Same street, 2 municipalities, different intersection experiences

One priority for the Active Transportation Advisory Committee is addressing the gap in cycling routes between (north) Oak Bay and Victoria by creating an east-west bikeway that connects with the greenway priority route on Haultain Road in the City of Victoria. Two issues need to be addressed to make this corridor a reality: lack of signage and crossing safety. 

Here are three examples of intersections that cyclists travelling west from Oak Bay towards Victoria on Haultain Street, experience. This is the corridor that cyclists would potentially use to access Royal Jubilee Hospital, St. Patrick's Elementary School, Victoria High School, downtown Victoria, and the Galloping Good Regional trail.
  
Crossing #1: Haultain Road at Foul Bay, with a pedestrian activated warning beacon. 

Crossing #1: Haultain Road at Foul Bay, no warning system or enhanced treatment for cyclists
.

Crossing #2: Haultain Road at Richmond, no signal or warning beacons but traffic calming barrier causes motorists to slow down considerably making the crossing for cyclists and pedestrians safer. 

Crossing #3: Haultain Road at Shelbourne Street, signalized intersection with bicycle loop detectors and pedestrian push buttons. 

The CRD Draft Working Paper No. 3 - Bicycle Strategy Report (2002)http://www.crd.bc.ca/reports/regionalplanning_/generalreports_/transportation_/cycling_/archivebackgroundinf_/3bicyclestrategy/3bicyclestrategy.pdf identifies the crossing at Haultain and Foul Bay Road as one of several key intersections that needs improvement. It is easy to see why.

Urban bushwhacking not required

There is more to our built environment than streets. There are also sidewalks and pathways—both highly important in the efforts to making our urban areas accessible and inclusive. (Vancouver comes to mind in their efforts to reduce barriers to walking as part of their overall strategy of creating alternate transportation options.)

Take a look at this view of Elgin Street in Oak Bay. Between the overgrown bushes and telephone poles, half the sidewalk is missing. Pedestrians and anyone pushing a stroller or using a walker or scooter would have a hard time here. Two people couldn't walk comfortably together; if one was pushing a stroller and the other wasn't, someone would have to step out into the street to pass through this area. 

Machete needed to walk on Elgin Street

Removing barriers that get in the way of people of all ages and mobility is not only important, it is part of making active transportation choices (such as walking) feel safe, convenient, and comfortable. Bushwhacking is not!

Will You Still Need Me When I'm 64?

 This past week saw a celebration of the 45^th anniversary of the release of the Beatles seminal album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The reminiscences took me back to suburban Toronto, where I grew up, and rushing to Sam the Record Man on Yonge Street to buy the album, for, I think $3.98. 

Now that age 64 isn’t that far off, the contrast between being 64 in 1967 and today couldn’t be more pronounced.  Today, people in their 60s are active walkers, cyclists, skiers, hikers, sailors, swimmers, canoers, kayakers—all activities that I doubt many of our grandparents lived long enough to enjoy.  And unlike our parents and grandparents’ generations, there are fewer smokers or heavy drinkers in our midst.

Physical exercise of any kind benefits the individual in many ways.  Even a walk on the rainiest, cool day can result in a feeling of well-being.  And what makes a walk or bike ride more pleasant than enjoying the neighbourhoods that have been designed with the walker or cyclist in mind—such as plenty of crosswalks and protection from busy vehicle traffic?

Growing up in my neighbourhood in the 1950s and 60s, every street had a grass verge of about 8 feet separating the sidewalk from the roadway.  It was a good design for  suburban streets.  More challenging are older neighbourhoods, designed without reference to the motor vehicle that had not yet achieved supreme dominance in society.  Often these sidewalks abut busy arterial roads, making it intimidating, noisy and unpleasant for the pedestrian.

Changing expectations of the community are also changing the way that forward-thinking transportation engineers view their raison d'être—from mainly moving vehicle traffic to ensuring that streets are places for everyone on foot, bicycle, pushing a baby pram, walker or wheelchair.

We want to ensure that there is room for the 64, 74, 84, 94 and 104 year-olds to enjoy our neighbourhoods and commercial hubs. Everyone benefits when our community spaces are inclusive, welcoming and accessible.

—Lesley Ewing