A few cyclists and motorists are being impolite near a busy section of the Lochside Regional Trail that’s been closed for repairs, forcing detours for cyclists and pedestrians, and the loss of a lane for motorists.
I regularly travel that portion of the trail, and I’ve overheard some overheated comments from cyclists miffed about having to detour, and from motorists facing a bit of congestion because they only have one lane instead of two on a short stretch of Quadra Street.
Many of the impolite comments have been directed at the traffic control people who are there during peak times. (One of them is Matthew.)
There’s no need for the agitation. The detour is short and straightforward. And the delay for motorists doesn’t last long.
Here’s the background to what’s happening.
A chunk of the Lochside Regional Trail in Saanich collapsed because of stormy weather in the winter of 2020, with half a lane on the creek side sliding down a slope. It’s along a section that’s heavily travelled by cyclists and pedestrians between Quadra Street and McKenzie Avenue (near the White Spot). Temporary repairs in 2020 and 2021 kept the trail open, but it was down to a single lane in the area near the slippage.
Work on permanent repairs started in mid-August this year and it has required the complete closing of that portion of Lochside until at least mid-September. A notice from Saanich says the creek bed is being stabilized, the slope is being rebuilt, and new pavement is being installed. While the section is scheduled to reopen in mid-September, work is expected to continue into October.
A detour has been set up for cyclists. The curbside lane of northbound Quadra Street has been closed to motor traffic for about a block, from Reynolds Road to Greenridge Crescent. There’s two-way riding for cyclists along that section of Quadra.
If you’re riding south, go onto Borden Street after you cross McKenzie, turn onto Reynolds, turn onto the blocked-off Quadra lane, then rejoin Lochside.
If you’re riding north, when you cross Quadra, turn right into that same blocked-off Quadra lane, turn left onto Reynolds, turn left onto Borden.
It mostly works well. Follow the signs. There’s no need to ride on the sidewalks. And there’s no need to shout obscenities.
Phillip Jang is a senior news editor at the Times Colonist.
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