The big cycling news reported this week was the creation of a protected bike lane on the Dunsmuir Viaduct. But the more interesting story, I thought, was really the future plans to create protected bike lanes through the downtown and potentially elsewhere (Point Grey Road? Maybe).
My story in the Globe today looks at where the city’s thinking of going and why. I can’t help but agree that they’re not going to get new cyclists until they get more protected routes downtown.
I’d describe myself as being in the “confident and enthusiastic” category, after having cycled through Europe twice in my youth and being generally not the fearful type. But after one ride up Burrard on that skinny little bike lane where you’re in between a bus lane and a car lane, I said “no thanks, never again.” One wobble and you’re dead.
It should be interesting, though, to see how discussions go in the public consultations post-Olympics on where exactly those lanes should go.