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?
Victoria’s First Dedicated Bike Lane
The 1.2 kilometre track along Pandora Avenue, between Cook and Store streets, is totally separated from automotive traffic. According to my informant from Fisgard, this eliminates one of the principal hazards faced by cyclists. There will be no car doors opening as they pedal along this route.
There are also dozens of bike racks, where cyclists can park their vehicles for free as they go to work or play.
5.4 Kilometres Of Separated Bike Lanes
This is the first leg of 5.4 kilometres of separated bike lanes planned for the city’s downtown core.
After it is completed , at the end of 2018, Victoria’s new separated bike lane system is expected to cost more than $9 million.
The city may recoup this fairly quickly. Recent report show that a cycling infrastructure makes the downtown more accessible, and can be critical for the success of downtown businesses.
Top photo credit: Victoria’s first dedicated Bike lane is on a segment of Pandora Street – Roy L Hales photo