The City of Victoria will consider a two-way bike lane on Pandora Avenue and begin spot improvements along existing cycling routes as the first steps toward making the city more bike-friendly.
Councillors have approved six cycling routes to be developed over the next five years as priority projects, including what is expected to be the city’s first physically separated bike lane.
“The City of Victoria has been leading the nation in community cycling,” said Mayor Dean Fortin, referring to statistics that 11 per cent of Victorians cycle to work, compared with 1.3 per cent nationwide.
“But frankly, we’ve been stuck there for five years. So we’re going to need to be bold and visionary in moving forward.”
The priority projects include sections of Pandora Avenue, Johnson Street, Vancouver Street, and Wharf and Belleville streets, as well as routes off Bay Street and off Shelbourne Street.
The details of each project have not been determined, and the estimated $5-million total cost is subject to change as the plans develop. The implementation plan will be presented to council in 2015.
Pandora between Store and Cook streets will be the first priority project the city will tackle.
“It is anticipated that Pandora will be the first physically separated cycling lane in the city,” said city spokeswoman Katie Hamilton. “There is a strong desire to see more separated lanes.”
Separated lanes typically include some sort of barrier between motor vehicle traffic and bicycles.
Councillors have also said they will consider a two-way cycle track — a lane with space for bikes travelling in both directions — for Pandora, a decision that pleased Ed Pullman, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition.
Pullman hopes a broad range of options will be examined before design decisions are made.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily important to have a two-way lane there, but I think it’s important that it’s examined in detailed,” he said.
“All we’re really asking is that council has the full picture in mind.”
The lane would act as a natural extension of the Galloping Goose trail across the Johnson Street Bridge, he said.
Pullman called the increased investment in cycling infrastructure — about $1 million a year, up from about $200,000 in previous years — a positive change. “That’s a big improvement, and that’s what we’ve been advocating for,” he said.
In a letter submitted to council, Pullman also pointed to the potential to make Victoria an even more bike-friendly city.
“The prioritized projects are, at this point, six routes and segments from a much longer list of (almost 100) potential projects. That alone indicates the scope of bicycle improvements and investments needed to build a complete and safe network for all riders in the City of Victoria,” the letter reads.
Councillors also approved smaller improvements on Doncaster Drive, Convent Street, Collinson Street and the Galloping Goose trail to be completed before the end of this year.
“It means some significant enhancements for the cyclists who use those routes,” said Coun. Marianne Alto, a member of the city’s cycling task force.
The fixes will use $121,000 in previously approved capital funds.
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Victoria approves six cyclng routes:
• Pandora Avenue between Store and Cook streets
• Johnson Street between Store and Cook streets
• Vancouver Street route from Vancouver Street/ Park Boulevard, to Fifth Street/Tolmie Avenue, via Graham Street and Fifth Street
• Off-Bay Street route (Haultain Street/Kings Road between Richmond Road and Dowler Street)
• Off-Shelbourne Street route (Doncaster Drive/North Dairy Road to Gonzales Beach)
• Wharf Street/Belleville Street route between Pandora Avenue and Oswego Street
