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LETTER: Bike lanes expanding faster than Victoria's deer population

Construction associated with bike lanes making it impossible to get around Greater Victoria
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A cyclist rides down the Fort Street protected bike lanes. (Black Press Media file photo)

Let me first start by stating that I don't disagree with bike lanes. They provide additional safety for cyclists who often need to defensively ride to avoid being cut off or bumped by cars and trucks B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ something I have experienced first hand as a cyclist. However, the ever-expanding network of bike lanes seems to be multiplying faster than the deer population in Victoria.

Having moved to the West Shore to find an affordable house for our family of five, I have to regularly commute downtown and do so in my car as it would take him over two hours each way on the bus. Being conscious of my carbon footprint, I plan and time my travel downtown to coincide with shopping, kids' activities and work, among other things. Yet, with the amount of construction everywhere in Victoria and Saanich associated with the building of additional bike lanes, it is becoming impossible to go anywhere.

How about considering if cyclists will even travel in these lanes as some of the newer ones (Gorge Road is an example) are not seeing much use. Some are planned for big hills that no one will use. How about putting more thought into planning and seeing where it makes sense to include these lanes, while leaving arteries for those of us who have to use our cars to travel (for example, older people who cannot bike, moms with young kids, etc.)? Surely we can have a better approach than trying to put bike lanes across every major artery, regardless of actual potential use.

C. Larose

Victoria





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