VICTORIA, BC – Today work begins on new bicycle lanes on Cook Street, one of the areas identified by the community for improvements in the City’s cycling network.
This spring over 1,300 people provided input on how to improve cycling infrastructure in Victoria over the next 25 years. The new bicycle network was informed by this feedback and identifies the specific routes that will be the focus of these cycling improvements.
The new north and south bike lanes on Cook Street between Maplewood Road and Lang Street will connect with Saanich’s new bike lanes that will continue north on Cook, for a combined route of 1.2 km. These improvements will also make it easier for cyclists to access Finlayson Street, an east/west route with existing bike lanes. Bicycle detection loops will be installed on both sides of Finlayson and Cook, so cyclists approaching the intersection will trigger the light to change. Work will take approximately five weeks. Some parking restrictions and lane closures are expected during construction hours, however access will be maintained for pedestrians and vehicles at all times.
Also responsive to public feedback, 14 new bike parking spaces have been added at City Hall. There are now 46 bike parking spaces, with additional areas for staff parking. These improvements correspond with recent renovations to the Public Service Centre at City Hall.
Other cycling improvements this fall will include:
• Improved access onto Vancouver Street in the 900 block of Convent Street
• Improved access onto Quadra Street in the 900 block of Collinson Street
• Paving of the pedestrian path on the Galloping Goose Trail, south of Selkirk Trestle
• New bike lanes on Skinner Street, from Bay Street to Catherine Street
• Path realignment on Doncaster Drive, between Myrtle Street and Hillside Avenue
The high volume of public input received this spring will now inform an overhaul of the Bike Master Plan itself. The focus will be on developing actions to guide cycling in Victoria over the next 25 years. At this time, it is anticipated an updated Bicycle Master Plan will be presented to Council for consideration in March 2015.
For more information about the new Bicycle Network and other routes that have been identified as priorities over the next five years visit: www.victoria.ca/cycling.
