Column The News: Time to think about Complete Streets

Published: December 9, 2011

Two issues clearly dominated the recent election in Maple Ridge. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, cycling wasn’t one of them.
However, it was nice that issues around cycling did get their share of attention during the campaign.

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Discovery Bike Ride to Golden Ears Cheeseworks and Cakelicious, Sun. Dec. 4

Who's up for the last Discovery Bike Ride for this year?!?!

We have two great destinations lined up for you for this coming Sunday, Dec. 4.
It looks like we're going to have a sunny day. Just put some warm gloves on!

We will be leaving from Big Feast Bistro, 11920 227 Street, at 10:30 am.

Our first destination will be Golden Ears Cheeseworks (22270 128th Avenue ), which just opened this spring.
I announced our visit, so I'm sure we'll get to taste some yummy samples of the different kinds of artisan cheeses they produce.

For desert we'll be heading to Fraserview Village Hall (22610 - 116th Ave. - Pool Side Lounge), where another local company, Cakelicious, is having an Open House, from noon to 4 pm. Meet Heidi, the owner, and creator of the amazingly awesome looking cakes and cupcakes on her website.

Here's the approximate suggested route. This route is only about 9 kms, but there are some steep sections south of Lougheed that might require some of us to get off our bikes and walk. We're not in a hurry, so you can take your time and we'll wait for you.

As usual, I emphasize that the route is only a suggestion. Everyone is responsible for his/her own safety, as well as of any accompanying children. You're welcome to tag along!

Hope to see you Sunday!

Municipal election Nov. 2011 - Q&A candidates Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Below are lists of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows mayors and council members elected during the Nov. 2011 election, followed by lists of non-elected candidates. Click on each name to see Q&A's.

Maple Ridge Mayor and Council:

Mayor:
Ernie Daykin

Council:
Cheryl Ashlie
Corisa Bell
Judy Dueck
Al Hogarth
Robert Masse
Mike Morden

Pitt Meadows Mayor and Council:

Mayor:
Deb Walters

Council:
Bruce Bell
Doug Bing
Janis Elkerton
Tracy Miyashita
David Murray
Gwen O'Connell

Non-elected candidates Maple Ridge:

Mayor:
Craig Ruthven

Council:
Claus Andrup
Jacques Blackstone
Wendy Cook
Christian Cowley
Kiersten Duncan
Bob Goos
Candace Gordon
Gladys Hewson
Mark Kauhane
Dana Lang
Sandy MacDougal
John McKenzie
Graham Mowatt
Carly O'Rourke
Alex Pope
Graeme Ross
Craig Speirs
Ken Stewart
Peter Tam
Elizabeth Taylor
Grover Telford
Randy Wagner

Non-elected candidates Pitt Meadows:

Mayor:
Gary Paller
John Becker

Council:
John Clancy
George Coghlan
Gay Conn
Michael Hayes
Rick Kreklewetz
Charm Prophet
Mike Stark

Take a hike, take a bike in future?

By Gary McKenna

THE TRI-CITY NEWS - Nov. 30/11

www.tricitynews.com

Walking, cycling and public transit are emphasized in an update to Coquitlam’s strategic transportation plan, a document that seeks to

increase alternate modes of commuter travel in the municipality. Currently, 82% of trips in the city are made by automobile, a number engineering staff said they hope will drop to 70% by the end of the plan’s 20- year horizon. Of the 30% of commuters expected to use alternative travel methods by 2031, 12% of trips will be done on foot, 3% by bicycle and 15% by public transit. 

“There is more of an emphasis on sustainable ways of travelling,” said Catherine Mohoruk, the city’s manager of transportation. “We are hoping our future targets are met.” One of the ways the city plans to increase the number of walking trips is by expanding its sidewalk coverage. To build sidewalks on all city streets would cost upwards of $100 million, Mohoruk said, an amount the city cannot afford.

The transportation plan calls for $43 million to be spent to build 150 km of new sidewalks over the next 20 years in strategically placed pedestrian areas such as the city and neighbourhood centres. Mohoruk added that enhanced pedestrian facilities, including crossing

lights, benches and landscaping, can also help increase the number of people moving around the municipality on foot. Cycling also factors prominently in the city’s future transportation plans. Currently, 1% of all trips in the municipality are made by bike, a number

city staff expect to increase to 3% by 2031. In order to meet the target, staff is proposing increasing the number of bike lanes from the current 40 km of routes to 150 km. The change, Mohoruk said, would put 70% of Coquitlam’s urban area 500 m or less from a bike

route. The plan also looks at increasing transit coverage and the overall frequency of trips, particularly in the southwest area and

the northeast connections with city centre. Mohoruk said increased connections between Surrey and Coquitlam over the new Port Mann Bridge would also be required. But in order for the strategic plan to be effective, co-operation is required from various governing

agencies, particularly TransLink, said Coun. Brent Asmundson, chair of the city’s engineering committee and a bus driver. More discussions need to take place with the regional transit authority and the city needs to have a say over what service levels are required in

Coquitlam, he said. “We need to tell TransLink what our desires and issues are and push the matter,” he said, “not wait for them to come in and do a transit plan for us and tell us what they are going to do.” The cost of the strategic transportation plan is between $221 million and $237 million over 20 years but much of that money would come from external sources such as TransLink and ICBC, and through development cost charges. Staff said the city would only pay 20% of the overall costs from property tax revenues.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

Bike parking could become a must in Coquitlam

City ponders making lock-ups for bicycles a requirement of different developments

By Gary McKenna

THE TRI-CITY NEWS - Nov. 30/11
www.tricitynews.com

Finding a place to lock up a bicycle could get a lot easier for commuters in Coquitlam if city council adopts a proposal that would require all new developments to provide bike parking. While adequate vehicle parking has long been a part of any development application in the city, there are no provisions requiring bicycle facilities. If the recommendations are adopted, it would mean that residential, commercial and industrial developments would have to provide and maintain both long- and shortterm parking spaces. “If cycling is becoming more of a mode of transportation, there should be spots for

them to park,” said Coun. Mae Reid, chair of the city’s land use committee. “It is the reality of the future and we should be planning for the future.” Reid, who is also a realtor, said there is market demand for increased residential bicycle parking, particularly for multi-family developments such as townhouses and apartments. According to a staff report, the number of spaces required would depend on the type of development being proposed. A multi-family apartment or townhouse, for example, would have to provide 1.25 spaces per dwelling unit while larger format industrial buildings would have to provide

three spaces for every 1,000 sq. m of floor area. Civic buildings, schools, institutions and tourist accommodations would also be required to provide spaces. All bicycle parking would have to be located within 15 m of the main building entrance in a well-lit area. The storage area would be required to include racks or bike lockers.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

Are Complete Streets Incomplete?

At several all-candidates meetings in the last few weeks, the term "Complete Streets" was mentioned. When engineers design Complete Streets, they consider the needs of all users: pedestrians, wheelchair users, cyclists, transit, and cars. On some streets with low traffic volumes and speeds cyclists can share the road with cars, on other streets bike lanes with or without separation - such as a barrier or a strip of grass - might be prefered. Other treatments might be

• "bulb-outs", extentions of the sidewalk at intersections, which make the distance to cross for pedestrians shorter;
• pedestrian signals;
• medians;
• frequent bus stops;
• a bike box at an intersection where frequently cyclists need to make a left turn. This is a space - usually painted green - in front of the stop line for cars at a traffic light, where cyclists can wait until the light turns green, so that they more easily make the left turn.

Over 300 jurisdictions in the United States (the states of Oregon, California, Illinois, North Carolina, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Florida, as well as numerous cities) have adopted some form of Complete Street policy. In Canada, so far only one municipality, namely Waterloo (Ont.), adopted such a policy. Complete Streets improve safety, encourage cycling and walking, improve livability, improve health, can lower transportation costs, and give people more choice of transportation.

There's more to designing streets/neighbourhoods/communities than just incorporating these kinds of elements though. Read this article from "Project for Public Spaces".

Bike Advisory Committee Special Speaker Richard Drdul

Note: this presentation has been canceled. We will try to reschedule.

Highlight of this month's regular B.A.C. meeting - Nov. 21, 7pm, Blaney Room, Maple Ridge City Hall - is a presentation by accomplished transportation specialist Richard Drdul.

Richard Drdul is an active transportation specialist with more than 25 years of transportation planning and design experience. He has worked with more than 30 municipalities and regional districts throughout Western Canada in all aspects of bicycle and pedestrian policy, planning, design and implementation. His relevant experience includes:

• Comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans for twenty BC municipalities and regional districts. Each of these plans includes a network of on-street and off-street bicycle routes and pedestrian facilities, design guidelines, complementary programs, funding strategies, cost estimates and implementation plans.
• Plans and designs for pedestrian and bicycle facilities in communities across BC, including the BC Parkway from Vancouver to Surrey via New Westminster, the Central Valley Greenway from Vancouver to New Westminster, the Stanley Park seawall and several other multi-use pathways.
• Bicycle and pedestrian networks as part of development plans for new communities, neighbourhoods and subdivisions in Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, Colwood, Chilliwack, Kelowna and at UBC.
• Development of “state-of-the-art” bicycle and pedestrian facility design guidelines. Through his years of experience, Richard has developed comprehensive design guidelines for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including on-street and off-street facilities, intersections and crossings, signage and pavement markings, parking and maintenance. Richard’s design guidelines provide practical information to address a range of situations and issues not addressed by TAC and AASHTO design manuals.

Much of Richard’s work involves “non-traditional” approaches to transportation planning and engineering. He was the principal author of the Canadian Guide to Neighbourhood Traffic Calming, and has developed traffic calming plans for more than thirty neighbourhoods throughout BC. Richard has developed and implemented several travel demand management programs for post-secondary institutions, employers and government agencies. He has also worked with more than two dozen transit systems across Canada in all aspects of transit planning and operations.

Mark your calendar - Velo-City Global Vancouver June 26 - 29

Velo-city Global is the world’s premier international cycling planning conference. The four day event offers delegates from around the world a chance to share best practices for creating and sustaining cycling-friendly cities, where bicycles are valued as part of daily transport and recreation... AND IT'S COMING TO VANCOUVER!
www.velo-city2012.com/

Al Hogarth, candidate Maple Ridge Council 2011

1. What modes of transportation do you normally use within your community and within Metro Vancouver?
I usually use my personal vehicle.  On short errands around town I will walk and if I have to do downtown Vancouver for a day I will take the West Coast Express but that is a rare occassion.  I will also use Skytrain

2. How would you support and encourage cycling for transportation - for people of all ages and abilities - to promote healthy and livable communities?
Cycling is one of many modes of transportation that is and being recognized in much of the work being done.  The bicycle committee has done a great job of bringing awareness and evolving some of our streets reconstruction or new construction as well as planning for bike routes.  I agree with this continuing.

3. There have been many surveys asking people what it would take to get them on a bike. The number one thing people want is separated cycling facilities. How would you support separated bike lanes on key routes? If you are not in support, please explain why.
I think separated routes are an excellent idea and particularly multi-user paths - sidewalks, lanes whatever you wish to call them.  My not be achievable on existing streets but certainly in new or redeveloping areas.  I first saw this in China in 2003 and thought they were great but they were being done in large new road construction projects where road allowances could accommodate them.

4. Maple Ridge has no off-road (non-mountain-) biking/multi-use trails and is lagging behind other Lower Mainland communities in this respect. How do you feel off-road biking/multi-use trails can benefit Maple Ridge, and how do you suggest to start developing a network of trails.
I think the idea is great and could enhance tourism.  This could be work done by the bicycle advisory committee.  There are other networks, horse trails, dykes etc. they should all be looked at as multi use and linked where possible.

5. If elected, would you aim to increase or decrease cycling funding from current levels? Do you feel that cycling funding levels should merely reflect the present level of cycling in our communities, or should it reflect the potential of cycling - not only as a means of transportation and for recreation, but also in view of the many desirable benefits cycling has for individuals as well as for our communities/society, such as health benefits, improved livability, reduced greenhouse gasses/pollution, reduced oil-dependency, reduced need for expensive car infrastructure/parking lots, reduced congestion, etc.?
The easy answer is yes, but realistically it would likely have to remain as is now.  All of your points in your question are very appropriate in terms of a "complete community"  There are other areas that require attention as well particularly relating to pedestrian access and safety.  As you are aware there is a great push back in this campaign for reducing taxes while at the same time community groups and neighbourhoods feel they are deserving of more attention in respect to their needs and wants.  Perhaps your group could review the budget and suggest what is not needed.

6. What is your level of interest in a public bike-share system integrated with the transit system? How do you think a public bike-share system in Vancouver can benefit Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows residents?
I have to admit I know very little about it, but fro what I know it appears that there has to be alot of other things in place and a large increase in bike ridership to possibly make it feasible.

7. What role do you think the municipality has in supporting and promoting cycling education for children, cyclists and motorists?
I believe there is a role for the municipality but it may involve either volunteers in conunction with RCMP, driving schools or perhaps cycle shops when they sell bikes.  Should there be some form of compliance test or knowledge test for cyclists and conversely should there be more emphasis on motor vehicle driving tests in respect to cyclists.
If there was a program that could be introduced that may have a cost associated with it - should or could it be funded through a point of sale fee charged by the retailers much like the environmental fees on some products.

8. How do you feel e-bikes can play a role in our transportation system?
What do you see as the benefits of e-bikes as compared to cars?
What can e-bikes mean for less densely populated suburban communities like Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows?
E-bikes can play a role in more accessibility and mobility, reduce greenhouse gases etc.  It gets back to number 7 and the cyclists, motorist mutual respect issue and rules of the road.  Due to greater speed of e-bikes there is a concern or risk of higher accident rates and injury.  I am as concerned about e-bike accidents with motor vehicles as I am with pedestrians.

9. Would you be interested in joining members of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition on a bike ride through your community?
I would join a bike ride in our community but I do not own a bike or riding gear which I am sure I could be assisted in.  I'm sure I would need a day or two to recover afterwards, but I would welcome it since I have been considering buying a bike for needed exercise and it would afford me the opportunity to see if it would work for me and of course see the issues from the cyclists side as opposed to the motorists.

VACC Column Maple Ridge News - Don’t waste your vote; enough sprawl

Published in the Maple Ridge News Nov. 11, 2011:

According to a recent United Nations report on population growth, research shows that “an extra child born today in the United States, would, down the generations, produce an eventual carbon footprint seven times that of an extra child in China, 55 times that of an Indian child, or 86 times that of a Nigerian child.”

An extra child born in our communities today likely would be just as taxing on the environment as one in the states.

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