The downtown Victoria bike lanes are a contentious topic; on one side theyB次元官网网址檙e focused on safety and green transportation, on the other theyB次元官网网址檙e invasive and expensive.
City council and staff are aware of these facts and in a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe prompted City engineers to speak of the lessons learned in the Pandora Avenue and Fort Street bike lanes.
Director of engineering and public works, Fraser Work, was candid in his response.
B次元官网网址淚f I could go back in time, I would want to re-frame at a staff level that this is about safety,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of questions come up about B次元官网网址榳hy not simply add more painted lanesB次元官网网址� that have such a lower cost B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 not what this is about. From a staff level IB次元官网网址檓 most interested in the safety for all cyclists that move in and out of traffic.B次元官网网址�
Work said the bike lanes come up in conversations a lot, and even among his own family members he gets a little heat.
B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楤low em up!B次元官网网址� those were my parents words,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢y parents will never use the bike lanes B次元官网网址� But, this is not a project that aims to make it more convenient or comfortable for a small group of cyclists. This is a program to make it safe to cycle in the city.B次元官网网址�
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When looking at past processes and designs, City manager of sustainable transportation planning and development, Sarah Webb, said there were several different lessons learned.
In terms of design, she said Pandora Avenue ended up having too many concrete barriers.
B次元官网网址淥n Fort, we looked at different ways to increase permeability of the project and only use concrete curbs at key intersections,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that they opted for more paint and bollards where they could.
She also said the Fort lanes provided city engineers with a lot of insight on better ways to control traffic signal timing, something they continually tweak.
For Work, one of his most significant lessons was in regards to public engagement.
B次元官网网址淚n essence, we have to have more detailed conversations with key stakeholders, and re-architect the engagement process from what we learned with Pandora and Fort,B次元官网网址� he said.
Brad Delleburr, manager of transportation and infrastructure design, echoed these thoughts.
B次元官网网址淎 much as we have open houses, talk to people on the street B次元官网网址� the story is really difficult to get out to the general public,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat these facilities are, what theyB次元官网网址檙e going to achieve B次元官网网址� conversations around bike facilities are not going to end any time soon.B次元官网网址�
Council members all spoke of the difficulty small businesses had amid construction, and that the City could provide better signage for businesses to let the public know theyB次元官网网址檙e still open.
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A large problem for Fort Street was that while lanes were being built, some underground infrastructure was also being updated, adding to the construction time.
B次元官网网址淚 totally recognize that, but if we hadnB次元官网网址檛 done that now B次元官网网址� there would have been some kind of leakage B次元官网网址� or 10 years from now weB次元官网网址檇 have to do the underground infrastructure,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Lisa Helps. B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 been terrible, but itB次元官网网址檚 not all about the bike lanes.B次元官网网址�
At the end of the day, Works acknowledged there were many needs to be met.
B次元官网网址淭here are no silver bullets,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have to have a multifaceted approach.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Thornton-Joe said that the bike lanes also came up in her dinner conversations, and that even when people like the lanes, there are frustrations about cyclists themselves.
B次元官网网址淗opefully we can continue to learn and share,B次元官网网址� she said.
