As predicted last month, the bike path and sidewalk on the east side of the new Cactus Club at English Bay is generating a fair amount of conflict. Not surprising, given that it’s new and there are lots of different users.
What is surprising is the failure to provide adequate signage and indicators – like colour – to create awareness before people find themselves in conflict. Like this couple, for instance:
They wander up from the beach, engaged in conversation, doing what seems intuitive, which is to head towards the restaurant on the path edged by a stone wall and heavy planting. There is nothing to tell them that it is not a good idea to stop right in the middle of a bike path.
There are no decals on the asphalt – which itself is not painted a distinctive colour, like green, used elsewhere in the city to designate a cycling route. Indeed, there are no signs of any kind.
They do what seems right and natural, oblivious to the cyclists heading towards them who, of course, are pissed off that they are stopping right in the middle of a bike path. This is why everyone is so emotional about bike-pedestrian conflicts: each thinks the others are jerks for not being aware or not being courteous.
Both are pissed off with the other – when they should be pissed off with the people who could make a difference: the people responsible for designing and signing bike routes. If it wasn’t obvious to them when the path was being built that this would be a problem, it surely must be now. And yet: no change. Not even a little bit of paint.
In a city which says that cycling is one of its priorities, it has a funny way of expressing it.
And don’t get me started about the ‘temporary’ float-plane terminal blocking the seawall in Coal Harbour. Oh wait, it’s about time we did get started on that, given there appears to be no action on what is one of the most valuable pieces of cycling infrastructure in Vancouver – after so many years, we’re losing count.
More on that later.
Even with signs and decals, the combined bike/pedestrian seawall path around Pirate Pub is a disaster. Cyclists should dismount between Burrard Bridge and Hornby. Too congested and dangerous.
There is a story in today’s Globe and Mail about the court case between Pavco and the terminal operator. I was walking through the terminal last weekend. There are at least marked pathways now – blue dots for bikes and yellow ones for pads (if memory serves) but neither is straightforward. It will be a while I think before the float plane fiasco is sorted out.
Half-assed is worse than not assed at all. Painted doorzone bike lanes (and of course the hat law) are probably the most common measures that only serve to alienate and endanger.
Inspired by #space98, maybe a spot of guerilla painting is called for…
Who is in charge of this stuff at the city? Does this require a phone call to 311?
Even the separated seawall around the Concord Lands does not have decals – it has overhead signs. Decals would be so much better, but the City wants it to look pretty – form over function….
Such a shame that this was not addressed at the time the development permit was being reviewed at city hall. There needs to be an internal review of these bike/ped conflicts prior to permit issuance. One can imagine the predictable results after Cactus Clubbers mill out on the bikeway path after a few beers.
It is this mindful evaluation of pedestrian and cyclist perceived routing that will help us achieve our goal of legible accessibility for everyone.
Sandy’s knowledge of development permits and awareness of young adults going to cactus club before a club is encouraging.