Cambie Bridge bike lane plan would cost one vehicle lane
Vancouver could get one more bike lane before the mayor vacates city hall.
Next Wednesday, council will vote on a proposal to temporarily close one of the Cambie Bridge’s three southbound lanes to vehicle traffic and turn it into a bike lane. If approved, the project would be completed ahead of October’s municipal election, in which Mayor Gregor Robertson has said he won’t seek re-election.
“It would be a very positive step,” cycling advocate Jeff Leigh said of the bike lane. “It would make that area safer all around.”
The chair of HUB Cycling’s Vancouver committee said pedestrians will likely see the biggest benefit if the bike lane is approved, with half the cyclists who currently weave through walkers on the congested, shared sidewalk on the bridge’s east side moving to the new, designated southbound bike lane. Northbound cyclists would continue to share the path with pedestrians.
“It gets quite congested, especially when there are events at the stadium,” said Leigh. “Giving some of that space back to pedestrians will improve safety.”
A report prepared by city staff says the bike lane should have “minimal impact on motor vehicle traffic,” noting current delays are largely due to the intersections at either end of the bridge and not the number of lanes available on the bridge itself.
But opponent Steffan Ileman said any reduction of lanes leaving downtown will have a negative impact on business.
“This has to stop before the city does real damage to the economy,” he said. “The bridge barely accommodates traffic during rush hour as it is.”
Through Restore Vancouver, Ileman has petitioned the city for the removal of bike lanes on the Burrard Bridge and near Vancouver General Hospital. The bridge petition received more than 3,700 signatures this summer.
“Enough is enough,” said Ileman. “If this is approved, we’ll lose another conduit in and out of the city for lanes that are only used in the summer.”
City data shows the shared path on the east side of the Cambie Bridge is among the busiest cycling connections to and through downtown Vancouver. In July 2017, there were 80,000 bicycle trips on the shared path, with about 3,200 per midweek day. The report also notes that vehicle volumes on the Cambie Bridge are lower today than they were 20 years ago.
Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association CEO Charles Gautier said his organization is supportive of projects that make the downtown “accessible to all modes of transportation,” including the Cambie Bridge bike lane. While traffic congestion is an issue for business, giving one lane to cyclists on the Cambie Bridge is “not the problem,” he said.
Staff estimate the proposed changes to the bridge itself — the installation of removable barriers — would cost about $400,000, with additional improvements to the connections on the south end of the bridge estimated at $200,000. If approved, staff would monitor the changes and provide the results to council in 2019, with possible long-term solutions considered after the removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts.
Cycling advocate Leigh said he was pleased to see the bike lane would connect to the existing “network” of bike lanes throughout the city.
With the departure of the mayor after the municipal election, Leigh is not worried bike-lane construction will end.
“Mayor and council have done a good job moving transportation ahead in Vancouver, but I think staff is key,” he said.