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Rosemary Dudley commented on Make the Sea to Sky Highway Safer for Cycling 2018-05-28 18:45:32 -0700Add my name to those who have had a near miss cycling the highway. I only did it once from Horseshoe Bay to Lions Bay, and I was absolutely terrified. Trucks and cars were passing at speeds up to 120 Km. One truck came so close that I had to fall sideways into the ditch. The bike lane is totally inadequate.
I was involved in meetings when the highway was being upgraded and told that bike lanes must be, and would be, 1.5 m wide. In some places the bike lane is no more than 28 cm.
What a missed opportunity not to have built a dedicated lane while the highway was being upgraded for the 2010 Olympics. Whistler is a biking mecca. Imagine the number of people who would use a long distance, dedicated bike lane. My whole family are keen cyclists and would be commuting to Vancouver if we didn’t think we would be killed. Instead, we have to take cars to a suitable spot in Vancouver, and our holidays are taken cycling in Europe where there are hundreds of kms of dedicated pathways.
I am surprised that there have not been more people killed on that highway. It’s a death trap.Make the Sea to Sky Highway Safer for Cycling
The Sea to Sky corridor (Highway 99 and secondary roads) connects Horseshoe Bay, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Mt. Currie and on to Lillooet. The natural beauty of the corridor and recent improvements to the highway and roads to Squamish Valley, Callaghan Valley, Pemberton Meadows and Portage Road to D’Arcy, has enhanced the attractiveness of the area for motorists and cyclists alike.
The Whistler Cycling Club has submitted the following recommendations to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. We believe these would help improve safety and enjoyment for all road users in the Sea to Sky corridor.
Maintenance
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- Frequently sweep highway shoulders to remove gravel, glass and debris.
After the initial sweep in the spring gravel, glass and debris accumulate on the highway shoulder, especially in areas with a concrete barrier. - Repair cracked, uneven and damaged Highway 99 shoulders, particularly between Whistler and Pemberton.
- Repaint white fog line separating travel lane from shoulder (a highly visible fog line helps to delineate the shoulder area for cyclists).
- Repaint bicycle stencil pavement markings on shoulders through urban areas and at highway intersections.
- Establish more frequent communication between cycling community, maintenance contractors and MoTI.
Infrastructure Enhancements and Investments
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- Repave Highway 99 from Whistler to Pemberton, including adequate (ideally 2.0m minimum 1.5m) paved shoulder.
- Address cycling safety hazard due to narrow shoulders along Porteau Bluffs.
- Address extreme safety hazard for cyclists of the very narrow northbound shoulder from Britannia to Murrin Park.
- Install additional regulatory signage to encourage drivers and cyclists to share the road.
- Install cycling tourism signage.
- Replace, move or mark dangerous storm drain catch basins.
- Widen and/or repave secondary roads.
Communication, Education, Regulation
- Utilize overhead digital signs at Alice Lake and Alta Lake Road to encourage drivers to watch for cyclists.
- Create laws to adopt a mandatory 1.0-1.5 m separation between vehicles and cyclists, with greater separation in areas with higher speed limits.
- Clarify existing cycling laws (e.g. riding two abreast) and educate cyclists and motorists on the laws and etiquette of shared road use.
- Improved education of both cyclists and motorists would be beneficial.
Motor Vehicle Speed
Highway 99 Speed Limits were increased in 2016 on the following sections:
- Horseshoe Bay/Squamish: 90 km/km
- Squamish/Whistler: 100 km/h
- Whistler/Pemberton: 90 km/h
These increased speed limits between Horseshoe Bay and Pemberton,
coupled with higher traffic volumes, have increased the risk and consequences of
collisions with cyclists.- Wider shoulders would provide more separation between cyclists and high-speed traffic.
- More frequent shoulder sweeping and shoulder repairs would reduce the need for cyclists to move into the travel lane.
Support Our Cycling & Walking for Everyone Campaign
Your generous contribution will help us mobilize the support needed to convince the Provincial and Federal Governments to make bold investments in cycling & walking through:
- Outreach to organizations and businesses
- Petitioning to show the government that a lot of people support better cycling
- Meeting with politicians and staff
- Press releases and op-eds
Please support our efforts by making an on-going contribution of $5, $10, $15 or $20 per month or a one-time donation.
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Send feedback
- Frequently sweep highway shoulders to remove gravel, glass and debris.
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Support Our Cycling & Walking for Everyone Campaign
Your generous contribution will help us mobilize the support needed to convince the Provincial and Federal Governments to make bold investments in cycling & walking through:
- Outreach to organizations and businesses
- Petitioning to show the government that a lot of people support better cycling
- Meeting with politicians and staff
- Press releases and op-eds
Please support our efforts by making an on-going contribution of $5, $10, $15 or $20 per month or a one-time donation.
Donate
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Rosemary Dudley signed A Billion for Biking & Walking Petition 2016-10-05 22:07:09 -0700I am signing this petition because we need to encourage people to live healthier lifestyles through walking and cycling which will lessen the burden on the health care system and also get people out of their polluting cars. More people will be encouraged to do so when the pathways are protected from traffic and can be safely shared by walkers, skateboarders, in-line skaters, walkers and wheelchair users.
A Billion for Bikes - Cycling for Everyone Petition
Bold Action Now
It is time for bold action now to enable every person, including older adults and children, in BC to cycle or walk safely for their everyday trips and recreation.
Investing $1 billion over ten years in cycling and walking will send a strong message to the world that BC is serious about addressing Climate Change.
Cycling and walking will become attractive choices for everyone, leading to significantly improved fitness and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, congestion, and traffic injuries and fatalities. The paths and protected bike lanes could also be used by people in wheelchairs and other mobile devices.
Investing in cycling and walking will benefit the economy by increasing tourism, reducing healthcare costs, increasing workplace productivity, attracting talented workers, and reducing the societal costs of traffic fatalities and injuries.
Cycling is Popular
There is broad public support for cycling improvements. In the B.C. on the Move Engagement Survey, 72% of respondents supported enhancing cycling infrastructure. Cycling is popular. Almost 70% of adults in BC ride a bicycle at least once a year, 42% at least once a month and 25% at least once a week. Many want to cycle more, with around 65% indicating they would ride more if there were separated bike lanes that protected them from traffic.
A Transportation Bargain
On a per dollar basis, we all benefit more from cycling more than other modes. While bike paths and protected bike lanes are a bargain that will benefit far more people per dollar invested than other transportation projects, it does take a significant amount of cash to build networks of them in communities around the Province. For example:
- Metro Vancouver: $850 million
- Capital Regional District: $275 million
- City of Kelowna: $267 million (cycling and walking)
- City of Chilliwack: $27 Million
- City of Kamloops: $13 Million
At current rates of investment, these plans will take 30, 40 or even 50 years to complete, leaving people to brave busy roads on their bikes or more likely, not bothering to bike at all. Today's children will be grandparents by then.
The Provincial investment combined with local and federal funds will enable the completion of ambitious local and regional plans across BC. For example, the Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy predicts that upon network build out, cycling will increase to 10% of trips. The CRD Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan predicts cycling network build out cycling mode share will increase to 15%.
Funding Sources
The funding for the $1 billion investment could come from a variety of sources including an increase in the Carbon Tax, predicted budget surpluses, a reallocation of transportation budget, cutting the tax break on those earning over $150,000 or a tax on sugary drinks.
By providing people with practical and safe transportation choices, this investment would decrease the rate of the Carbon Tax required to meet Provincial goals also saving money for those who don't cycle or walk.
Take Action
Please sign and share the petition with your contacts.
More Info
BC Cycling Coalition Climate Leadership Plan Submission
Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan, Capital Regional District
Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy Implementation Plan
Recommendations by the Canadian Diabetes Association for B.C. Budget 2016
Add SignatureI call upon the Government of BC to enable everyone in BC to cycle & walk in safety as part of their daily lives by implementing an Active Transportation Strategy that includes:
- Investing $1 billion over the next ten years to:
- Upgrade cycling & walking facilities on provincial roads & bridges
- Complete cycling & walking networks in communities across BC
- Provide safe routes to school for children
- Build trails & routes for cycling & walking tourism
- Ensuring that paths & protected bike lanes can be safely shared by people using wheelchairs, skateboards & in-line skates
- Enhancing cycling education for children & adults
- Promoting cycling & walking
- Encouraging electric bike use by eliminating the PST & providing rebates
