No stop signs on most of Galloping Goose
Re: “Stop signs ignored on Galloping Goose,” letter, July 18.
The letter-writer found many cyclists not observing stop signs on the Galloping Goose Trail. What stop signs? Several years ago, I worked with Saanich to eliminate stop signs on the trail between the municipal border at Tolmie Avenue and the Switch Bridge at Uptown. This was done in recognition of traffic protocols that assign the right of way to “streets” that carry the higher volumes of traffic.
Numbers on the Goose exceed those on the cross streets, all of which have stop signs obliging traffic to stop for those using the Goose. Saanich has also embraced bylaws that provide for cyclists to use crosswalks without turning themselves into pedestrians. This was an important piece of a puzzle necessary to respond to existing patterns of traffic and has improved safety by making movements predictable and the signs appropriate.
Except for a couple of signs far west along the trail where major roads are crossed, there are no stop signs on the Goose. The writer would do well to take a ride on the trail. For the most part, he will find his trip uninterrupted by stop signs.
For some others, they might also try to wrap their heads around the concept of free-flow movement on the Goose to realize that the trail is a river and downtown is a delta. Some of their sales pitches seem to miss the lesson in that. John Luton Executive director, Capital Bike and Walk