Cyclists of all ages and abilities gathered in the 700-block of Fort Street on Sunday to celebrate the official opening of the dedicated, two-way, protected bike lanes running from Wharf to Cook Street.
Free bike rentals, family activities and live music welcomed those on bikes, scooters, tricycles B次元官网网址� even a penny-farthing.
Have you got wheels? Come on down!
B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)
Jordyn Gavinchuk, who watched as her toddler Brooke wheeled around on a balance bike, said having protected lanes makes her more inclined to bring the family cycling downtown.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a pretty active family so itB次元官网网址檚 nice that Victoria is expanding the ease of biking,B次元官网网址� she said.
Meet Jim 馃憞馃徎 He came out to celebrate the of the new on Fort Street today in
B次元官网网址� Kristyn Anthony (@kristyn_anthony)
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The construction of the hotly-debated bike lanes, the latest in the CityB次元官网网址檚 cycling network, has not been without its critics.
Some local businesses complained about disruption during the building phase, but Teri Hustins, owner of Oscar and LibbyB次元官网网址檚 and member of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, said today was about celebrating what the bike lanes will add to Fort Street.
B次元官网网址淭oday is really just about welcoming people back to the street, the celebration of the lanes and for people to rediscover the uniqueness of the businesses,B次元官网网址� said Hustins, who handed out free bike bells to riders passing through.
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Addressing the crowd, Mayor Lisa Helps B次元官网网址� an avid cyclist B次元官网网址� apologized to Fort Street businesses, acknowledging the construction had a significant impact. She then challenged those in the corridor to gauge their revenue starting Sunday B次元官网网址渨ith two times the amount of customers coming right by their front doors.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he reason weB次元官网网址檙e building this infrastructure is so that people who need to drive, people with disabilities, seniors B次元官网网址� will be able to do so, because all of those who would cycle, but donB次元官网网址檛 because itB次元官网网址檚 not safe, will be cycling,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it frees up road space and parking for everyone.
People want to live in close, connected, smart communities, she noted.
Fort Street is the second all ages and abilities bicycle route in the downtown core, connecting it to the rest of a 32-km network that rolls out to every neighbourhood, as well as to regional trails.
