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

Imagine that within the next ten years, you, your family and friends can safely and comfortably cycle across the region to work, school, shopping and transit as well as for recreation and exercise. And, when you would rather take transit, there is a bus or a train nearby arriving within a few short minutes.

Please help make this happen by making a monthly contribution, a one-time donation or by volunteering!

A Yes vote will bring improvements including: 

✔️ 2700km of cycling routes including 300km of paths and lanes separated from traffic

✔️ $131 million invested in cycling over ten years

✔️ Upgrades to the BC Parkway and Central Valley Greenway

✔️ Investing in North Shore Spirit Trail, Evergreen Bikeway and routes parallel to rapid transit lines in Surrey and Langley

✔️ Improved cycling and walking access to transit stations

✔️ Much improved cycling and walking facilities on a new 4 lane Pattullo Bridge

✔️ Millennium Line Extension to Arbutus, LRT in Surrey, 25% increase in Bus Service, 11 B-lines, increased capacity on the Expo Line 

All for only around 35 cents a day per household.

You can vote via mail-in ballot between March 16 and May 29.

More info.

Donate  Volunteer

Benefits

✔️ Safer and Healthier - With less traffic, fewer crashes and more opportunities for walking and cycling, the plan will save around 200 lives and prevent 4000 serious injuries per year. 

✔️ Sustainable Environment - Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollution

✔️ Healthy Economy - Keep our economy competitive with faster and more reliable travel and better access to more jobs, workers and markets 

The Provincial Government is developing a new 10-year transportation plan, B.C. on the Move. Billions of dollars will be spent on this plan. Please write the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to help ensure that cycling and walking get their fair share.

We strongly encourage the Province to implement a comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy building upon the BC Road Safety Strategy which commits to a long term goal of zero fatalities.  Safe and comfortable access for people walking, cycling, riding transit or using wheelchairs should be an integral part of the plan and of all the roads and bridges in BC.

Cycling facilities should be safe, convenient and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities including childrenand seniors. This includes bicycle paths and protected bike lanes that are designed to be safe for the higher speed cycling required for long distance commuting, training and exercise.

Our recommendations include a $100 million per year investment in cycling and walking by the Provincial Government; upgrading cycling and walking facilities on provincial roads and bridges; improved standards that prioritize all ages and abilities separated bike lanes; universally available cycling skills training for children with provincial funding support; improved cycling and driver education; improved standards & more funding for maintenance and hazard removal; a comprehensive cycling tourism strategy; and legislation to improve the safety and legal protection of people walking and cycling.

Relate your personal experiences regarding cycling issues and how investing in cycling facilities would help you, your family and community.

This initiative is a unique, one-time only, incredible opportunity to invest in infrastructure which benefits local population health and fitness, air quality, cycling safety, GHG emission reduction, and green tourism opportunities. This project could be the first major link in a future network of scenic and safe cycling and hiking routes that could draw not only the local citizenry, year-round, but tourists from throughout North America and abroad. Links could be developed between this route and local vineyards, agricultural businesses, and B&B or inn operators. This could put BC firmly on the map of worldwide locations for cycle tourism. www.okanaganrailtrail.ca

Lougheed Hwy and the Mary Hill Bypass shoulders are often covered in gravel, rocks, etc. MOT says there is a contract to sweep shoulders every 90 days, which does not happen, and even if it did this is too infrequent. Clear shoulders makes for safer cycling!

Upgrade the Lougheed Hwy in Southern Coquitlam to make a continuous and safe essential connection for bikes. This may require narrowing existing lanes where no space presently exists for a curb bike lane. This is a short-term measure, as in the long term a AAA route away from motor traffic is needed.

The Federal Government is projecting large surpluses in coming years. The current government is talking about tax cuts.

Another option would be for the Federal Government provide communities funding for cycling improvements such as separated bike lanes and cycling paths. The Netherlands, for example, invests around $40 per person per year in cycling.