Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Wow, this is stupid if true. Looks like PB staff is going to recommend bike lane options to send vehicle traffic out of Stanley Park through residential West End streets. I wonder if they are doing that solely because they know it will generate opposition. Reopening Beach is still the most sensible option.

https://twitter.com/VanPoliMorphus/s...199873/photo/1

3 possible exit routes as opposed to 1 (Beach, and in the process removes a well-used bike lane). Connecting directly to Robson is a great solution.

[GenWhy?]

Nelson and Chilco traffic circle might need to be replaced by a 4-way stop. All in all pretty good. They can get stuck in traffic in the West End all day long and I'll just walk by and wave.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

3 possible exit routes as opposed to 1 (Beach, and in the process removes a well-used bike lane). Connecting directly to Robson is a great solution.

I don't read that it is going to be 3 but rather just 1 of the 3...?

Regardless those are all residential streets, at least two with roundabouts and not wide enough for two lanes of traffic. I'd say PB staff has deliberately tried to make the options unpalatable.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

nelson and Chilco traffic circle might need to be replaced by a 4-way stop. All in all pretty good. They can get stuck in traffic in the West End all day long and I'll just walk by and wave.

Great so you'd happily have the WE residents bear the burden rather than restore the vehicular route from Second Beach to Davie & Denman.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Great so you'd happily have the WE residents bear the burden rather than restore the vehicular route from Second Beach to Davie & Denman.

I'd rather them keep it the way it is now, but that ain't gunna happen. So, as a WE-er. Yes. Keep Beach as is

[GenWhy?]

Bike and pedestrian congestion around Morton Park is soooo much better with the lanes reduced

[Changing City]

I'm pretty certain the Park Board can't make any decisions about Beach Avenue. The report to the Park Board says all three options "allow vehicle traffic to exit at Beach Avenue onto Park Lane as the fourth exit from the Park, in addition to the North Lagoon – Georgia Street exit, roundabout to Georgia Street exit, and the northbound Causeway exit."

What of the 'permanent bike lane replacement' that ABC Commissioners suggested could be built as if by magic in no time flat? It turns out that was all BS - it's likely to cost at least $40m and possibly as much as $100m. It will also take many years - requiring first nations consultation (and agreement, probably) and major archaeological review.

"Construction of a permanent, separated bike lane on Park Drive would require an extensive and comprehensive process complete with public, rights-holders and stakeholder engagement, design, substantial construction, archeological permitting and site supervision, traffic control and project management. A project of this scope would not be implementable within this capital plan or the next few capital plans without significant impacts to Park Board’s Capital and Operating budgets.

Further to this, timeline and costs increase significantly if the bike lane is constructed outside of existing road space due to the additional work required on archeological permitting, excavation, utility relocation, tree removal, material hauling, and structural reinforcement."

[FarmerHaight]

Digby is incensed about perceived shenanigans at the meeting tonight. Who knows if his claims are founded or whatever.

But the motion seems completely silly. Option C removes protections from where they are needed most: the climb up Prospect Point, where cyclists may travel as slow as 5 or 10 kmph while cars accelerate up to 30 or 40 kmph.

In addition, the motion says a permanent lane will be studied using summer 2023 usage data, after the current lane is gutted. I wonder what usage data will show when the bike lane is gone, two traffic lanes are implemented, and hundreds of parking spots are restored?

Finally, ABC makes it seem like "studying" a permanent solution is akin to building one. There is nothing stopping this Park Board or a future one from deciding spending $50 million on a permanent lane is frivolous, or that the funds are better allocated elsewhere.

I think if ABC is seriously considering building a permanent lane around Stanley Park in the future, they should leave the lane as it was and use the summer 2023 usage data to make an informed decision. If not enough cyclists use the lane, if traffic backups are too severe, etc. than no lane at all is necessary. But using flawed data from a neutered bike lane will do little to paint a full picture.

[whatnext]

So glad the “temporary” bike lane is gone along with the COPE-Green parks board that spawned it.

[officedweller]

I think they need to highlight the North Lagoon – Georgia Street exit with prominent signage.
Driving around the lagoon would provide nice vistas and you end up on a main thoroughfare.

[Jimbo604]

It's official: Park Board approves removal of Stanley Park bike lane
Kenneth Chan | Feb 13 2023, 8:25 pm

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vanc...proved-changes

"Option C carries the lowest cost of $330,000 — out of the three possible options created by Park Board staff for consideration. All of the work under this option is expected to reach completion by the end of May 2023, and it is a lower cost compared to the initial estimated cost of up to $425,000 to conduct such work on removing “all” of the bike lane."

Some spirited back and forth in the comments here and on Daily Hive. Maybe there is some common ground we could all agree on - retire the horse drawn carriage rides!

[WarrenC12]

So weird that removal of a "temporary" lane would cost so much. Maybe because it was never intended to be temporary...

[GenWhy?]

What's most bizarre is they went with the option I thought wouldn't even make drivers that happy. They will still be a huge line of cars along N. Lagoon Drive trying to leave 1 park exit. It's funny to watch, but I can't imagine this solves much.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

So weird that removal of a "temporary" lane would cost so much. Maybe because it was never intended to be temporary...

From the report - it doesn't look like there was much in place that wasn't temporary. They said they were hiring contractors for the work - maybe that's why it's expensive.

Concrete Barriers to be Removed $ 59,208.33
CL painting to be removed & reinstated $ 22,344.00
2,756 Cones to be removed $ 10,000.00
Signage to be removed $ 25,000.00
Special Line Painting to be removed $ 34,500.00
Repainting of traffic lines $ 30,000.00
Project Management, Traffic control, traffic management $ 55,000.00
Removal of curb and gutters, drainage pipes, asphalt ramps and asphalt path $ 40,000.00
Contingency (10%) $ 27,605.23
Engineering Design Fees $ 30,000.00
TOTAL COST $ 333,657.57

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Changing City

From the report - it doesn't look like there was much in place that wasn't temporary. They said they were hiring contractors for the work - maybe that's why it's expensive.

TOTAL COST $ 333,657.57

Yeah, you might wonder if staff who are supportive of the bike lane made it look difficult and expensive to remove.

This was announced around the same time as making the "slow streets" stuff permanent, which is already happening and far cheaper.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

What's most bizarre is they went with the option I thought wouldn't even make drivers that happy. They will still be a huge line of cars along N. Lagoon Drive trying to leave 1 park exit. It's funny to watch, but I can't imagine this solves much.

agreed what a joke. its the 1 exit that screws everything up. during Rush Hour(s) I WILL NOT GO TO THE PARK as I am not gonna take it in the ass getting out of the park and then mixing in with gridlock traffic from the causeway. SO RETARDED!

[jlove390]

Canada invests in safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians along Surrey's King George Boulevard

https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...870441338.html

[Lexus]

2023, Apr 22

New bike lanes in New West along Agnes St, between 6th St and 1st St. I believe they will eventually connect to new Pattullo Bridge bike pathway, which would me it a great connection and much better and pleasant grade!

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

[madog222]

Good to see that's almost complete.

Yes, connecting to the Pattullo replacement on the east side and for now stops at douglas college on the west side. Phase 2 will extend to New Westminster Station and the waterfront.

[Tvisforme]

Anyone have an idea as to the longest uninterrupted bike lane route in the metro area? There must be some fairly long ones by now, given the progress over the years.