(for the people daft and pigheaded enough to bike in snow)

Biking in the snow is an entirely reasonable thing to do.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

Yes, I saw the little plows clearing the bike lanes (for the people daft and pigheaded enough to bike in snow) and thought what a wonderful world it would be if the city actually cleared major pedestrian routes, and then reminded myself where I was: Land o'Gregor.

Bike lanes are transportation infrastructure that is the city's responsibility to clear.

Sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner.

But don't let facts get in the way of your Gregor-hate.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The title is editorialized. Why not ask why the roads are clear too?

The real complaint should be about sidewalks only. Putting bike lanes in the title stirs up needless controversy, and brings out the bike-hater lobby (case in point).

If you look at the pictures in the article, it is apparent the city cleared the bike lane around the seawall but not the pedestrian portion. That pedestrian path is solely the city's responsibility.

As to sidewalks fronting private property, it is clear the current system does not work. Downtown and South Granville there were sidewalks that were compacted to ice long before property owners could/did get to them. The city needs to step up and put money where it's mouth is regarding pedestrian priority.

I'm sure there were a handful of quixotic cyclists trying to get around during the snow. But the number compared to pedestrians and transit users was miniscule.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by whatnext

If you look at the pictures in the article, it is apparent the city cleared the bike lane around the seawall but not the pedestrian portion. That pedestrian path is solely the city's responsibility.

It's the Park Board's responsibility, and IMHO the Park Board has a pretty bad track record when it comes to snow clearing.

The schools generally do a pretty decent job of their sidewalks, as you'd expect in order to safeguard against injuries to school children. But the school I walk past regularly hasn't had its sidewalks cleared since the start of the Christmas break.

I think it's perfectly valid to protest the actions of the responsible parties when sidewalks aren't cleared. But the fact that at least the bike lanes are being cleared is a good thing, and I see no reason to imply there there's something wrong with doing that. It's not like the people who are clearing the bike lanes have been hijacked from sidewalk clearing duties.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

It's the Park Board's responsibility, and IMHO the Park Board has a pretty bad track record when it comes to snow clearing.

The schools generally do a pretty decent job of their sidewalks, as you'd expect in order to safeguard against injuries to school children. But the school I walk past regularly hasn't had its sidewalks cleared since the start of the Christmas break.

I think it's perfectly valid to protest the actions of the responsible parties when sidewalks aren't cleared. But the fact that at least the bike lanes are being cleared is a good thing, and I see no reason to imply there there's something wrong with doing that. It's not like the people who are clearing the bike lanes have been hijacked from sidewalk clearing duties.

Parks Board, School Board, City Engineering, it is all the City of Vancouver. Maybe when they were clearing the bike lane they should have given some thought to using whatever machinery they had on the adjacent, similarly sized pedestrian path.

[officedweller]

Pic of the offending area.
The bias is rather obvious.
It even looks like multiple clearings on the bike path and no clearing on the pedestrian path.
Note the pedestrians walking on the bike path.


https://twitter.com/BradleyWattum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Pic of the offending area.
The bias is rather obvious.
It even looks like multiple clearings on the bike path and no clearing on the pedestrian path.
Note the pedestrians walking on the bike path.

I wonder if the expectation is that everyone will share the one path, rather than doubling the amount of work by clearing them both? It's not as if it's a crowded summer day with tons of cyclists and pedestrians...

[officedweller]

That's a very plausible explanation.
(but not used by officials)

[s211]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner.

Then go tell that to the city and all the sites that it's responsible for, because there was SFA done anywhere unless a bike was involved.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

Then go tell that to the city and all the sites that it's responsible for, because there was SFA done anywhere unless a bike was involved.

Meh, I can't be bothered, I don't care enough.

Hopefully you did though, since posting about it on here will amount to SFA.

[officedweller]

Not sure if it has been mentioned, but the bike and pedestrian paths along NEFC have been separated with wooden bollards separating the paths:


https://twitter.com/lesterclj64

[idunno]

Yeah, they've done a nice job for a 'temporary' installation (pre-NEFC redevelopment at least).

I look forward to the south false creek seawall improvements that, AFAIK, have already been started!

[s211]

Originally Posted by idunno

I look forward to the south false creek seawall improvements that, AFAIK, have already been started!

Do you know what and where the improvements will be? I'd look forward to see upgrades for biking along the south seawall. I avoid the area right now, and end up biking on side streets instead of dodging weaving around pedestrians on the seawalk in that area.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

Do you know what and where the improvements will be? I'd look forward to see upgrades for biking along the south seawall. I avoid the area right now, and end up biking on side streets instead of dodging weaving around pedestrians on the seawalk in that area.

There were several phases between roughly Cambie and Burrard Bridges on the plan, and now I can't seem to find them anywhere. Odd.

Has work actually started? it was all slated for Winter 2016-Spring 2017 IIRC.

[GlassCity]

Consultation information and survey released on the next steps of the Arbutus Greenway:

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

[officedweller]

Upgrades to south False Creek Seawall to start this May:

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/south...ll-closed-2017

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/03/s...ll-bike-lanes/

[officedweller]

Burrard Bridge west side complete and traffic has bee shifted to work on the east side:


https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2017...#comment-84356


https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2017...#comment-84356

[LeftCoaster]

Drove over it the other day. After all the outrage the fences and sidewalk look great.

Hope the Jersey barriers are temporary though, they really clash with the rest of the design.

[officedweller]

Doubt the jersey barriers are temporary.
They are new (they removed all the old ones last weekend) and they look custom designed - you can see a curve in the first pic.

[LeftCoaster]

Well that's disappointing. Would hope for a heritage bridge like this they could have thrown some planters or something more sensitive to the design on.