A former Saanich council candidateB次元官网网址檚 comments about a crash Wednesday morning involving a car and a bike lane barrier led to a back and forth about where the most blame should be placed.
Vernon Lord, an engineer who ran for Saanich council in 2022, posted a photo (see above) from a crash that took place at 8 a.m. Wednesday (April 5) on Tillicum Road just before Gorge Road West.
A driver hopped up on a barrier that had been installed to create a protected bike lane, damaging the vehicle.
B次元官网网址淕etting high centred on a poorly planned bike lane @ Gorge/Tillicum is B次元官网网址榗hill as hell,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Lord tweeted.
The tweet brought swift criticism from dozens of local cyclists who praised the barrier for protecting riders from this driver.
In an interview with Black Press Media, Lord clarified that he was B次元官网网址渉alf-jokingB次元官网网址� and that he does support protected bike lanes, B次元官网网址渋f properly designed.B次元官网网址�
Lord has concerns about the barrier installed on this stretch of Tillicum, which he drives past at least twice a day. Lord said the bike lane was one that Saanich fast-tracked to say, B次元官网网址渓ook at how fast we can do it.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 a poorly planned project,B次元官网网址� Lord said, adding that itB次元官网网址檚 on a narrow stretch of road and curves in a way that too easily catches drivers B次元官网网址渙ff-guard.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚f your mind wanders for even a second, youB次元官网网址檒l be on top of it,B次元官网网址� Lord said.
Black Press Media asked the District of Saanich for comment on the bike lane, but did not receive a statement by deadline. If the district does respond, this story will be updated.
The cycling community is defending this bike lane, including the Victoria non-profit Capital Bike.
B次元官网网址淪aanichB次元官网网址檚 quick build protected bike lanes (on) Tillicum were shown to be effective this morning, as they prevented a driver from entering the bike lane and potentially harming a person walking or biking,B次元官网网址� Corey Burger, Capital BikeB次元官网网址檚 policy and infrastructure chair, told Black Press Media.
Commenters responding to LordB次元官网网址檚 tweet were critical of the driver and drivers in general B次元官网网址� reinforcing the need for such protected bike lanes.
B次元官网网址淵ou shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be driving if you canB次元官网网址檛 even drive in a straight line without hitting a curb,B次元官网网址� tweeted @bencsin.
B次元官网网址淎 driver who failed to keep their car within the lines was safely and securely stopped without risk of running anyone down after they drove over a visible barrier,B次元官网网址� tweeted @Real Luckless.
Others had suggestions for improving protected bike lanes.
B次元官网网址淲hile I donB次元官网网址檛 think this is acceptable driving, I have wondered why these B次元官网网址榩lunked curbsB次元官网网址� have not been painted a bright yellow, white or something reflective added,B次元官网网址� tweeted IslandFamily5. B次元官网网址淲hen itB次元官网网址檚 dark & raining, they are impossible to see.B次元官网网址�
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