Bike lanes beneficial for so many reasons

DEAR EDITOR:

I was greatly relieved to learn that Penticton city council has voted to complete the Lake-to-Lake Bike Route, and I want to thank council for supporting this innovative and important project.

It is of fundamental importance to our community and its out-of-town visitors in several ways: (1.) the safety of cyclists and other users, (2.) the facilitation of vehicular traffic flow throughout the town, and (3.) the promotion and protection of means of transportation that do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, given that we are in a time of climate crisis.

My family members are all avid cyclists and they have said that the protected bike route enables them to cycle safely in town. Our older grandson attends KVR Middle School and this will allow him to cycle safely to our home after school.

Furthermore, I often watch people using the bike route, and I have been impressed to see that older people and those with disabilities using mobility scooters are also taking advantage of its safety and ease of access.

When they do this they do not have to ride on the sidewalks, where they would pose risks to pedestrians and cause crowding.

Many cities, especially in Europe, have created vehicle-free zones for cyclists and pedestrians, but I believe that the protected bike route is an appropriate solution for Penticton at this time. Most people here still depend on motor vehicles, and the protected bike route allows both forms of traffic.

This commitment demonstrates that we are addressing the climate crisis with the seriousness that it requires, and shows Penticton to be a forward-thinking city that takes its environmental commitments seriously. I believe that in years to come it will be viewed as a decision of fundamental importance that reflects favourably upon you and your predecessors, our elected decision-makers.

Elizabeth Lominska Johnson Penticton