Tonight: review cycling options for Guelph Line east to Burloak
Drop in to a Public Information Centre tonight to review options for increasing cycling infrastructure from Guelph Line to Burloak, including a boulevard path and road diet to accommodate on street bike lanes.
Date: May 24
Time: 6pm – 9pm (drop in style)
Location: Robert Bateman High School Cafeteria (5151 New Street)
Staff will be presenting these options along with public feedback to council, via a report first to the Development & Infrastructure Committee July 12, then to council July 18. Both meetings are public; residents can attend and speak by registering in advance: Register as a delegation
May 24, 2016 @ 6:17 pm
I think that the existence of the grassy boulevard provides an opportunity for a sort of “bike highway” almost its whole length, and all the way to Burloak. I see this as an opportunity for riders to get to almost anywhere in the east of Burlington, both to the north (say to QEW) and south (Lakeshore).
Taking this idea further, doing this for other select east west roads, and select NS roads, I see the concept of a bigger “road” network for bikes, rather than trying to put bike lanes on every main road. Pick a selection of possibles, and think about a network that riders can get to and go longer distances for various purposes.
Using this right of way makes more sense to me than putting more bikers on a major main road for cars, that seem only to increase in number no matter how optimistic one thinks about modal split in the future. Give riders their own roadway will encourage more riders in my view. Making it safer to ride by separation, only adds to this.
We have rode bikes a lot for a long time, and I will tell you I would never ride on Plains Rd itself as an example near me. I think it’s too dangerous, and many people I know think the same.
I’m all for bikers and cycling, and we should do what we need to to provide for it. It’s just maybe a good idea to think about it in a different way and the dedicated bike highway in the boulevard just makes sense.
May 24, 2016 @ 10:25 am
New Street is a major east-west artery for motor vehicle traffic. Reducing this to 3 lanes to accommodate a VERY SMALL MINORITY of cycling enthusiasts invites traffic chaos. Last year when at least one lane was removed for street reconstruction on the south side of New Street, traffic tie-ups and jams were frequent. I do believe that a paved cycling track on the grassy median is a suitable accommodation for cyclists.
May 24, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
Hi Phil, this isn’t about catering to a “very small minority of cycling enthusiasts”. This is about giving everyone more options to get around Burlington, including by biking and walking. This is about giving students and staff at Nelson and Robert Bateman more safe options to get to school. About giving people the option to safely bike to Appleby Mall or Roseland Plaza to run an errand. About making it safer to cross the street to get to the bus stop.
I’d hope we can stop thinking of cyclists as some alien species or some small minority (surveys have consistently shown that the vast majority WILL consider cycling if they feel safe) and work together to build a better street that works for everyone.