Dear Editor:
The recent changes on Jones Avenue in North Vancouver are a disaster for both cyclists and motorists.
This so-called upgrade (at a cost of $800,000) should result in heads rolling at the city. The changes are contrary to the direction given to staff by council and result in a less safe route for people cycling, people driving, and people walking.
In February 2014, council approved development of an AAA (all ages and abilities) cycling network in North Vancouver. At that meeting council spoke passionately about the need to separate cars from cyclists to make cycling a safer option for commuters.
In a question put to the candidates in the recent municipal election, Couns. Buchanan, Keating, Clark and Mayor Mussatto answered Yes to the question: “Would you vote in favour of infrastructure investments or road space allocations that separate bicycles from cars and transit along streets identified as bike routes in the North Vancouver Bicycle Master Plan?”
Somehow the idea of separating different roadway users has not sunk in with the city planners who designed the changes to Jones Avenue, which is on the AAA network approved by the city.
If the city hopes to reduce congestion by encouraging people to cycle and walk, it is essential that people biking are separated from people walking. A cyclist travelling at 15 kilometres/hour is a danger to walkers. It is even more imperative to separate moving cars from people cycling.
No increase in cycling will result from road designs that mean cyclists must ride single file with cars. Similarly cyclists must be buffeted from parked cars. The possibility of car doors opening on unsuspecting cyclists is a significant threat to the safety of both parties.
Jones Avenue fails on all counts.
City planners narrowed the road for traffic calming purposes. This results in several points along the road where a cyclist must take the middle of the lane.
Frustrated drivers must now wait for an opportunity to pass. Many attempt to pass in the narrow locations. Cyclists can use the multi-path alternative but the path is too narrow for any reasonable speed, endangering people walking. All users of this expensive new facility are frustrated and placed in unsafe conditions.
Council should take immediate steps to find staff that understand modern transportation concepts, are able to place safety as a top priority and can bring to fruition the vision that council has approved and that is echoed in the OCP and the city’s strategic plan.
Let’s not waste another $800,000 only to make our streets and paths less safe.
Don McPherson
North Vancouver
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