Council restores city’s cycling glory

Re: “Grousing, praise for two-way Pandora bike lane,” May 2. Kudos to Victoria city council for the courage and commitment to restore Victoria’s former glory as the cycling capital of Canada.

There was a time when Victoria was the envy of other great cities for our bicyclefriendly infrastructure. But we couldn’t keep up the momentum.

Once all the easy fixes were completed — bike lanes painted where road widths would easily allow — we thought we could coast. But while we sat spinning our wheels, the rest of the world and the science of safe cycling infrastructure raced ahead, leaving us with an incomplete network that was serving only the boldest of cyclists.

We all know about Copenhagen — but even Chicago has eclipsed Victoria in cycling, with its 240 kilometres of separated bike lanes. Young people are purportedly flocking there for the quality of life the bike-friendly city provides.

So thank you to the leadership of this council for gearing down and making this happen. It won’t be easy, braving the wrath of drivers who feel inconvenienced by reduced speeds, less abundant parking, narrowed or reduced number of lanes and now exponentially more of those pesky, happy cyclists of every age and ability riding the gorgeous cycle tracks.

All great movements begin with ridicule, then violent opposition, then, eventually, the changes are accepted as being self-evident. Stay strong, council and think of your political counterparts in so many other cities around the world who have also had the courage to weather the cycle of change — for good. Sue Hallatt Victoria