132nd Ave. Recreational Roadway

I looks like the "improvements" that the District has so far made to 132nd Ave. between 232nd and 224th Streets are not making everyone happy. A gravel path, to be separated from the roadway by a fence, doesn't work for wheelchair users and road cyclists. Once the fence is in place, the narrower car lane makes it more dangerous for them. According to Engineering, once the gravel surface has been compacted, it should be fine.

See this article in The News of Feb. 28, 2014L:

Road shoulder for hooves not wheels

Maple Ridge sit skier Kevin Priebe just won two medals in the BC Winter Games, and now he’s going to take on district hall.

In building new paths along 132nd Avenue, the District of Maple Ridge has forgotten to plan for people in wheelchairs, says Priebe.

For three years he has been on the district’s municipal advisory committee on accessibility. He has both life experience and has been gaining formal expertise in municipal planning for wheelchair access. He also lives  on 132nd Avenue, near the intersection with 224th Street.

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Column The News: Which do you prefer, car or bike culture?

My latest column in the Maple Ridge News: is it possible to create a cycling culture in a car dominated city?

posted Dec 18

Pitt Meadows is already a nice place to live if you like biking, but the city continues to look for ways to make it safer, more convenient and better. Pitt Meadows is still looking for more applicants for several volunteer positions on its new active transportation advisory committee.

Sometimes people tell me investment in cycling infrastructure is a waste of money; it’s no use trying to convince more people to use their bikes to get around. They feel that most Canadians will never adopt a cycling culture; they love their cars, and that’s just the way things are.

I beg to differ. 

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My brother Emiel at the handlebar of the family bakfiets, with my sister-in-law Nuria and nephews Fabian and Marten cozy inside.

 

Column: Reducing residential speed limits would increase safety

Here's the latest column in The News by HUB Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows:

Published: July 21

 

At the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention in September, the City of Victoria is putting forward a resolution proposing a reduction of the maximum speed limit on all B.C. residential roads from 50 to 40 km/h.

This initiative is led by Coun. Shellie Gudgeon, who says a majority of Victoria residents are supportive, but admits that there is some strong opposition from the very vocal auto-centric crowd.

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Cycling great way to exercise

Nice to see this article about cycling in the Maple Ridge News by columnist and local kynesiologist Kerry Senchyna:

Published: March 29, 2013 

Riding a bicycle is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to exercise.

In some ways, it’s like walking – the only cost involved is a pair of good shoes, or in the case of cycling, a reliable bicycle and helmet.

Cycling can be done almost anywhere, at almost any time of the year, and with little outlay of cash.

For those who do not enjoy sports because of the high level of skill required, the lack of opportunity, or perhaps because they don’t enjoy the competitiveness of sport, cycling is a great way to exercise.

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Cycling: Just try shopping on your bike

The latest column in the Maple Ridge News by our Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Committee of HUB: Your Cycling Connection:

Published: February 22, 2013 8:00 AM

Our HUB members are quite excited about the wonderful news that we’re finally going to have a safe cycling connection along Lougheed Highway between 216th and Laity streets, now that funding has been made available by the province, the district and TransLink. The separated path is expected to be complete by the summer.

Another improvement for cyclists is Pitt Meadows’ safe multi-use path connecting Lougheed Hwy. via Ferry Slip Road to the dike system, which is ready to be used. It’s no longer necessary to bike alongside big trucks on Kennedy Road.

We’re often being told to shop local, to support local businesses –meaning small, locally owned businesses, many of which are having a hard time competing with big chain stores.

Our reliance on the car for everything we do changed the way we shop.

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column in Maple Ridge News on Velo-city 2012 Conference

Here's our latest column in yesterday's Maple Ridge News, about the Velo-city 2012 Conference held in Vancouver last month:

Not moving fast enough on cycling


In late June, more than 800 delegates from countries around the world, including some from Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, took part in Velo-city Global 2012, the world’s premier international cycling planning conference, in Vancouver.

It was a place to find inspiration, knowledge and experience for politicians, planners and advocates (those who could afford to attend), who were looking for ways to get more people to bike in their cities.

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‘Give cyclists safe, separated lanes’

By Phil Melnychuk - Maple Ridge News
Published: February 08, 2012 7:00 AM

Getting people out their cars and on to their bikes will take more than a thin, white line.

Those bike lanes appeal only to the one per centers, the kamikaze commuters among the two-wheeled crowd who ride regardless of traffic.

Instead, bike lanes should be separated by a curb or barrier so cyclists don’t feel they’re about to be creamed by an approaching SUV or car. Or more traffic-calmed streets should be built where cyclists feel safer.

“We have to start focusing on the largest group of people who want to go on short trips,” said Jackie Chow, with the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition.

The current emphasis on bike lanes for the one per cent of bike commuters labeled as “strong and fearless,” isn’t working right now, she said.

That largest group of potential cyclists is called the “interested and concerned” portion of the general population, about 60 per cent, who would get on a bike, but fear for their lives when they do so.

The labels come from a cycling conference in Portland, Ore., where commuters were divided into four types: “the strong and fearless,” and the enthused and confident, who make up six to seven per cent of cyclists; the majority, 60 per cent, who are “interested but concerned;” and the remaining 30 per cent who’d never get on a bicycle anyways.

Full Maple Ridge News story

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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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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Maple Ridge News: Timing is right for car-free street

Our latest column in the News. If you like the idea of creating a car-free street between Haney Place Mall and Valley Fair Mall, please write to Maple Ridge Council (mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca) to express your support.

New column on cycling in Maple Ridge News

Here's the first one:

Go Dutch: start riding your bike

The dikes in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are pretty awesome, built by the Dutch after the Second World War. I think they are one of the best things that ever happened to our area north of the Fraser River.
Apart from the valuable farmland that was created, many people now use the dikes that protect the farmland from flooding for leisurely strolls, bike rides or horseback riding.

It was a smart move by the City of Pitt Meadows and the District of Maple Ridge to build trails on the dikes.
The Dutch have more clever ideas and skills than just building dikes, though. They also design and build great cycling infrastructure.

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