Tag Archives: dedicated bike lanes

Politics, Transportation

The SRD’s Active Transportation Planing Grant opens the door for larger opportunities

The Active Transportation Network Planning grant that Quadra Island received, and both Cortes Island and Area D are applying for, opens the door to far larger opportunities. 

As Meredith Starkey, Manager of Planning for the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), explained “Active transportation means anything human powered: walking, cycling, and rolling in the sense of skateboarding or some other type of device that you might use to roll.” 

“This is the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program that’s administered through the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) and Infrastructure. They have  a sub grant  that is specifically for active transportation network planning.” 

“What we have is the network planning grant.” 

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Transportation

What the Cortes/Quadra Passenger Transportation Survey Discovered

282 people from Cortes, Quadra and the Outer Island’s as well as some visitors participated in CCEDA’s passenger transportation survey.  They were asked about a variety of options for passengers in the islands, a bus, taxi, carpool, van pool, or rideshare.

“We found that the most popular option for all respondents was a bus on Quadra that included both ferries. Cortes and Outer-Island residents only need a bus that goes from the Cortes Ferry to the Quadra Ferry.  They don’t necessarily need to go anywhere else on Quadra. It’s just  that straight line that so many people take across Quadra. On Quadra, the most popular option was a bus that included both ferries, but also made a loop. It would be helpful for people living on Quadra and visitors to get around Quadra,” explained Jennifer Banks-Doll, Project Lead for Quadra Island.

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Transportation

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.

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Transportation

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.  

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Transportation

Victoria’s First Dedicated Bike Lane

By Roy L Hales

There are already cyclists pedalling the city’s streets. Many of the streets have bike lanes. The Galloping Goose stretches from the Johnston street bridge to Leechtown, north of the Sooke Potholes Regional Park. Someone I met outside a coffee-house on Fisgard street said his only means of transportation, for the past twenty years, has been a bicycle. So what is the significance of Victorias first dedicated bike lane?

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