SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1(b)
VTC AGENDA
JULY 9, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 28, 1996
Dept. File No. 4051
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Cypress Bike Route - Shaughnessy Portion,
from 16th Avenue to 41st Avenue
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the portion of the Cypress Bike Route between 16th Avenue
and 41st Avenue be marked with signage only, on Route B as
illustrated in Figure 1.
B. THAT the traffic circles, medians, and other measures as
previously proposed, not proceed, but that conditions along
the corridor continue to be monitored and discussed with
residents and cyclists to determine whether further measures
are required in the future.
C. THAT pedestrian/bicycle signals proceed at 16th Avenue and at
41st Avenue, with funding as detailed separately in the
companion reports, Cypress Bike Route - Kitsilano Portion and
Cypress Bike Route - Kerrisdale Portion.
COUNCIL POLICY
- The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988) and the Clouds of
Change Report (1990) established the City's policy of promoting and
encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.
- On May 14, 1992, Council approved a Citywide bicycle route network
with priority given to local street integration, and with the Cypress
route identified as high priority.
- On October 8, 1992, Council approved the Kitsilano Traffic Plan which
recommends a bike route be built on Cypress Street as part of the
Citywide bicycle route network.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the signing of the
Shaughnessy portion of the Cypress bike route, without the traffic
circles and other traffic calming measures previously proposed.
SUMMARY
In consultation with the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle
Advisory Committee to Council, a proposal for the Shaughnessy portion of
the Cypress bike route was developed. The overall route follows the
Cypress corridor from English Bay and the Burrard Bridge to Marpole.
This route connects with the Off-Broadway Bikeway and the Seaside Bike
Route and will eventually connect with the proposed 37th Avenue Greenway
and S.W. Marine Drive bike route. The proposed route in Shaughnessy
followed Cypress, Maple Crescent, Pine Crescent, and Angus Drive.
Traffic calming devices such as diverters and traffic circles were
included to discourage vehicle short-cutting and speeding.
However, the public response to this proposal clearly indicated that the
community required a different solution. The original process did not
allow sufficient time to discuss such options, and was confined to too
narrow a corridor. Accordingly, the process was lengthened in time, and
a second notification sent out to 6000 addresses in a broader corridor.
A meeting was held to hear delegations at Prince of Wales School on June
13, 1996, and had to be continued on June 18, at Council Chambers, due
to the number of delegates.
The public response can be summarized as follows:
- Of 48 speakers registered for the two meetings, a clear majority
indicated opposition to the circles, medians, stop sign removals, and
similar measures.
- The Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners' Association presented a
position in favour of signing for bicycle route B, but opposing the
circles and other measures.
- Of 6,000 surveys distributed in total, the response rate between 16th
and 41st was 287 of 1,500, or 19%. In this area, up to 67% indicated
opposition to the circles and other traffic calming measures.
- A large number of letters, phone calls, and names on petitions have
indicated similar opposition to the circles and other measures, while
supporting the bike route in principle, and the signals at 16th and
41st Avenues.
On the basis of this clear expression of community desire, it is
recommended that the bicycle route be signed as route alignment B, but
that the circles, medians, and other changes not proceed. The
pedestrian/cyclist signals are supported, and funding for them is
provided in companion reports. Staff will continue to monitor
conditions in the corridor, and will recommend further measures in the
future where these are desired by the community.
BACKGROUND
After extensive public consultation in 1991 regarding bike route
facilities, the option of enhanced integration on local streets was the
preferred option for encouraging more bicycling. On May 14, 1992,
Council approved the following recommendation:
THAT the development of the first trial bike routes along
local streets be based on the following priorities:
- Adanac/Union Corridor
- Broadway Corridor
- Ontario Corridor
- Arbutus Corridor
In pursuit of the foregoing bike routes, Engineering staff has worked
closely with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council and the Bicycle
Network Subcommittee. Also, residents and cyclists have been encouraged
to participate through open houses and surveys.
The Adanac, Off-Broadway and Ontario Bikeways were opened in 1993, 1994
and 1995, respectively. The bikeway adjacent to the Arbutus Corridor,
as proposed in this report, will complete the first four priority
corridors, and is reported under three separate covers because of
factors unique to the different sections of the route.
In addition, the Province of British Columbia has recently established a
cost-sharing program for bike routes, and a number of City routes have
received approval. These are detailed in the Kitsilano Portion report.
RECOMMENDED CYPRESS CORRIDOR BIKE ROUTE DESIGN -
SHAUGHNESSY PORTION
The recommended bike route design will function well to meet the comfort
and safety needs of cyclists. It has been extensively modified from the
original proposal, in order to address the concerns of residents.
Affected residents, businesses and schools have been surveyed and the
clear majority support the route as detailed herein. Ongoing monitoring
may result in adjustments, and the results will be reported to Council
as necessary.
(a) Route Alignment and Improvements
Initially, route alignment was sought along, or adjacent to, the
Canadian Pacific Rail right-of-way. The cost of acquiring this
land and the lack of usable adjacent land or streets negate the use
of this route at this time. It is hoped that in the future this
right-of-way can be developed into a Greenway/Bikeway that will
complement the bike route currently proposed.
The general route alignment and details are proposed as shown on
Figure 1. The route is as direct and user-friendly as possible.
Some further comments are provided as follows:
i) Miscellaneous pavement upgrades are recommended along the
route and include repairing potholes, uneven pavement, bumps
and large cracks.
ii) Crossing arterial streets will be made easier with cyclist
activated signals at 16th Avenue and at 41st Avenue. A
proposed median to assist cyclists and pedestrians crossing
33rd Avenue at Angus has been deleted, and this location may
require further review in the future.
iii) Street lighting improvements along the route are proposed to
improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and residents.
Overhead lighting will be added at some intersections and
better spacing of lighting will be achieved mid-block, where
necessary.
(b) Survey Results
The response through letters, phone calls, petitions, and other
means has indicated a pattern of support in principle to a bicycle
route and for the pedestrian signals at 16th and 41st, but
opposition to the traffic circles and similar measures. The
Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners Association has submitted this
same position.
Within this section of the route, 287 of 1,500 surveys were
returned, for an overall response rate of 19%. This relatively low
rate of return can be attributed to the broad area covered by the
survey. The specific support or opposition for each of the
measures, not including unanswered or No Opinion , is listed
below. Further details of the results can be found in Appendix A.
Items Supported by Neighbourhood
Pedestrian/cyclist signal at:
16th Avenue 63% for, 20% against
41st Avenue 67% for, 19% against
Eastbound and/or westbound
stop signs installed on 18th,
Nanton, 38th, 39th and 40th 49-54% for, 24-32% against
Items Opposed by Neighbourhood
Traffic calming in principle: 41% for, 49% opposed
Traffic circle at:
Cypress/17th 25% for, 55% opposed
Maple/18th 21% for, 53% opposed
Cypress/Hosmer 26% for, 56% opposed
Cypress/Nanton 23% for, 57% opposed
Pine Cres/37th 23% for, 59% opposed
Angus/29th 22% for, 59% opposed
Angus/32nd 21% for, 62% opposed
Addition of a bike path to
existing circle Cypress/19th: 32% for, 39% opposed
Installation of a bicycle median at:
Pine Crescent/33rd 20% for, 63% opposed
Angus/33rd 18% for, 67% opposed
Installation of a right-in/
right-out diverter at Angus/41st: 20% for, 61% opposed
Route Options
Between 37th and Matthews Avenues, two parallel route options were
presented to residents for consideration. Heading south, route "A"
travels along Cypress Street, Maple Crescent and Pine Crescent
until it merges with Angus Drive at 37th Avenue. Route "B" also
follows Cypress Street but diverts east for 2 blocks at Matthews
Avenue before continuing south along Angus Drive. The use of East
Boulevard north of King Edward was also proposed by residents of
the area north of King Edward.
The survey asked residents to specify if they preferred Route A or
Route B. In addition, the survey questioned residents about
traffic measures for each route option separately. Support was as
follows:
Route A (Cypress St.-Maple Cres.-Pine Cres.-Angus Dr.) 35%
Route B (Cypress St.-Matthews Ave.-Angus Dr.) 34%
Use of E. Boulevard north of King Edward 4%
The choice between route A and route B is not categorical. Route A
is the most direct, while Route B avoids hills. The survey
response was split 35% A, 34% B. The Shaughnessy Rate-payers
Association has indicated support for route option B. Route B is
recommended for two reasons: first, it is less dependent on traffic
calming measures, which the community opposes; and second, it is
preferred by the Property Owners Association.
Residents north of King Edward suggested a different route option
using Maple Crescent to East Boulevard, as far as 16th Avenue.
This route has the advantages of avoiding hills, and of being
adjacent to the Arbutus rail line, which is a possible future
corridor. For these reasons, the proposal has considerable merit,
and was reviewed further. Ultimately, however, it is not
recommended because it requires a 2-block jog along 16th Avenue
(since East Boulevard does not continue north of 16th), and
because it does not connect to Route Option B.
(c) Implementation
Installation of signage would begin shortly, and completion of the
route is expected this Fall with the installation of the new
pedestrian/cyclist signals.
(d) Maintenance
Elements of the proposed Cypress Street bike route could be
considered for maintenance levels above those of a normal street.
However, due to current budget constraints it is recommended that
the bicycle route receive the same level of service as would a
normal street, at no additional cost. This may require refusing
some public requests for extraordinary maintenance levels.
Each of the two pedestrian/cyclist activated signals will incur an
annual power and maintenance cost of $2,000, for a total of $4,000.
These costs are further discussed in the companion reports.
(e) Route Name
The route was generally called the Arbutus Bicycle Corridor during
the planning stages. This name should be reserved for a potential
future route on the actual rail right-of-way. Therefore, several
alternative route names have been suggested, such as:
- Shaughnessy Bikeway
- Cypress Bikeway
- Cypress-Angus Bikeway
- X-press Bikeway
After discussions with the public and the Bicycle Network
Subcommittee, it is recommended that the route be named the Cypress
Bikeway.
(f) Route Signage
The signage, including route markers, destination signs, and
brochures, will be similar to those that have been successful along
the other bikeways. All are based on the use of clear,
internationally recognized standard symbols with a minimum of
wording. The route markers will be placed at two block intervals
in each direction.
Free brochures for the bike route will be available at City Hall
and other public areas and will be distributed at cycling related
events. They will provide help to users, promote the route and reinforce cyclist etiquette and the need to co-exist with the
neighbourhood. These will be of leaflet size similar to other
Bikeway brochures.
Information and maps describing Vancouver's cycling program are
also available on the Internet through the City's home page.
FUNDING
The measures proposed here do not require funding approval at this time.
The signing can be provided from previously approved funds, and the
signal funding is reported separately. For information, the cost of the
improvements in the Shaughnessy portion is as follows:
- Install new cyclist/pedestrian
actuated signal at Cypress/16th $70,000
- Install new cyclist/pedestrian
actuated signal at Angus/41st $70,000
- Route signs and improvements $10,000
- Pavement improvements $10,000
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND NETWORK SUBCOMMITTEE
The Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee were involved
in the preliminary design of this route but due to time constraints they
have not had the opportunity to comment on this report. A copy of this
report will be submitted to them for comment and a response may follow.
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