Inaccuracies, misinformation
DEAR EDITOR:
The public commentary relating to the new bike route through Penticton is constantly riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation.
Let’s address the project name first. The Lake-to-Lake bike lane is an unfortunate misnomer. Yes, the route begins and ends close to the two lakes at either end of Penticton. The new bike route will benefit those who choose to cycle instead of drive in a myriad of ways. The least important of which is the lake-to-lake aspect.
The existing lake-to-lake route is strictly recreational. It serves no practical purpose as a transportation route. Apart from the entrance and exit to this route, there are exactly two ways to leave the channel path. Both require crossing the busiest transportation corridor in town and both are far removed from the everyday lives of most residents.
So, unless you expect cyclists to travel many kilometers out of their way to access this route, it is of almost of no value to any sort of ordinary transportation activity.
The real purpose and value of the bike route is that it is an efficient, convenient and a safe way for cyclists to travel through the primary commercial and economic corridor in our city.
Another big part of the anti-bike lane argument is that there are relatively few bicycles on the roads. There is a very good reason for this. It is just incredibly unsafe to cycle on any major roadway in Penticton. Over the past two years or so, there has been an explosion of new bike riders and that is going to continue.
When Vancouver’s Burrard Street Bridge had bike lanes added to the bridge deck, the same negative arguments were presented. Those bike lanes are now in constant use. The bridge lanes get as many as 7,000 riders per day.
The new bike lane has the potential to be a game changer for Penticton. It could become a major driver of tourism in the South Okanagan. It will inspire more folks to get out of their cars and travel by bike from one end of town to the other with all stops in between.
So, let’s forget the lake-to- lake name. The bike route is a way to run errands, go shopping, go to work/school, go to appointments, to visit friends and family etc.
In other words, all of the same things that we use cars and pickups to do.
Richard Hunt Penticton