VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10, MARCH in this issue

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1 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10, MARCH 2016 in this issue Mountain Highway Interchange Project Stanley Park Causeway Update BC s Climate Plan Cycle Super Highway 99 Massey Bridge Project Premier Clark is Ready to Spend Upcoming Events and more

2 WE CYCLE The publication for passionate pedallers WeCycle is a newspaper magazine dedicated to the cycling commuter, their families and organizations. We believe this demographic is made of people who care about their environment, their food and local economy. Published year-round, 11 issues per year with a double issue in Dec/Jan printed copies are distributed along bike routes, in community centres and libraries with dozens of street drops and racks. Editorial comes from the wonderful writers at the BC Cycling Coalition, HUB and free lance journalists. Editor/Publisher: Mailing Address: Brigantine Drive Coquitlam, BC V3K 7C2 Editor: Jennifer Vallee Page Layout: IWE Prepress Mountain Highway Interchange Project Tell the Province to Separate Bikes and Cars HUB North Shore Improved connections for faster, easier commutes. Improved traffic flow for greater safety and fewer accidents. Better cycling, walking and transit facilities, promoting alternative transportation options. This is the Province s envisioned future for Highway 1 in North Vancouver s Lower Lynn Creek area, from Mountain Highway to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Recognizing that transportation patterns have changed much in the past 50 years, BC s Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure is getting with the times - looking carefully at the kinds of inefficiencies that constrain traffic flows on Highway 1 and the surrounding road network, important arterials for getting people to work, to school and to shopping, often from one municipality to another. Overall, the project consists of three phases - three upgraded interchanges over the next five years, beginning with Mountain Highway Interchange. It s a location that is infamous on the North Shore for daily, heavy traffic congestion, and lack of safe and convenient bike routes. In upgrading the existing Mountain Highway overpass to a full interchange, the project represents a once in a generation opportunity to make cycling a viable transportation option from Lynn Valley and along the eastwest Keith Road corridor. Protected bike lanes along E Keith Road and through the interchange, or alternatively a separate pedestrian/cyclist highway overpass, would provide a viable alternative to driving and alleviate traffic congestion Protected crossings at the major interchanges would increase safety - real and perceived - for all ages and cycling abilities, supporting families who want to bike to school, and anyone seeking the option to bike to work. A second key opportunity of this project is for the Ministry to plan for a separate bike highway path along Highway 1 from Mountain Highway to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Bike highways are being built in European countries with high traffic congestion like Germany and the Netherlands. These direct bike routes are designed with limited intersections and link suburbs with city centres, and cities with other cities, to achieve reductions in traffic congestion. On the North Shore, a separated bike highway could make bike commuting to Vancouver and Burnaby faster and more attractive than driving, especially by ebike. The bike highway would connect with feeder routes from the Spirit Trail and other bike routes in North Vancouver. The ultimate benefit for North Shore residents, businesses and the provincial economy? Freeing up vehicle capacity on the Ironworkers bridge through active transportation.. However, there are concerns that this may never come to fruition. The Ministry is seeking public approval for its interchange design, which currently does not meet best practices in cycling facility design that are frequently recognized - and implemented - by progressive, bike-friendly cities across North America, including our peer cities in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. It need not be restated that a revolution is coming our way. Kids want to bike to school. Generations X, Y & Z want to bike to work. And e-bikes are on the rise. The Province needs encouragement to address their own goal - and those of Metro Vancouver municipalities, especially the District of North Vancouver - of more pro-actively building infrastructure that allows a shift to cycling and walking. The Ironworkers Memorial Bridge is near full capacity for vehicles. Focusing only on greater vehicle capacity at three upgraded interchanges that feed into the bridge will make things worse by encouraging driving and clogging the crossing. We must focus more on moving people out of cars, and soon... or the next project will be another costly bridge replacement. Read about this project and review the design display boards at bit.ly/1kdd0mb, or go to and search for Mountain Highway. Send the Ministry of Transportation your feedback - complete a comment form at interceptum. com/s/en/lowerlynninterchanges, or send an to lowerlynn@gov.bc.ca by February 5, 2016.

3 Stanley Park Causeway Update HUB Cycling Photos by: Nick Dhaliwal, A.Sc.T Ministry Representative Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure Have you visited Stanley Park by bike recently? If you ve taken the tourist route around the perimeter of the park, you may have missed recent progress made as part of the Stanley Park Causeway safety improvement project, undertaken by the Province of BC in collaboration with City of Vancouver and Park Board in the fall. The newly widened and improved east sidewalk, including separated portions for walking and northbound cycling, safety barriers and signage, was open for use at the end of December, and construction teams have started work on the west sidewalk. They re making excellent progress, according to project manager Doug Hyde with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Based on the current construction schedule and pace of work, Hyde says the Ministry anticipates the project to be complete within the next few months. To date we have been somewhat hampered by unforeseen weather conditions as well the level of diligence necessary to ensure the integrity and longevity of the trees adjacent to the pathways, commented Hyde. Delays were precipitated by a cold snap at the end of November, plus protective measures for the network of tree roots near the construction work, which communicated to project stakeholders prior to year s end. Hyde suggested the mood on the project has been buoyed by interactions with path users on a daily basis. The construction crews regularly receive positive feedback from the cyclists that use the Causeway, he said. The Ministry is very appreciative of the cooperation and courtesy offered by the cycling community. For more information about the project, visit gov.bc.ca/stanleyparkcauseway. New Digital Printing and Mailing Services Call us Today! newspapers inserts flyers books brochures annual reports presentation folders stationery packages International Web Express Brigantine Drive Coquitlam, BC V3K 7C International Web Express is a full service print company offering quality products and services. Need something printed? Give us a call!

4 BC s Climate Plan: Don t Let it Fall Short Cycle Super Highway 99 Make the Massey Bridge Project Great for Cycling The second public input period for the Climate Leadership Plan in now open. As promised, the second public input period, led by the Provincial Climate Leadership Team was launched in January. Running from January 25th - March 25th, you can submit an online form, or to the team with your thoughts on how BC should lower its greenhouse gas emissions, and morph BC into a low carbon economy. At some point during this window, a detailed survey will also become available. The Climate Leadership Plan is a follow up to the initial Provincial climate targets created in 2007, which were then expanded on in a Climate Action Plan in Last summer, the Provincial government compiled a team of experts in various fields to generate recommendations, and lead the process of revising the Climate Action Plan for the Province. The new plan will be called the Climate Leadership Plan, guided by the Climate Leadership Team. At the beginning of the Climate Leadership Plan process, the Team initially published a discussion paper laying out the context, and framework for the plan and launched a survey for the public. Following this, there was an open invitation for organizations and individuals to submit written recommendations and opinions. This was Phase 1 of the process, and the Climate Leadership Team wrapped it up by releasing their Recommendations to the Province. Now, we are starting Phase 2. Results of the first period have been reported, and the second public input period is open now. The Climate Leadership Plan is scheduled to be complete in Spring this year. Among those who submitted written recommendations were the BC Cycling Coalition, The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. In phase 1, a there were 211 submissions from organizations, and individuals, and under 6,000 surveys filled out. Of the published results that were most interesting to the BC Cycling Coalition, were a few results supporting a desire to expand active transportation. The BCCC s concerns in this process so far, is with an oversight on the immediate benefits of expanding cycling and walking in the province to solve, when the Team has dismissed the ability of the Province to meet the planned 2020 targets. Contradictory to the need of immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and proof that cycling and walking are an effective way to reached needed results, the recommendations have focused on converting car users to clean energy vehicle drivers. The recommendations that have been made, and Christy Clarke has supported, are not robust enough for BC to meet the required targets to help keep the global temperature rise to degrees. We need to make our message clear. We expect the Province to do everything it can to preserve our climate. We encourage everyone to partake in the public input period for this process, or directly write the Premier. To support, and use the BC Cycling Coalition s recommendations to the Province for this, visit The Climate Leadership Plan s process, reports, and recommendations can be found at: engage.gov.bc.ca/ climateleadership Imagine being able to cycle through take 50,000 cars off the road. Cycle Super Richmond and Delta safely and quickly Highways are high standard and continuous without stopping for any traffic lights. The paved bicycle routes designed to Cycle Super Highway 99 built on the west reduce travel times and thus facilitate long side of Highway 99 would do precisely distance (10-20 km) cycling trips. They that as well as to provide local access to connect communities and major destinations homes, businesses, workplaces and hotels including residential areas, concen- near the highway. Just like for cars and trations of jobs, schools and public transit. buses, people on bikes would pass under Especially in combination with electric debris removal; connect nicely to the Knight Street Bridge. roads that currently are not suitable for cross streets. Underpasses would avoid bikes, they make it much easier to travel Grade separated crossings (overpasses or Initially, cycling next to Highway 99 higher speed commuting and recreational conflicts with traffic at access ramps. 10km to 20km by bike for daily trips. underpasses) of major roads and highways; might seem like a rather noisy miserable cycling. And as 84% of cycling crashes oc- For some trips, Cycle Super Highway Key features include: experience. However, between Shell Road cur at intersections, Cycle Super Highway 99 would save you 20 or 30 minutes making Separate, high standard paths reserved Few stops; and and Blundell, the right of way is pretty 99 will be much safer. The improvements many more destinations in Ladner, for cycling separated from pedestrians Lighting wide so the path could easily be fair dis- required to create Cycle Super Highway Tsawwassen, Richmond and Vancouver and motor vehicles; Cycle Super Highway 99 would tance from traffic through the trees and 99 will only be a small fraction of the cost within cycling range. Especially after Two-way cycleway, separate lanes, 3.0 to provide great connections to the Canada meadows shown in the photos. of this $3.5 billion project. Given all the access routes are upgraded, the number 4.0m wide depending on volumes; Line and Oak Street Bridges. At the north Now, unfortunately, while improvements health, environmental, economic and of people cycling would dramatically Design speeds of up to 40km/h on flat end of the Oak Street Bridge, an overpass for cars and transit are being social benefits of increased cycling, this increase reducing congestion, greenhouse sections, higher on downhill; would deliver you safely to 71st Avenue planned for the whole route from between will be money well spent. emissions and collisions. Requirements for maximum grades and where you could make easy connections Bridgeport Road and Highway 91 in Please write the Premier to encour- Cycle Super Highways are being built minimum curve radii; over to the Cypress Bikeway and the Delta, cycling improvements are currently age the Province to create a great cycling in many European countries. One under High operating and maintenance standards planned Hudson Bikeway. A path along- being planned for the bridge only. People route for residents and visitors from High- construction in Germany is expected to including frequent snow, ice and side Highway 91 and Knight Street would cycling would be forced to travel on local way 91 in Delta to the north side of the Oak Street Bridge. BC s first cycle super highway will be a great legacy for future generations. More at: bccc.bc.ca/cycle_super_highway_99

5 Premier Clark is Ready to Spend With the May 2017 Provincial Election looming, Premier Clark has indicated that Provincial spending will increase. This is an ideal time to encourage her to invest in cycling and walking. From the Vancouver Sun: The upcoming by elections in Metro Vancouver will be used by Premier Christy Clark to test-drive her newest promise: That her governing Liberal party is ready to return untold financial dividends to starved government programs and services, after several years of austerity. Carey Doberstein, assistant professor of political science at the University of B.C. s Okanagan campus says: She is clearly cognizant of the interest Canadians expressed in government making increased investments in infrastructure, education and health care through the election of the Trudeau government in the fall, but is also committed to restraining government spending and balanced budgets. The Government seems to recognize the value of cycling. In the run-up to the last election, the $7 million of cycling for municipalities was announced through MLAs offices. The $20 million widening of the sidewalks on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge was announced on the last day possible before the official election period. Since the last election, cycling funding was increase by 50% to $18 million over three years. In addition, $7 million has been invested on the Stanley Park Causeway upgrades and the Province has contributed $7 million towards the Okanagan Rail Trail. Still, much more funding is required to enable everyone to cycle and walk for their daily trips. While bike paths and protected bike lanes are a bargain that will benefit far more people per dollar invested than other transportation projects, it does take a significant amount of cash to build networks of them in communities around the Province. For example: Metro Vancouver: $850 million Capital Regional District: $275 million Central Okanagan: $83 million (they are updating their walking and cycling plans so this cost will likely go up) City of Chilliwack: $27 Million City of Kamloops: $13 Million Help show Premier Clark that there is strong support for investment in cycling. Please sign the Cycling and Walking for Everyone petition and share it with your friends, family and co-workers. premier@gov.bc.ca. Let her know what greatly improved cycling would mean for your family and community. The Outdoor Adventure Show March 12-13, Vancouver BC Every adventure enthusiast from BC has spent time riding our homegrown trails and roads, which rank among the best in the world. With over 15,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors at the Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, we re delivering the Cycling fix to hard core cyclists and adventure enthusiasts who need to be prepared for the occasional ride. outdooradventureshow.ca/vancouver PIBC Conference May 10-16, Kelowna, BC Every year, the Planning Institute of British Columbia organizes and hosts its marquee professional development and networking event - the PIBC Annual Conference. The theme of this year s conference is Planning Unfiltered. As polite Canadians, planners are often reluctant to discuss uncomfortable professional realities in a candid way. upcoming events ProWalk Pro Bike Pro Place Conference September 12-15, Vancouver, BC The 19th Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place in Vancouver is expected to draw 1,000 city planners, transportation engineers, public health professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and professional walking and bicycling advocates. Our breakout sessions, panel discussions, and poster sessions address the latest trends, research, and best practices. Plenary speakers bring perspectives from other disciplines, and other experiences to help improve and expand our practice. walkbikeplaces.org - 6 -

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