Tag Archives: Cycling in Campbell River

Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast applauds BC legislation for safer driving rules

Editor’s Note: 13 of the 92 respondents to the SRD study CORTES ISLAND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS REPORT (2022) stated bicycles were their principal mode of transportation. During 2021, there were a number of reports of cars passing cyclists without due care on Cortes Island. The idea of building bike lanes on Cortes periodically comes up. During the 2018 election, George Sirk suggested, “They could use Ministry of Transportation right of ways and fund the program with revenues from the Gas Tax. There are inexpensive routes between Manson’s Landing and Smelt Bay, in Whaletown between Robertson Road and the ferry, and between Squirrel Cove and Tork Road.”

In a recent interview Quadra Island’s Director, Robyn Mawhinney, told Cortes Currents, ” … There’s a lot more commuting that’s been happening by bike and electric bike, and it would be really nice to support those alternate methods of transportation with safer lanes on the sides of roads.” 

There is an extensive network of bike paths and dedicated bike lanes in Campbell River. One of the city’s goals is to increase the number of trips taken by bike to 5% by 2036. So far, 438 people have signed up for the city’s Spring GoByBike Week: June 3rd to 9th, 2024.

By Jordan Copp, Coast Reporter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Sunshine Coast active transportation group is applauding BC legislation that imposes new safe driving distance rules for drivers passing vulnerable road users. 

Several updates to the Motor Vehicle Act aimed at enhancing safety for cyclists and pedestrians were announced on April 4.

The predominant change is that the distance drivers must maintain when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users has increased to 1.5 metres from one metre on highways with a posted speed limit above 50 km/h.

Continue reading Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast applauds BC legislation for safer driving rules

Two new active transportation paths planned to connect the Comox Valley

Editor’s note: While bike lanes and paths have long been proposed on both Cortes and Quadra Islands, the only community with a dedicated cycling infrastructure in our area is Campbell River. There are approximately 85 km of planned or extant bike routes in the city. The longest existing route is an ocean view bike lane, which swings west into Campbellton and then out to the city limits on Island Highwat #19. There are hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike trails on Quadra, but cyclists have to use undedicated roadways to get around the island. Despite the lack of bike lanes or paths, 14.13% of the respondents to Cortes Island’s Active Transportation Survey stated bicycles are their usual mode of transportation. (Only 63.04% drive alone or carpool, 2.17% hitchhike and 20.63% walk.) These numbers may reflect the number of Cortes residents who shop locally and primarily use their vehicles off-island.* 58% of the respondents described the lack of a dedicated bike infrastructure as the island’s principle transportation challenge. The second biggest challenge (41.3%) was a lack of walking paths.  

The North Salish Cycle Route (which would, for example, allow Cortes residents to pedal across to Campbell River, down to the Comox Ferry, over to Powell River and then home to Cortes) is primarily along roads with no bike lanes. Cyclists would also need to cross from Lund to Cortes Island on a water taxi. 

There are plans to build ‘a safe, efficient route for cyclists, pedestrians, people using mobility scooters’ from Lund to Sechelt.

By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is planning on building two new active transportation paths to connect communities in the Comox Valley. 

The Cumberland to Courtenay Connector will link the Village of Cumberland to the City of Courtenay/ The Royston Road path will run up from the waterfront Seaside Trail and then turn on Livingston Road towards the elementary school. 

Continue reading Two new active transportation paths planned to connect the Comox Valley

A new route from Sechelt to Lund: for humans, not cars

Editor’s note: It has been close to two years since Sue Bossley informed Cortes Currents that, as a result of the new water taxi service connecting Lund and Cortes Island, it was now possible for cyclists to pedal from Powell River to Lund, over Cortes and Quadra Islands to Campbell River, down to the Comox Ferry and back again. She called this the North Salish Cycle Route. (While Cortes Island is no longer listed as a regular destination, Access Point Marine Transportation does offer charter services. QXMC’s water taxi, Goat 1, has been sequestered to support the Klahoose Wilderness Resort from May until mid October, but is also available for charter in the off-season.) The story that follows takes this idea a step further, with a proposal to install cycling infrastructure on the route south from Lund.

Originally published on qathet Living

For the past few years, Sunshine Coast Tourism has been working on a plan to connect Sechelt to Lund with a safe, efficient route for cyclists, pedestrians, people using mobility scooters, and other folks choosing active transportation. It’s for commuters, tourists, and anyone who wants to enjoy the coast outside of a vehicle. 

In January, GJD Planning released the project’s second report. It breaks down the coast into 20 segments, and proposes infrastructure for each one. It also proposes which segments should get top priority. And, it notes that this will cost about $4 million per kilometre. 

Continue reading A new route from Sechelt to Lund: for humans, not cars

Phase one completed: Campbell River’s Master Transportation Plan

A great deal has transpired in the decade since the city of Campbell River adopted its current transportation plan. Last February, Transportation Specialist Melissa Heidema informed Cortes Currents that they were drawing up a new plan. Phase one is now complete. In today’s interview, Heidema and Long Range Planning and Sustainability Manager Jason Locke give us a peek into what they accomplished.  

Continue reading Phase one completed: Campbell River’s Master Transportation Plan

This summer: downtown Campbell River is celebrating!

The streets of Campbell River have opened up with a series of free, family-friendly events and entertainment that will continue until September. 

“We think that this is a great opportunity.  Hopefully COVID is starting to leave us and we have the ability to return to a new normal.  This whole set of opportunities with the downtown core is meant to bring us out of what we’ve been experiencing over the last couple of years in reduced ability to program and to get out and interact and socialize.  This is really on the flip side of it. We want to be able to blow the lid off of this and get everybody downtown and enjoying what Campbell River has done. Campbell River has a lot  to offer both the residents  in the surrounding area and visitors to it,“ explained Robin Mitchell, the city’s Manager of Recreation and Culture.

Continue reading This summer: downtown Campbell River is celebrating!