Proposal to eliminate car lane on Mountain Highway in North Vancouver for new bike lanes irks residents
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According to the District, for the central segment being considered between East 18th Street and East 27th Street, its traffic analysis indicates that the removal of one northbound vehicle lane would “not adversely impact vehicle capacity or vehicle delays.”
The changes are driven by a desire to address Mountain Highway’s issues of having the second most overall pedestrian-involved and cyclist-involved collisions within the municipality, and the most reported safety concerns by the public, with pedestrians not feeling comfortable walking on sidewalks in close proximity to fast-moving vehicles.
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That's good that the city is looking at doing something to help reduce drivers hitting pedestrians and cyclists. People deserve to feel safe and comfortable just walking around their own community/neighbourhood.
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Any minor obstacle, like a stopping bus, fender bender, would result in a severe backlog along the now-single lane. This doesn’t only affect me, but affects all others who rely on this route for their daily journeys,” reads the petition.
“While it is evident that creating safer space for bikers is crucial, the reduction in car lanes should not be the primary solution to this. Proper urban planning should consider the needs of all road users.”
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If you want to "consider the need for
ALL road users.", then I think having a proper bike lane there makes sense? If it is the only proper north-south corridor there which connects with the centre, then it stands to reason that people who don't drive also would want easier access to it as well?
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"Another comment reads, “There is an incredible number of apartment buildings that have been added to the area of Lynn Valley and more to come. The reduction of lanes for traffic is 100% a terrible idea.”
This comment also zeroed in on the possible low utility of a cycling route on steep terrain during the North Shore’s challenging winter conditions: “With over 10,000 new residents in the past 16 years, Lynn Valley needs more vehicular traffic lanes, not less. No sane person would ride a bike on Mountain Highway, just as no sane person would ride a bike in a snowfall.”
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This is a rather circular logic that only makes sense at first glance. With more housing and density comes more people. The solution is to build even bigger roads to accommodate more people is not a scalable one. You need to give people more alternative ways to travel from walking, transiting and cycling. If all the people there drive, the roads can never be widen enough to accommodate all the people. You can be sure that traffic congestion will be WORSE in that scenario. It's the same fail argument like the gun issues in the US where some people think the only way to fix their gun problem is more guns.
So, while I do not know the conditions of that road regarding inclines and snow, what I do know is that "more vehicular traffic lanes" is not the solution to whatever traffic issue they're currently facing.
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