Langford developing network of cycling, walking routes
In Langford, cyclists are met with a patchwork of trails, bike lanes and busy roadways, but the City is rolling out a multi-year plan to make non-car travel easier.
Langford wants to connect the cityB次元官网网址檚 downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods with a B次元官网网址渟piderB次元官网网址檚 webB次元官网网址� of continuous cycling and walking paths.
The project has an initial $1.8 million earmarked from LangfordB次元官网网址檚 2011 capital spending plan, and will start with paving a few kilometres of the Galloping Goose trail, from Glen Lake Road to Kelly Road.
With City Centre Park due for completion this year, the trail network is Langford's next big project, said Mayor Stew Young. "For the next two or three years we'll focus on trails and sidewalks and get neighbourhoods linked," he said.
Coun. Lanny Seaton, chair of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 parks and recreation committee, said the project is about giving people better options to move around the city, so a vehicle isn't necessarily the default choice.
B次元官网网址淎s we grow as a city, we want to provide a nice way to get around, and where you donB次元官网网址檛 have to drive a car,B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淭he idea isnB次元官网网址檛 to force people out of their cars and onto bikes and buses. But we do want to give people the opportunity to do something different, and to choose a better way to get around.B次元官网网址�
The plan envisions five major spurs B次元官网网址� with a mix of separated and on-street bike lanes B次元官网网址� along Goldstream Avenue, Veterans Memorial Parkway and the E&N rail trail and the Galloping Goose, and a series of information and map kiosks.
Smaller neighbourhood trails would link into the main trails, conceivably providing someone in the Luxton area a relatively easy bike ride to north Langford.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 called a spider bike plan. ItB次元官网网址檚 all to bring people downtown out of their cars,B次元官网网址� said Mike Leskiw, Langford parks manager. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an exciting project. Not many cities have tackled this.B次元官网网址�
Langford is already building its first curb-separated bike lane on the west side of Millstream Road, a block north of Treanor Avenue. Much of the network will involve using and upgrading existing trails or improving existing bike lanes.
One of the trickiest links is the Millstream overpass, a bridge that links north and south Langford and takes nerves of steel to navigate on a bike. Cyclists may be routed to the Spencer interchange bridge, when and if that bridge is completed and open. Leskiw said the city is working with the Ministry of Transportation on the best way for cyclists to safely cross the highway.
As for paving the Galloping Goose, which is owned by the Capital Regional District, Seaton said he has a B次元官网网址渃ommitmentB次元官网网址� from CRD parks to repay the City for improvements made to regional trails. ItB次元官网网址檚 the same if Langford forges ahead and extends the E&N rail-trail about two kilometres east from Savory school along the steep ravine near Atkins Road.
An elevated trail through the Atkins area is expected to cost millions. B次元官网网址淭he CRD said if we want to put it in, theyB次元官网网址檒l pay us back over time,B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淪ome areas of the trail would be narrowed up to leave the natural areas. WeB次元官网网址檙e looking at concrete pilings and a suspended bridge.B次元官网网址�
LangfordB次元官网网址檚 "spider bike plan" could take up to five years to realize, although Seaton said if residents are eager to move faster, the City could hold a referendum on borrowing funds specifically for the project during NovemberB次元官网网址檚 municipal election.
The parks committee is planning open houses to gain feedback this summer. B次元官网网址淓verything depends on the economy and money we have available, but people may want to spend money to complete this,B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a neat way to connect the community together.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
