Transportation

The creation of separated cycling lanes in Vancouver's central business district are not only the talk of the town locally, but have been noted elsewhere, with praise.

"Just last week one of my colleagues based in New York told me that Vancouver has a great reputation as a place for creative, fresh thinking. He thought it was a benefit in our marketing positioning that we come from here." says Jason Mogus of Communicopia, a local communications and digital design agency serving a global client base."I was proud to hear that, as Vancouver is not usually even on the radar of a big center like NY. Those are exactly the kinds of things that this city needs to become more known for: innovative ideas, real solutions, and leadership on the biggest global issues of our times. Having dedicated bike lanes - some of the first in North America, helps prove the point that Vancouver is a global leader, worthy of being listened to."

I don’t get angry at motorists anymore.

My daily bike commute used to include road rage conflicts with drivers who cut me off, honked incessantly or drove-by too closely. Things could escalate into self-righteous exchanges of profanity and contempt, followed by embarrassment. The stakes seemed high, my flesh and blood versus tonnes of metal.

But my rage has abated without enrolling in an anger management course, because I’ve been using the new separated bike lane on Dunsmuir street. Cyclists and motorists now have our own space, so there’s no longer any cause for conflict or frustration. Not only do I feel safer and more comfortable, but I’ve noticed many new cyclists on the route who fall far outside the “MEC jacket” stereotype.

To my surprise, this and other improvements in the cycling network have been met with passionate clusters of opposition.

The controversial Hornby bike lane was unanimously approved by Vancouver city council late Tuesday night. The $3.2-million lane will be located between Pacific Boulevard and the Vancouver Convention Centre and is set to be built by the end of this year. 

Watch the video for Vancouver Observer's first ever VOTV coverage of this issue by BCIT broadcast journalism grad Jake Barker.

Along with most Hornby Street visitors and a growing list of businesses, the VACC supports the trial separated lane on Hornby Street as the proposal comes before council on October 5th.
 
A poll of people on Hornby Street released just last week shows that 56% of area visitors supported the lane with 30% opposed. A poll earlier in September showed that 48% of Vancouverites are in favour of the lane with 34% against it. Combined with a VACC poll showing community support and the successful launch of Business for Bikes, the VACC views these numbers as a major endorsement of the lane since protected bike lanes remain a relatively new concept for Vancouver. The VACC expects that these large numbers of support will encourage city councillors to see the big picture and vote "yes" in Tuesday's decision on the fate of the trial on Hornby Street.