An update on our separated cycle lane:
Downtown Separated Bike Lanes Status Report – Spring 2012
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DEPARTMENT OF IRONY WINNER
The Greater Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE) has chosen the City of Vancouver as the recipient of the “Bill Curtis Technical Achievement Award” for 2011 in recognition of the Vancouver Downtown Separated Bike Lanes for outstanding transportation project achievement. Find out more about Vancouver’s separated bike lanes.
It helps to know that Bill Curtis was the Director of Engineering in the late 1970s and 80s, at the time that cycling was coming on fast. Curtis was very Old School: transportation was about building roads and moving traffic, and cycling barely deserved a serious reponse – despite the obnoxious cycling advocates and those politicians foolish enough to take them seriously.
He barely tolerated the hiring of a token cycling coordinator in Engineering – but chose someone who could be easily dismissed after the fad had run its course.
I can’t help but think that CITE was aware of the irony.
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EDITORIAL SUPPORT
The Globe and Mail comes out in favour of separated bike lanes:
Designing bike lanes physically separated from other traffic – like those now popping up in Montreal, Vancouver and other cities across Canada – is the key to shifting commuters out of cars or buses and on to bicycles.
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HOW TO BUILD A CYCLE TRACK
The building of a separated bike lane – in this case, the Dunsmuir.
I’m just a little surprised and disappointed that Burrard bridge traffic is only up 5% with the lanes. Anecdotally (ie- from what I see when I bike across), it seems more crowded than it was a few years ago.
When was “a few years ago”? The graph only shows the comparison from one year to the next.
Furthermore, remember that 2011-2012 was rainier than 2010-2011.
More details at https://www.bikeroute.ca/2012/06/07/a-look-at-vancouvers-downtown-bike-lanes/
I was just going from memory between before and after the lanes were put in (not a very scientific method).
But anyway, you say that the main reason why cycling on the bridge is only up 5% is due to the weather, why do we not see the same effect on the viaduct with a bigger relative and absolute increase?
The connections on the south side of the bridge are abysmal. Improve those and you’ll see a faster increase.
It should also be noted that Burrard Bridge already has a much higher user base in absolute numbers than Dunsmuir: 1,045,000 compared to 411,000. When you look at absolute numbers, the increase for Burrard is 48,000 new cyclists, whereas Dunsmuir attracted 65,000 new cyclists. Dunsmuir still is attracting more new riders but it’s less of a difference now.
Surrey has a new cycling plan for the first time since 1994! http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/11703.aspx,
Cycling Plan Principles
The Plan is organized around 4 principles, each supported by a strategic objective:
Making Connections: Expand and improve the on- and off-street cycling network.
Providing Door-to-Door Service: Increase the availability, quality, and variety of end-of-trip facilities.
Managing and Maintaining the Network: Keep the network safe, visible, and in optimum condition.
Promoting Cycling: Promote safe cycling as a healthy, fun and sustainable way to travel.
Within the 4 principles, the Plan identifies over 70 Actions for Change, to help build a cycling-friendly Surrey.
pdf document: http://www.surrey.ca/files/Surrey_Cycling_Plan_2012.pdf and video http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/11703.aspx
Hi Andrew, I’m not sure what you mean. Were you expecting the increase at Burrard Bridge and Dunsmuir Viaduct to be the same percentage?
PS: I don’t think the weather is the main factor limiting increased bike traffic on Burrard Bridge, but I can see how you’d come to that conclusion. What I meant was that the weather helped dampen (pun somewhat intended) the increase. I agree with S that if there were better connections at the south end of the bridge, there would be more traffic.