By Pepper Parr
May 25, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
New Street shown in a single picture – this is what the debate over what kind of bike lanes do the citizens want- and what will they pay for the lanes will be about?
The Region is in the process of tearing up New Street, installing new water and waste pipes. For those in that stretch of New Street that runs from Guelph Line to Martha 0 is it is like living in a dust bowl – the price of progress. Water gets turn off and then has to run for a bit when it is turned back on. The price of progress.
New Street is being ripped up for the replacement of water mains and waste pipes. when they are re-paved – bike lanes are being considered – what kind and where – and at what cost?
With the tearing up of the roads and the eventual re-paving an issue that city council has skirted around for far too long is no right in front of them.
Will there be bicycle lanes on New Street?
And if there are going to be bike lanes – what kind of bike lanes?
Bike lanes marked with shards and low speeds are quite safe in residential communities
Burlington talks about that modal split and much is made of growing the number of people who take transit, those who will use a bicycle and those who are going to drive.
What will the speed limits be ?
New Street is identified in the city Cycling Master Plan as a road with future on-road bike lanes.
On April 19, 2016, Burlington City Council approved the staff direction:
Direct the Executive Director of Capital Works and Director of Transportation Services to carry out an assessment of providing cycling facilities for New Street from Guelph Line to Burloak Drive including city wide public consultation and report back on the results and recommendations to the July 12, 2016 Development and Infrastructure Committee.’
Staff reviewed New Street (Guelph Line to Burloak Drive) for cycling infrastructure and have come out with a number of options.
There was a Public Information event Tuesday evening at the Robert Bateman High school – four different options – each with a price tag.
Here are the choices:
Option 1 has a bicycle lane on the road on the north side of the street and a shared lane on the south side of the street. There is no additional cost for this design.
Option 2 has a bicycle track on both sides of the street. This is the safest design – also the most expensive – $3.96 million
Option 3 has what is called a road diet – buffered lanes on both sides of the street. The cost would be $250,000 The public would be exposed to traffic.
Option 4 has bicycle lanes on both sides of the street with minor road widening. The cost would be $940,000 The public would be exposed to traffic.
The options will be discussed at a Standing Committee meeting on July 12 and then voted on at a meeting of city council July 18
Related editorial:
City must provide safest possible bike lanes if they expect citizens to use the things.
This “problem” has already been solved. You need a 10 foot wide track with 5 foot sections for each way – separated from traffic. This way bikes can pass in the “oncoming” lane and share the lane with other wheeled traffic. Just go to cherry beach in Toronto to see how well this works. Bikes on the road will lead to deaths – no matter how careful people are – you need a separate area for safety.