Vancouver City Council

CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

	Date:	March 30, 2004
	Author:	Brigid Kudzius
	Phone No.:	604.871.6471
	RTS No.:	04064
	CC File No.:	5560
	Meeting Date:	April 22, 2004

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	Downtown Transportation Plan - Hornby Street Bike Lane

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT funding of $370,000 be provided for the implementation of the Hornby Street Bike Lane from the Streets Basic Capital Group CB2EA2E (Bicycle Network), subject to the approval of the 2004 Streets Basic Capital Budget.

B. THAT commencing in 2005, the annual Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $1,000, without offset and subject to the 2005 Budget Review, for maintenance.

C. THAT an application be made to Translink requesting cost-shared funding for the Hornby Street Bike Lane Project.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council approved the Downtown Transportation Plan on July 9, 2002, to improve downtown accessibility and liveability by creating a balanced transportation system that included establishing a network of bike lanes.

Council approved the Downtown Transportation Plan Implementation Schedule on June 10, 2003, which recommended the implementation of a significant proportion of bike lane network within 3 years.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council's approval for funding to proceed with the implementation of the Hornby Street Bike Lane as identified in the Downtown Transportation Plan.

BACKGROUND

The Downtown Transportation Plan identified a bike route network for the downtown as shown in Appendix A. This bike network was developed with two guiding principles. Firstly, it aimed to provide direct connections to existing routes and key destinations in and around the downtown. Secondly, it aimed to minimise the impact on downtown Vancouver by maintaining circulation and parking capabilities. Hornby Street forms the northbound component of a one-way couplet of bike lanes proposed along Burrard Street and Hornby Street.

DISCUSSION

The Hornby Street bike lane is proposed for northbound cyclists between Pacific Street and Hastings Street. The bike lane aims to provide a cycling connection between the Burrard Street Bridge and the Coal Harbour Seawall. The width of Hornby Street can accommodate a bike lane by narrowing the existing travel lanes and making the two curb lanes full time parking lanes. The existing rush hour regulations on the west side of the street will be removed. The bike lane is proposed for the east side of the street (see Appendix B).

Some design highlights are as follows:

· For the section of Hornby Street between Pacific Street and Davie Street, a 0.6m road widening is required to safely accommodate bicycles, moving vehicles and parked vehicles. Widening of these two blocks will also make the road width along Hornby Street consistent along its entire length. Part of the west side of the 1300 block Hornby Street (Pacific Street to Drake Street) contains relatively rare Beech trees which are desirable to retain. Therefore instead of widening the road at this location, 10 parking spaces will be removed adjacent to the trees to accommodate the bike lane and the width of the sidewalk will be increased by 0.6m (see Appendix C).

· Between Robson Street and Georgia Street, a right turn lane on the east side needs to be retained due to the high volume of right turning vehicles. This places the bike lane between two moving lanes of traffic where there are greater interaction between cyclists and motorists changing lanes. To increase the awareness of both motorists and cyclists of the higher interactions, a blue coloured bike lane is proposed for this block (see Appendix B).

· At the intersection of Hornby Street with Hastings Street, two bike lanes will be provided to facilitate both left and right turning bicycle movements. The dual right turning vehicle lanes from Hornby Street into Hastings Street will be reduced to a single right turning lane (see Appendix D). This change will also benefit pedestrians crossing Hastings Street. This change will be monitored for any impacts to traffic flows.

· The connection of the Hornby Street bike lane to the seawall will be provided with a bike lane on Hastings Street between Hornby Street and Burrard Street, and then Burrard Street from Hastings Street to Canada Place. Four parking spaces and a loading zone will need to be removed on the north side of Hastings Street to accommodate the bike lane. The connection on Burrard Street is expected to be constructed in May of this year as part of the Coal Harbour development.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Input from the community was gathered through a distributed letter and a public open house. Approximately 3145 letters (Appendix B) were delivered to residents and businesses along Hornby Street in early February 2004 seeking their input into the bike lane design and inviting their attendance at a public open house. Approximately 30 people attended the open house, and 27 people submitted comment forms at the open house. A further 17 people submitted comments by email. Of the 44 responses received, approximately 77% were in favour of the bike lane and 7% were neutral. A summary of the responses is included in Appendix E.

Various stakeholders were also contacted directly, including the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) and the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA). Businesses and residents directly affected in the 1300 block of Hornby Street (Pacific to Drake) were further consulted with an additional notification letter because of the loss of parking. Of the 10 businesses surveyed on the 1300 block of Hornby Street, only two were opposed to the proposed parking changes. The concerns raised by residents can be accommodated by providing a passenger loading zone, which has been incorporated into the design.

Some of the concerns raised at the open house were raised by the cycling community about the detailed design issues and the proposed paint plan. The VACC and several cyclists have requested the bike lane be coloured and striped with a line on either side to increase visibility. In response, it is recommended that the bike lane be striped with two lines in locations where cyclists would benefit due to frequent parking or turning movements. This occurs for a large proportion of Hornby Street. As well a blue coloured bike lane is proposed between Robson Street and Georgia Street where greater interactions between cyclists and motorists are anticipated. Public response to the use of blue coloured bike lanes at the Burrard Street and Pacific Street intersection and elsewhere has been positive. In addition, City staff are currently awaiting the results of a review of bike lane facilities being undertaken by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). This review includes the colouring of bike lanes and would provide direction on a national standard for coloured bike lanes to ensure consistency across Canada.

A few general access and safety concerns were also raised by motorists and some property owners. However the proposed bike lane does not present any additional safety hazards that are not already present in a dense urban environment.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost of implementing the Hornby Street bike lane is $370,000. Of this, $300,000 is for adjusting the road width between Pacific Street and Davie Street, $60,000 for pavement markings and sign changes, and $10,000 for consultation expenses. Funding is available for this project from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Group CB2EA2E (Bicycle Network), subject to the approval of the 2004 Streets Basic Capital Budget. An application to Translink for cost-shared funding will also be submitted and if approved the excess funds will be reallocated to other cycling projects. There should also be an increase to the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage of $1,000 for the maintenance of the new signs and pavement markings.

The Downtown Transportation Plan seeks to improve downtown accessibility and liveability by creating a balanced transportation system. The Hornby Street bike lane is recommended as a component of the downtown network of bike lanes. The Hornby Street bike lane will increase accessibility and mode choice in the downtown.

* * * * *

APPENDIX A - DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER BICYCLE NETWORK

APPENDIX B

CITY OF VANCOUVER ENGINEERING SERVICES Downtown Transportation Plan Implementation Team

COME AND SEE WHAT WE ARE

PROPOSING FOR HORNBY STREET ...

As a result of the Downtown Transportation Plan, the City of Vancouver is planning on adding a bike lane on Hornby Street for northbound cyclists. You are invited to an Open House on Thursday February 19, 2004 to look at our design and to give us some feedback on the proposed form of the bike lane.

HORNBY STREET BIKE LANE OPEN HOUSE

When: Thursday February 19, 2004
Time: Drop by anytime between 6pm and 9pm

Where: UBC Robson Square (corner of Robson Street & Hornby Street) - Lower Level Plaza
Why: To look at the bike lane design and to provide us

with your feedback

The main features of the bike lane are listed below and shown on the diagram (see reverse):

The bike lane is proposed for northbound cyclists between Pacific Street and Hastings Street. A complimentary southbound bike lane is proposed for Burrard Street in 2005.
All existing parking and moving lanes will be narrowed slightly to make room for the new bike lane.
The bike lane will be on the east side adjacent to parked vehicles.
Parking on both sides of Hornby Street will become full time parking even in the rush hours.
The majority of the existing traffic and parking regulations will remain the same, including the right turn lane from northbound Hornby Street to eastbound Georgia Street.

If you can't make it to the Open House, please feel free to contact us via phone or email and we will be happy to answer your questions and listen to your feedback. The person to contact is:

BRIGID KUDZIUS
Downtown Transportation Plan
Implementation Team
Ph: 604-871-6471
email: brigid_kudzius@city.vancouver.bc.ca

APPENDIX C

CITY OF VANCOUVER ENGINEERING SERVICES Downtown Transportation Plan Implementation Team

March 10, 2004

Dear Resident/Business Owner of 1200 & 1300 blocks Hornby Street,

RE:	Hornby Street Bike Lane

As you may be aware the City is proposing to install a bike lane on Hornby Street between Pacific Street and Hastings Street later this year. The Hornby Street Bike Lane Project is part of an approved bicycle network for downtown Vancouver to encourage cycling and to provide a better environment for cyclists.

As part of the bike lane design, we have determined a need to widen Hornby Street between Pacific Street and Davie Street to safely accommodate bicycles, moving vehicles and parked vehicles. Widening in these two blocks will also make the road width along Hornby Street consistent. Therefore, we are proposing to widen the western side of Hornby Street between Pacific Street and Davie Street by approximately 0.6m.

In the 1300 block of Hornby Street, the street trees are a relatively rare Beech tree. These trees are well established, healthy and provide significant aesthetic value. Due to our desire to retain these trees, we need to remove some parking in this block. Please see the diagram on the reverse for details. Our aim is to retain as much parking as possible while still respecting these valuable and relatively rare trees.

To reduce the impact of the lost parking, the remaining parking spaces will be made available all day by removing the afternoon rush hour parking prohibition. To encourage a greater turn-over of parking spaces and provide more convenience for businesses and residential visitors, we are proposing to install parking meters on the remaining parking spaces. The existing commercial vehicle and passenger loading zones on the eastern side will stay the same.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these proposed changes, please phone me at 604.871.6471 by March 17, 2004.

Yours truly,

Brigid Kudzius
brigid_kudzius@city.vancouver.bc.ca
Phone: 604-871-6471

APPENDIX D

COMMENTS Locate the bike lane inside of the curb. 2.0m bike lanes with a small cement barrier between moving cars. Bike lanes need to be striped on both sides. DTP promised coloured bike lanes. Need to provide corner bulges. Need to stripe on both sides of bike lane. Need to adopt new standards like SEFC-(reduce parking and moving traffic lane widths, slower speeds, no need to widen). Wider curb lanes shared with parking. Parking removed. Forget Burrard St. Bike lane. Eliminate parking on Hornby and make Hornby a two way bike path (on the same side, i.e. In place of parking). Mark car parking at 2.1m and widen bike lanes. Bike box at Pender. Off-set bike lane full length of block from Hastings to Pender. Get rid of parked cars on the east side. Have the bike lane next to the sidewalk. Add a second bike lane near Hastings intersection. Paint second bike lane link alongside parked cars. Narrow parking lanes to 2.4 or 2.2m and add extra width to bike lane. Extend lanes to Beach. 400 block- continuous bike lane needed. Have cars cross the bike lane- not the other way around. Bike boxes on Pender and Dunsmuir. Two lines or coloured lanes where parking. Just after Pacific have a bike lane on the left side to allow cyclists to cross on the left side and merge. You should have the solid white line dividing cars and bicycles more distinguished. The solid white line slightly raised to identify drivers they're driving where they shouldn't be. Have grooves on road so that drivers know that they shouldn't be going into bike lane-small speed bumps that cyclists would not be affected but cars would. Paint the second line on the bike lane. Remove the four parking stalls to continue the straight ahead lane. Adjust traffic light timing to make it more bicycle friendly. Mark bike lane on both sides. It reduces poor car parking, stops cars from using the lane in the absence of parked cars and increases the comfort level for cyclists. Paint a line for parked vehicles to define the right side of the bike lane. Put it on another less congested street!! I.e. in the bike friendly zone in the West End. Curb bulges to prevent right turn conflicts (DTP, see spot improvement 26,p. 149) Double stripe!! Please! Streamline the approach to Hornby off Burrard Bridge- bike box? Include measurement of open car doors in bike lane width. Have double line marking on bike lane. Make car parking narrower and have two lined bike lanes rather than single line. At Hastings/ Hornby continue bike lane to right turn- don't let it end in the middle of traffic. Remove car curb parking from Pacific to Hastings. Burrard to Hornby is too complex. Bike lanes should be lined on both sides. Paint the bike lane all the way please. The bike symbols are not known to me or a driver; need to educate public on these symbols. Please use vivid signage and road markings to indicate bike route. Bike lane at intersection with right turn- solid not dashed lines. Bike box at Pender to connect to Pender bike facility. Remove parking on the right side of the road and have reverse angle parking on the left side. Bulge at Smithe. Bulges at other intersections. Paint bike lane green (tennis court green). Have a sign for vehicles at every block warning it's a bike lane( new bike lane- like HOV lane). Please paint the second line of the bike lane!!! Intersection at Hastings needs a right turn cycle lane. Remove the last 4 parked cars and paint it. Merging cycle and car traffic is not a good idea there since the timing of the traffic lights is such that cars have high velocity in this block. Meters not to be installed in the 1300 block. Remove meters in the southern most half of the 1200 block to compensate for lost parking in 1300 block. Allowing full-time parking on both sides of Hornby, especially during morning rush hour will compound morning traffic congestion. Consider segregated bike lane rather than a painted bike lane (curb divided). Eliminate parking on the East side- use as a bike lane. Keep the West side as parking before 3pm. Remove parking from the East side of the street. Consider conflicts between cyclists and the vehicles leaving parkades/ driveways that are trying to cut across into far lanes to make turns. Maintain rush hour regs on the West side of the street- 3 lanes open during rush hour, accommodate bikes, provide parking on the East side ( 3 west lanes 2.9, bike lane 1.6, parking lane 2.5). Indicate how cyclists get from the bridge sidewalk to the East lane of Hornby. Visible signage (Motorists yield to cyclists in bike lane) 700 block. Advanced notice to cyclists and motorists that cyclists need to change lanes to continue route (Blue paint on the lane) 400 block. Leave the bike lane out, and instead make a single lane wide enough to accommodate parked cars, cyclists and moving cars. Keep bike symbols on the road but remove the divider line. Hornby- cars must stop in bike lane and back up to park. Driver seats are on the left of cars; therefore drivers will open their doors into cyclists. Burrard- will you reroute the 15 buses that go down Burrard? This is a disaster! I have seen too many dangerous clashes between cyclists and buses on much wider streets with one bus. Buses need to go to the curb. The removal of curb parking from Pacific to Hastings. Even if this cannot be considered or approved in the short-term, please seriously consider for long-term considerations to help improve cyclist safety and convenience. I strenuously request Mayor and Council and City Planning staff to do what they can to accomplish this goal. You need not do this goal in one step. At least attempt to do goal in small manageable steps. Are there plans to change the delayed pedestrian crossing at Hornby on Smithe? Currently pedestrians are held back for cars to turn right, but the cars don't stop so pedestrians are at risk. As far as I can see, it is well thought out. Please continue to make Vancouver a bike friendly city. Remind opponents that more people on bikes equals less money (taxes) needed to maintain roads. Will the Pacific St. bikeway be happening soon? We need good access to Hornby. As a car-driver and car-parker it's great. As a cyclist, it has many danger points from cars driving on the right to turn and from doors of parked cars being opened into the cyclist's face. Should be for bikes only, no cars. It will provide safer biking space without reducing driving lanes. Overall, good to see something; but could still do a lot better. This will ensure a safe trip to work for me each day. I look forward to the Burrard St. lane to ensure a full safe route. This is a much needed northbound route that is certain to attract a large number of cyclists. It's good to see plans for bike lanes moving forward. The plans are better than no cyclist facilities. Removing rush hour parking restrictions on 700 block Hornby also bad idea. Too much focus on not losing parking or a lane of traffic, and slotting the bike lane in. Making the city more bike friendly may require restrictions on cars- fewer lanes-safety and our lungs would benefit. Cars should stop being driven and have all lanes for bicycles. Good job and thank you for making our city a better place. I can see problems mixing buses and bikes on Burrard St. Thank-you for increasing bike accessibility. I work on Burrard and plan to start cycling; I bus now. I would not use the proposed lanes, especially Burrard, but both are unsafe. Fantasy- no cars downtown. Seems the car still gets 100% priority, whether moving, parked or bashing into bikers. 2/10 F How can you propose road widening without providing costs? What is the cost of saving five parking spaces in the 1300 block. Where are the corner bulges for pedestrians? Why widen for parkers (lots of $$) and not bulges for pedestrians, especially at Helmcken Greenway. Paint all bike lanes in the city green with white signs on it indicating bike lane. Please be very careful with heritage value of the Burrard Bridge when and if you should decide to widen the sidewalks to better accommodate people and bikes. Don't change the appearance of it too much (if at all). Not impressed by idea of bike lane on Burrard- too many buses. Not convinced safety will be measurably increased due to squeezing same traffic in limited space. Please accelerate making Vancouver a bike friendly city. Connections from the Burrard Bridge at Pacific will be very important to ensure cyclists use Hornby rather than staying on Burrard. Cross over vehicle traffic in the 700 block Hornby St. would significantly endanger cyclists. Removing rush hour parking restrictions would further increase congestion in 700 block Hornby. Do not put bike lane on Hornby. Use west end or Granville St. Proposals look good. Please do this as soon as possible. Great idea! It's important to support healthy, zero emission, low road impact cyclists by improving our number one concern: safety. Glad to see full width in first block and dropped right turn lane at Hastings. See survey for diagrams. Education for cars and bicycles (e.g. ads) once lane is installed. E.g. to watch out for car doors. Vancouverites are new to bike lanes and need education (bikes and cars). We have needed a bike lane on Hornby for quite awhile. If there are two lines for bike lane cars are less likely to park further over into bike lane. Give Hornby/ Hastings further consideration. Ensure that all paint is not slippery to cyclists. I understand a coloured aggregate material is actually being experimented by the City. When drivers get in and out from parked positions, what do they have to do to ensure that no bikes are about to pass them? Some bikes travel quite fast, especially courier bikers. What about Beach to Hornby? Look at Hornby and Davie- tons of car accidents at this corner. Georgia and Hornby- Cars turning right onto Georgia create dangers for pedestrians. Vancouver should start managing traffic rather than ignoring it. Narrowing the lanes will prove to be hazardous, chaotic and even life threatening. You are trying to do too much in too small a space. It would be nice to have a designated bike lane to feel more secure. Have police enforce speeds of motor vehicles along Hornby St. The addition of more bike routes will make it a safer and easier commute. Mail out survey to inform participants about connections - Hastings and Burrard from Hastings to Canada Place. Begin closing down complete roads to all motorized vehicles and start to transform them into real living/ working/ growing areas.

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