Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Proposed Inverness Bike Route

 

RECOMMENDATION

POLICY

Council approved the 1999 Bicycle Plan which outlines the goal to develop the bicycle network to ensure a grid of bikeways approximately 1km apart.

Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasizes the need for developing more bikeways and ranks cyclists second priority after pedestrians.

Council approved the recommendations of the 1992 Bicycle Network Study in which the major recommendation was the priority to integrate bicycles on local streets through the construction of locally integrated bikeways.

SUMMARY

In consultation with residents in the Sunset Neighbourhood and the members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council, a proposal for the Inverness Bikeway was developed. The bikeway follows Inverness Street from the existing Midtown/ Ridgeway Bikeway to Marine drive, providing a critical North/ South connection to the Knight Street Bridge and to the future Kent Avenue Bikeway. Without this proposed route, there is a gap of over 20 blocks (4km) between the Sunrise Bike Route and the Ontario Bike Route for North/ South movements in the Southeast portion of Vancouver.

It is proposed that some intersections be modified for additional comfort and safety of cyclists and that cyclists be given appropriate priority along the route. Traffic calming measures such as traffic circles, corner bulges and diverters are recommended to discourage vehicle short-cutting and speeding. Pavement upgrades are recommended at several locations along the route to improve the riding surface. Signals are proposed at a number of arterial streets to help enhance crossing safety.

The total cost for the Inverness Bike Route project is estimated at $700,000. In the event that the Provincial Cycling Network Program is maintained, an application will be made to receive up to $200,000 towards the cost of constructing the route. However, due to the uncertainty of the future of the Cycling Network Program, it is recommended that construction of the proposed route NOT be postponed to wait for this funding.

Based on support from the Bicycle Advisory Committee, participants at the open house, and resident surveys, staff recommend that the proposed Inverness Bike Route, as detailed in this report, be approved.

PURPOSE

This report seeks approval for the implementation of the Inverness Bike Route.

ROUTE DESIGN

Inverness Street was selected for the development of a bikeway due to its proximity to Knight Street, which would allow for a north-south connection between the Midtown/Ridgeway Greenway and the Knight Street Bridge. Currently the Cypress Bikeway provides a good route to the Granville and Oak Street Bridges, but the Ontario and Sunrise Bikeways do not provide a route within close proximity to the Knight Street Bridge. This route will help to fill this void and reduce the distance between adjacent routes. Also, the spacing between north/south routes in south- east Vancouver is over 4km; which is much greater than the ultimate goal for route spacing of 1km.

As shown in Figure 1, the proposed Inverness bike route extends from the Ridgeway Bikeway along Inverness Street (one of the few continuous streets in this area) to the Knight Street Bridge.

There are a number of measures along the proposed bikeway to help reduce vehicle speeds and to help cyclists cross busy arterials. The following provides a summary of the proposed measures and recommended locations.

Traffic Circles would be installed at the following intersections along Inverness Street to help reduce vehicle speeds and increase intersection safety:

*The traffic circles at 51st Avenue and 53rd avenue were not included on the original survey that was distributed to residents along the bike route. However, it was expected that, due to the largely positive response by residents to other proposed traffic circles along the route, these circles would also be accepted by residents. To verify this, a notice was delivered to all residents on the streets adjoining the proposed traffic circle locations (51st Avenue and 53rd Avenue) to update them and let them have a chance to express any concerns to staff. Phone calls by residents and discussions with residents during field visits confirmed this acceptance.