NETWORK NEWS
Bike lanes. You know, the ones downtown that are separated from traffic by barriers such as planters and have become a polarizing issue in the city?
Yep, those ones. Well, we should find out in 2012 whether the entire downtown network of these lanes will become permanent cycling infrastructure.
City council gave the nod to the separated lane on the Burrard Bridge to continue indefinitely but is awaiting a city staff report on how renovations to the span will incorporate permanent lanes.
That leaves the Hornby and Dunsmuir street separated lanes, which are still considered trials, to go before city council for a vote.
What will complicate the voting, however, is the outstanding issue of what the city's plans are for the future of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts; the Dunsmuir lane hooks up with a separated lane on the Dunsmuir viaduct.
The city recently hosted a contest to field designs from people on what they would do with the viaducts. Intriguing to say the least, with pitches for parks, swimming pools and a recommendation to knock them down to create a canal system.
Others simply say leave 'em alone.
Staff and consultants are reviewing the future of the viaducts which, as city stats show, accommodate a lot of cars and cyclists.
The separated lane network is a cyclist's dream, allowing a rider to cycle unimpeded by vehicles from Kitsilano to Chinatown.
As you've read in this space, the dream is a bit of nightmare for some business owners and motorists, who say the lanes are bad for business and disrupt traffic flow.
The network cost the city about $5 million to build but officials have not calculated how much it would cost to rip up the planters and concrete barriers-if council decides to put the kibosh on the lanes.
But what about more separated lanes outside downtown?
"Staff are working on the transportation plan and considering what improvements to the bike network are needed within that larger plan," said Mayor Gregor Robertson in an interview before he left for holidays. "I expect there will be a number of different approaches to making bike lanes safer."
The mayor said the ongoing debate over the lanes had some people suggesting separated lanes between parked cars and sidewalks.
"That may be more applicable in some neighbourhoods," he said, adding that he will wait until city staff reports back to council on the transportation plan before saying whether council will push for more separated lanes.
As a cyclist/motorist/pedestrian, can't say I've seen a lot of cyclists using the downtown lanes lately. Cold and rainy weather is obviously a factor, as the city's website points out.
"Higher volumes are generally experienced in the summer months with lower volumes in the winter months," according to the city's website, which features graphs showing bicycle volumes on the routes.
HAPPY HAPPY
This is my last entry of 2011.
I'm taking a short holiday and will return early in the new year.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the comments, emails, letters and phone calls.
Happy holidays, Happy New Year.
We'll see you in 2012.
Twitter: @Howellings
