To the editor:
Re: "City hall greenlights millions for bike lanes," May 18.
A proposed bike lane on Commercial Drive is an excellent addition to my vibrant neighbourhood. I have two children and live near the Broadway/Commercial intersection. We are a car-free family and use many of the city's bikeways to get around. Riding our bikes along the Drive isn't safe, with or without our children. I've been the recipient of a lot of anger and strong words/honking from drivers while riding along Commercial Drive.
Opponents will talk about reduced parking
and loss of business. If the lanes are implemented mindfully, the loss of parking could be minimal. Improved bike access could see the number of people travelling by car to do their shopping reduced, but increase the number of shoppers on bikes. Allowing people to travel up and down the main strip would mean the cyclists currently diverted to Woodland and Lakewood could do their shopping along the Drive instead of riding right past due to the inconvenience of detouring and risking their safety with the current model.
Melissa Bruntlett, Vancouver
