Tom was the first to pick up this piece from CityLab: After a Series of Failures, This Is How Vancouver Finally Built a Controversial Bike Lane.
University of Toronto planning scholars Matti Siemiatycki, Matt Smith, and Alan Walks reviewed the history of Burrard and found four factors that finally tipped the scale: seizing a political window, designing a great trial, shaping media coverage, and exerting strong leadership. In a new journal article, they hold Burrard as a bike-lane blueprint for other cities to follow against strong opposition from drivers, retail groups, and others:
“The Burrard Bridge provides a case study for how bike lane proposals might pass political muster, and facilitate the shift toward sustainable active transportation modes within the context of existing infrastructure built for cars.”
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Disclosure: I was the “one city councillor” who pushed for the trial in 1996 that was pretty much a ‘disaster’ – and the authors do a good job of explaining the necessary ingredients that were needed (and ultimately achieved) for eventual success. That was offset, I think, by what the NPA achieved with the Seaside Bikeway, particularly along English Bay and on the North Shore of False Creek. The challenge now is for the NPA Park Board to complete and upgrade the missing links.
As noted the initial trial was a total flop despite Price’s efforts. While many, including the Toronto group writing the article, now celebrate the success, it needs to be emphasized that this was a decade and a half battle. Not having gone to the library to read the article and not wanting to put out $46 to download it, I have to say I should probably read it before commenting further. I’ll say I’m impressed with the stuff Matti does these days, partly because he was one of my young son’s playmates as a kid – always interesting to see what comes of little toddlers.
From nothing to bike lanes in both directions in a few years. I hope we see more ‘total flop’ trials in years to come.
It’s great how it eventually all happened and it’s nice that they kept trying until it was done right.
I remember not even knowing about it and I was around there the night the concrete barriers were being installed. There was a sense that finally things were being going in the right direction.
In my opinion, all bridges should have ample walking and cycling paths or lanes on them. You don’t have the option like on a street to just go a block over if the traffic pushes you out.
After the initial failed bike lane trial there was also a successful lawsuit against the city after a cyclist was seriously injured. The cyclist fell into traffic off the sidewalk shared with pedestrians. The cost of potential future lawsuits may have played a role in the city’s decision to reallocate one car lane and ban pedestrians on the east sidewalk.
I find myself both amused and perplexed at how long a losing ideological meme like “we hate bike lanes” can bounce around the political sphere. In both the 2011 and 2014 civic elections in Vancouver, the “pro-business” party came out against bike lanes, threatening in both cases to “review and remove” and were unable to recapture city hall, as they apparently did with it in 2005. It’s a fading issue, and cannot guarantee electoral success. Other, more pressing issues have risen in importance, and carmageddon and bizmageddon bogeymen have proven to be embarrassing illusions.
The city has moved on from symbolic dog-whistle issues like Burrard Bridge’s bike lane. Voters have spoken clearly, and losing pitches remain losing pitches. What’s next in the world of people who ride bikes is closing the various gaps, and creating an effective and efficient network of safe lanes and routes for travelling around the city on a bike.
I only wish that some of our local media’s writers and broadcasters could see what has happened here, and that the sure-fire hot-button story (“bikes vs. cars”) is becoming passé.
Gord – the Council of your day bailed out of the test rather abruptly, no? A week was it?
I don’t think the 1996 trial was a failure – far from it. After the first week, everything was back to normal. Council of the day should have noticed this and acted appropriately. Unfortunately we lost 13 years as a result