Dear Editor:
I take issue with Coun. Mike Little's statement that the upcoming Low Level Road construction is the reason for not putting in a bike lane on East Keith Road (Bike Crash Stokes East Keith Debate, Aug. 17).
An independent analysis carried out for the district by a transportation engineering firm found that the expected Low Level Road closures will have minimal effect on the travel times of westbound Keith Road traffic, even with the bike lane. The report is publicly available on the DNV website for anybody interested in what transportation professionals found with regards to travel times, collisions and safety on East Keith Road.
Personally I am appalled that district councillors seem not at all concerned about the persistent speeding on East Keith, made possible by the highway-type passing lane on a short stretch of the road. Council discounts the frequent collisions and the real danger of the current road setup to cyclists and pedestrians, which include school children, and they worry instead that motorists might take a few seconds longer on Keith hill if they are encouraged by a better road design to respect the speed limit.
Modern cars and buses are now all capable of travelling at the same speed uphill, and trucks do not go on this route.
The passing lane simply isn't needed any longer and it's time to finally eliminate the dangerous second uphill car lane on East Keith.
Dianne Murray North Vancouver
