Dear Editor:
In response to Douglas Mason's letter (Bike Lane a Bad Plan, Says Cyclist, July 27, North Shore News), most regular cyclists such as myself prefer bike lanes to no bicycle facilities at all, which is the current situation on East Keith Road.
While separated bike paths might be safer, painted bike lanes do provide a measure of security and would definitely have been better than nothing.
If district council doesn't have the gumption to implement the cheap and easy re-laning supported by the majority in the community, which in addition to providing bike lanes would have served to reduce excessive speeding and noise, as well as improving pedestrian safety, they're sure not going to put in expensive separated bike paths in the area anytime soon.
If you're travelling by bike between Lynnmour and Central Lonsdale or above, there really is no viable alternative to East Keith Road. The Brooksbank trail is much steeper than Keith, in addition to being unlit, isolated, and unpaved.
No one would dream of suggesting that motorists should use Low Level Road or Third Street at times when Keith provides the more direct route. If you wouldn't tolerate the inconvenience when you're in your car, why would you tolerate it when you're on your bike, and every detour takes that much longer? Whether on a bike or in a car, transportation needs to be convenient and safe.
Antje Wahl North Vancouver
