Esquimalt resident Carly Youlton has taken the reins on the movement against the expanding bike lanes within the municipality.
To express her opinions on the expansion of Esquimalt’s Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP), she launched three separate petitions online—all of which call for slightly different demands from the Township.
Youlton says that the implementation of the new protected bike lanes and expansion of the ATNP has caused a range of problems, including increased traffic congestion, more accidents, loss of street parking and vehicular damage to infrastructure.
“The municipality has long suffered from a lack of public parking, even prior to the ATNP implementation,” Youlton wrote in the petition description.
“There is a shared concern for the recent and future reduction and loss of street parking among Esquimalt residents, businesses, employees, customers, and visitors.”
So far, the Township of Esquimalt has just been able to install protected bike lanes along the Tillicum and Lampson corridor.
According to Esquimalt’s ATNP, this corridor was made a priority because it was the only available route for many cyclists and it had been deemed “uncomfortable and unsafe” to cycle through.
“The only viable cycling route option for people cycling north of Colville Road is to use Tillicum Road, which is a busy corridor with over 17,000 vehicles per day,” reads the ATNP.
“This makes it challenging for residents who need to access destinations both north and south of this busy corridor. Further, for people cycling south, Lampson Street is the only viable option but with no separation from traffic and volumes over 11,000 vehicles per day, it is an uncomfortable and unsafe connection for most.”
The Township says their goal is to make cycling more accessible for all, which could lead to less vehicles on the road and more people utilizing the active transportation network which extends into all neighbouring municipalities.
Youlton’s position, as outlined in the petition, is regarding her concerned over the reduction of parking in commercial areas that will be caused by the expansion of the bike lanes.
“Not only does a reduction in availability of street parking affect residents who require it, but it will also significantly affect the business community,” she wrote.
“Reduced street parking will cause a reduction or loss of accessibility to local businesses which will be a hindrance to business retention, business growth, and attracting new businesses.”
The Township of Esquimalt’s position, which is highlighted in the ATNP, is that by implementing these bike lanes, it will make commercial areas more accessible for those who use alternate methods of transportation.
In the conclusion paragraph of the petitions Youlton launched, she listed slightly different sets of demands from the Township, on behalf of the petitioners.
Petition #1’s demands:
- A discontinuation of all current activity related to installation of protected bike lanes
- Avoid roadway changes that will reduce free public parking in all zones
- Maintain all current free commercial parking zones
- Seek ways to increase public parking in all zones
- Redirection of bicycle traffic to low-volume adjacent roadways for shared road-use
Petition #2’s demands:
- A discontinuation of all current activity related to installation of protected bike lanes
- Avoidance of lane modifications on high-traffic and main roadways throughout Esquimalt
- Prevent reduced traffic flow and access on high-traffic and main roadways throughout Esquimalt
- Avoid any reduction of street parking around business and commercial zones
- Consideration for painting share [arrows] on lower-traffic complementary roadways or residential roadways for vehicles and bicycles to share the roadways thereby avoiding loss of on-street parking
Petition #3’s demands:
- Discontinuation of all current activity related to installation of protected bike lanes
- Avoidance of lane modifications that will reduce or remove on-street parking in all zones
- Return all major roadways to prior layout by removing protected bike lanes, reinstalling on-street parking that was removed or lost, and returning driving lanes to previous directions (eg. Tillicum Road exclusive turning lanes)
Thus far, these petitions have had marginal support with 36, 31 and 53 signees, respectively.
