We call on the City of Vancouver to improve safety on all existing bike routes by following the guidelines the City drafted and adopted in 2017.

Specifically:

-Install barriers to divert traffic and reduce the amount of vehicles on street bikeways to make them safe for cyclists ( and other users) of all ages and abilities. 

-Eliminate some parking along narrow Street Bikeways to make steep hills and passing safer.

We request semi-annual progress reports from the Manager of Engineering Services until the 2017 plan reaches 100% of its targets.

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Dear Lon LaClaire, General Manager of Engineering Services, City of Vancouver:

We the undersigned are calling on you to recommit to the Goals of the 2017 “Transportation 2040 Safety and Mode Share Targets” and to use your authority to direct staff and resources to improve safety on all “Local Street Bikeways” throughout the city to meet the  “Transportation Design Guidelines, All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes” approved and published by the City of Vancouver in March 2017.

In 2017 to depoliticize decisions around road space allocation the City Engineer, under the “Complete Streets Policy Framework” (quoted below), was granted the authority to make any changes required to improve safety for the public without political interference or further input from council.

“The City Engineer is hereby authorized to: (a) mark traffic lanes on streets and to designate by order streets or portions of streets on which a distinguishing single line or double line shall be marked, which lines need not be in the middle of the travelled portion of the street; (b) designate by order streets or portions of streets upon which no vehicle shall be stopped or parked, or only such vehicles or classes thereof at such times and upon such conditions as may be prescribed; (c) locate, establish and maintain upon any streets such traffic signs, stop-signs, traffic lights or reflectors, traffic discs, markers, blocks, standards, indicators, traffic control signals, or other devices or apparatus, whether automatic or manual, as may be deemed necessary for the regulation, direction and control of traffic on any street and at any intersection; and (d) designate by order streets or portions of streets as transit routes and streets or portions of streets that are to be used exclusively by one or more class of vehicles or traffic, and to order the installation or alteration of sidewalks, boulevards, lanes, or other infrastructure or devices to accommodate or facilitate such traffic or prevent any prohibited traffic.”

As such, we call on you to prioritize the safety of cyclists and other users of bike lanes (E-scooters, wheelchairs with powered add-ons, mobility aids, skateboarders, rollerbladers) via infrastructure to dramatically reduce the number of vehicles on “Local Street Bikeways”.

“Rule 2” in the “Transportation Design Guidelines, All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes” states that “Local Steet Bikeways” “should target motor vehicle volume below 500/day (below 50/peak hour) Reducing the number of interactions between motor vehicles and people cycling can improve safety and comfort. At a volume below 500 vehicles per day, most people cycling will encounter less than one motor vehicle per block in the peak hour.” We call on you to take action to make this a reality by 2028.

During rush hours when most cyclist are present, vehicle volumes far exceeded the guidelines as drivers try to “rat run” around congestion on arterial roads, forcing cyclists into “door zones” during busy parking times.

To reduce the opportunity for collisions between active transport users and motorists we ask you to direct staff to install a modal filter diverting cars away from the bikeway at minimum every 800m on all “Local Steet Bikeways”. These modal filters could consist of bollards, planters, barriers, gardens, pedestrian plazas, trees, rainwater basins, fountain, or simply concrete block, posts, or barriers. Another simple vehicle diversion option is simply making sections of the bike routes One Way with directions reversing at minimum every 2 blocks.

To reduce rush hour “rat running” by motorists on “Local Street Bikeways” we ask you to direct staff to install modal filters and signage preventing/prohibiting vehicles from turning onto any "Local Street Bikeway" from any arterial roads. For example, no right or left turn from Broadway onto Heather, Trafalgar, Balaclava, Woodland, Lakewood etc.

As stated in the “Transportation Design Guidelines, All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes” hills can be a real challenge and dangerous when mixed with vehicles. “Rule 9” says “For routes with grades of 5% or higher:

-Consider mitigation measures for people riding downhill, including higher design speeds, improved sightlines, and other safety measures.”

To improve safety on narrow streets with hills we ask you to direct staff to eliminate parking on the downhill side of any narrow “Local Street Bikeway” wherever the grade of the hill exceed 5%. At grades over 5% stopping safety in front of a car door opening is almost impossible and going around may not be feasible on narrow sections (e.g. Heather between 22nd Avenue and 24th Avenue).

These steep hills are already identified on City of Vancouver "Bicycle Route Map & Guide" However the map makes no distinction between wide and narrow roads.

To improve overall safety, we ask you to direct staff to eliminate parking in front of new buildings along any narrow "Local Street Bikeway". If a demolition permit is issued along a narrow “Local Street Bikeway”, (e.g. 10th Avenue) no parking shall be allowed in front of any new construction. This will provide safe spots for active transit users or vehicles to duck into and pass safely. We believe this is a reasonable demand as it will not affect existing residents as these properties will be vacant and most new construction is multiunit with off street parking.

We ask you to direct staff to eliminate parking on any narrow “Local Street Bikeway” in front of all public buildings and lands, i.e. schools (where schools have frontage on more than one street), community centers, provincially and federally owned buildings and parks (except for disability parking) for the same reasons as above. Schools and parks generally have frontage on more than one road. The City of Vancouver has a “School Active Travel Program” that is supposed to make it safer to get to school by bike, Engineering Department should coordinate with to prevent vehicles from parking or stopping on the bikeway for pick-ups or drop-offs. Let’s encourage active lifestyles for our children, while still having space for motorized pick up and drop offs on the other street.

We believe that most of these changes can be accomplished inexpensively and within existing budgets without new studies, reports, or hearings. Installing bollards, and signs is something the city does everyday already. These changes will go a long way to increasing safety for all active transport users along the bike network. It has been proven that safe Infrastructure attracts more riders and reduces trips by automobile reducing congestion, and pollution. With the huge numbers of new residents expected along the Broadway Corridor, Senakw, Oakridge and Jericho lands Vancouver vehicle traffic may become completely gridlocked if more commuters do not find safe, convenient alternatives. By creating safe alternatives, drivers who were previously hesitant, may now choose to ride a bike, ebike or electric scooter and may choose to leave their cars at home more often.

We ask you make these safety upgrades to the “Local Street Bikeway” network a priority.   With a goal of implementing the  "Transportation Design Guidelines, All Ages and Abilities Cycling Routes" network wide by March 2028.  We also ask you to provide semi annual progress reports.

Thank you,

Adam Hawk, Vancouver Resident

Craig Ollenberger, Chair Grandview Woodland Area Council

Jeff Leigh Co-Chair, Vancouver UBC Local Committee, HUB Cycling

Chengyan Boon, Co-Director, Vision Zero Vancouver

Michelle Scarr, Co-Director, Vision Zero Vancouver

Margie Sanderson, Co-Director, Vision Zero Vancouver

Tom Flood, Rovelo Creative

Lucy Maloney, Love the Lane

Tyrone Siglos, Ultra Distance Cyclist

Hana Hermanek, Director, Songbird Environmental  

Carole DiPasqule,  Co-Organizer, Stanley Park For All - Not Just Cars

Mary Sherlock, Co-Organizer, Stanley Park For All - Not Just Cars

Nic Laporte, Laporte Media

Moke, YVR Fixed Bike Club

Austeja Usaviciute, Chill Rides Vancouver Community

Colin Stein, VanBikes, Active Transportation Consultant and Author

Steve Kisby, Cycling Advocate

Sarah Thomas, Executive Director, Our Community Bikes, Pedal Society