Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion - Page 22

Locked In · #**421** Posted **Feb 5, 2010, 5:41 AM**

This is from Frances Bula's blog - sounds promising! There's no doubt that even a few separated bike paths through the downtown core would make a huge difference to the average person's comfort level and willingness to go downtown on a bicycle.

Quote:

Apparently council today added to the existing staff recommendation by voting in favour of a plan to try out a downtown bike lane by the end of the year.

Here’s the motion that Geoff Meggs brought to council.

1. THAT a separated bike lane be constructed on the Dunsmuir Viaduct at a cost not exceeding $300,000; source of funds being the 2009 Streets Basic Capital Budget (Bike Network), including a monitoring and evaluation program with a report back to Council regarding the results ;
2. THAT separated bike lanes, connecting the Burrard Bridge and Dunsmuir Viaduct to the central business district, be approved in principle with a report back to Council in the spring regarding the results of public consultation on the design and alignment as well as options for a trial of separated lanes in the central business district this year;
3. That staff report on options in 2010 to conduct a trial of a fully separated bike lane or lanes on part of the city’s existing local street bikeways.

Source: State of Vancouver - Frances Bula on city life and politics

b5baxter · #**422** Posted **Mar 4, 2010, 5:53 PM**

Here are some photos of the new bike lane:

WarrenC12 · #**423** Posted **Mar 4, 2010, 5:55 PM**

Great pics. How does the viaduct interact with existing bike routes in the city? Where do you go to/from on the east end?

b5baxter · #**424** Posted **Mar 4, 2010, 5:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Great pics. How does the viaduct interact with existing bike routes in the city? Where do you go to/from on the east end?

On the east the viaduct joins the Adanac bike route (one of the most used in the city) and on the west it joins a bike lane that already existed on the rest of Dunsmuit street and meets the bike lane on Beaty street.

tybuilding · #**425** Posted **Mar 5, 2010, 11:41 PM**

I am not sure if it has been mentioned but all of the cycling route maps on the translink website have been updated:

http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Cycling-Routes.aspx

Metro-One · #**426** Posted **Mar 6, 2010, 12:10 AM**

Nice. I think the idea of having bike lanes on the viaducts is a good idea. The viaducts only really need to be 2 traffic lanes each way.

What i don't understand is why are there random gap openings along the barrier?

Also, is the on ramp still able to merge or is it now a yield? (a yield is a bad idea)

And last of all, I hope they put proper reflectors along the sides of the new barriers.

cabotp · #**427** Posted **Mar 6, 2010, 9:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Nice. I think the idea of having bike lanes on the viaducts is a good idea. The viaducts only really need to be 2 traffic lanes each way.

What i don't understand is why are there random gap openings along the barrier?

Also, is the on ramp still able to merge or is it now a yield? (a yield is a bad idea)

And last of all, I hope they put proper reflectors along the sides of the new barriers.

Usually if the on ramp isn't long enough to get up to speed they will put a yield. While a merge would be better. If there is no room a yield is safer in the long run.

big T · #**428** Posted **Mar 7, 2010, 4:05 AM**

My gf and I just tried the Dunsmuir bike lane this morning (we live right next to the Stadium station), and I already love it. They also put a "bike box" to make a left on Beatty coming from the viaduct, which I think is absolutely brilliant.
I've been biking around the city for two months now and I still can't believe how amazing the infrastructure and signage is. Dedicated lanes, bike symbols on street signs, and best of all dedicated bike crossing signals to help cross busy thoroughfares -- biking in Vancouver is a first class experience! (today was especially awesome with all the cherry trees blossoming)

GeeCee · #**429** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 8:28 AM**

The new bike lane on the duct is set to open officially tomorrow.. unfortunately Councillor Meggs has been in an accident and won't be able to attend the opening.

Vancouver city councillor injured in bike accident

Quote:

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A Vancouver city councillor is in hospital nursing wounds following a bike accident this Tuesday morning - the very same councillor who's been advocating the opening of a bike lane on the Dunsmuir Viaduct, which opens Wednesday.

Geoff Meggs had quite the spill. In fact, he's telling fellow city councillors he can't remember anything about the accident, which involved a car.

His city hall colleague Kerry Jang says Meggs is in good spirits in hospital, but he will need surgery some time this week for his neck.

"If anything, he's going to be disappointed he'll miss the opening of the Dunsmuir Viaduct bike lane. That was something he was looking forward to," says Jang.

Meggs is an experienced cyclist, and was out for a morning recreational ride on a south Vancouver bike lane when he took his fall.

Get well soon.

Looking forward to more first hand reviews and pictures form the rest of you.

vansky · #**430** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 11:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeCee

The new bike lane on the duct is set to open officially tomorrow.. unfortunately Councillor Meggs has been in an accident and won't be able to attend the opening.

Vancouver city councillor injured in bike accident

Get well soon.

Looking forward to more first hand reviews and pictures form the rest of you.

bikes r never safe here, there's not enough bike lanes

WarrenC12 · #**431** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 6:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansky

bikes r never safe here, there's not enough bike lanes

Mayor Moonbeam spoke this morning about more protected bike lanes possibly on Hornby or Burrard.

Meggs was injured near Granville and 51st. He's undergoing surgery at VGH, yikes.

whatnext · #**432** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Mayor Moonbeam spoke this morning about more protected bike lanes possibly on Hornby or Burrard.

Meggs was injured near Granville and 51st. He's undergoing surgery at VGH, yikes.

I disagree with Meggs virtually every time he opens his mouth, but nonetheless wish him a speedy recovery from what is reportedly neck surgery.

BTW, where is there a bike route near Granville and 51st?

officedweller · #**433** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 8:43 PM**

The Courier said he was on Angus Drive.

WarrenC12 · #**434** Posted **Mar 10, 2010, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

I disagree with Meggs virtually every time he opens his mouth, but nonetheless wish him a speedy recovery from what is reportedly neck surgery.

BTW, where is there a bike route near Granville and 51st?

Me too. At least he was wearing a helmet. He said he doesn't remember what happened. Likely he wouldn't still be alive without the helmet.

whatnext · #**435** Posted **Mar 11, 2010, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Me too. At least he was wearing a helmet. He said he doesn't remember what happened. Likely he wouldn't still be alive without the helmet.

Hopefully that's a lesson to our cycling posters who claim helmets are a bad thing.

racc · #**436** Posted **Mar 11, 2010, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

Hopefully that's a lesson to our cycling posters who claim helmets are a bad thing.

Please get it right. No one has ever claimed helmets are a bad thing, just helmet laws. Go back and read the posts again. No point in opening up the debate again for people who don't bother reading carefully.

SpongeG · #**437** Posted **Mar 12, 2010, 1:40 AM**

there is a cycling singles ad on this page - creepy

whatnext · #**438** Posted **Mar 19, 2010, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by racc

Please get it right. No one has ever claimed helmets are a bad thing, just helmet laws. Go back and read the posts again. No point in opening up the debate again for people who don't bother reading carefully.

"Those who doubt the value of the helmet bylaw are welcome to view my shattered bike helmet."

Straight from Councillor Meggs.

http://communities.canada.com/VANNET...-the-mend.aspx

WBC · #**439** Posted **Mar 19, 2010, 3:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

"Those who doubt the value of the helmet bylaw are welcome to view my shattered bike helmet."

Straight from Councillor Meggs.

http://communities.canada.com/VANNET...-the-mend.aspx

Nah - I am sure that racc sports one of those giant "afros". What he needs is a "hairmet".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0rGoWtF-hs

racc · #**440** Posted **Mar 19, 2010, 4:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

"Those who doubt the value of the helmet bylaw are welcome to view my shattered bike helmet."

Straight from Councillor Meggs.

http://communities.canada.com/VANNET...-the-mend.aspx

Again, this is confusing the law with the device. Obviously the helmet did its job in this case. The real solution however, is to prevent collisions from occurring in the first place. Helmet did not protect the rest of the body from serious injury. The helmet law may actually increase collisions as the police waste their time enforcing the helmet law instead of cracking down on cyclists and motorists who are endangering themselves and others on the road. Shockingly, almost all the tickets issued in Vancouver to cyclists were for not wearing helmets. Even worse, they camp out on the Seawalk and waste their time ticketing cyclists, probably who are mostly from out of town, for not wearing helmets.

Anyway, what is really needed to protect cyclists heads and the rest of their bodies from injuries is bicycle facilities that are separated from cars.

People who really know about cycling ridicule the helmet law (and "safety vests". Check out this blog post from the Netherlands, where 30% of people cycle.
http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/...vancouver.html