Cycling advocacy news from BC
June 2, 2023
MBC was present on Salt Spring Island to promote safer cycling and to learn about new provincial and local active transportation improvements from the BC Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Rob Fleming.
Birdie Munger and Jean Wallace started our day of cycling advocacy with a critical mass-like ride with the area’s provincial MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Green Party Adam Olsen. ‘Critical mass’ is relative on wee Salt Spring Island and we were happy to ride with 20 others into our main town of Ganges. Our goal is to improve cycling safety with wide highway shoulders and other safety measures.
June 2, 2023
MBC was present on Salt Spring Island to promote safer cycling and to learn about new provincial and local active transportation improvements from the BC Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Rob Fleming.
Birdie Munger and Jean Wallace started our day of cycling advocacy with a critical mass-like ride with the area’s provincial MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Green Party Adam Olsen. ‘Critical mass’ is relative on wee Salt Spring Island and we were happy to ride with 20 others into our main town of Ganges. Our goal is to improve cycling safety with wide highway shoulders and other safety measures.
A mid-way stop along the highway into Ganges
We navigated the narrow, rutted asphalt and gravel road shoulder into Ganges and proceeded to the next events. A select few went to a private meeting with Minister Fleming to make the case for wide roadway shoulders. The larger group went to a nearby park to get ready for a public meeting with the Minister and local MLA. There were over 60 people in attendance by the time the meeting started.
A section of the public meeting in the park
Minister Fleming announced good news:
The weather was warm and sunny. Carrot cake and cookies, with Salt Spring Roasting Company coffee, was offered. Relationships with elected officials and government staff were reinforced. Progress was made. A lot of credit goes to the Cycling Salt Spring (CSS) committee of a non-profit Island Pathways. The CSS worked with Adam Olsen to plan and manage the day’s events.
But lots more is needed. The 2 kms of road re-building is a small part of the 20 kms needed. That 20-km gap on Salt Spring is part of a proposed 250-km Salish Sea Trail loop which is completed in the neighbouring regions. The Salish Sea Trail is important for cycle tourism, bike commuters and local cyclists. Ride on!
- A provincial Bill 23 was just introduced to place rules and responsibility upon motorists to share the road. Specifically, there will be a 1-metre safe-passing distance and a 3-metre minimum following distance that drivers of motor vehicles must observe when sharing roads with pedestrians, cyclists, e-bikes and other active transportation users. One-metre bicycle flags were given to attendees at the event to visually remind drivers of this required distance.
- Earlier in the week, the Minister had announced a provincial e-bike rebate program. The program was fully subscribed in 2 days. The rebates range from $350 - $1,400, subject to personal income. (BC already exempts bicycle sales from provincial sales tax).
- The BC government will increase the competitive infrastructure grants for local governments from $24M to $124M in 2024. These grants are for planning and construction of active transportation.
- 2-km of the most unsafe and busy road on Salt Spring will be re-built next year with wide road shoulders for cyclists, pedestrians and others.
- New ‘share the road’ safety signage will be installed on Salt Spring.
- The Ministry released its Salt Spring Cycling Safety Study and the Minister said he’d be looking to the community to identify top priorities and to partner with the Ministry to get them done.
The weather was warm and sunny. Carrot cake and cookies, with Salt Spring Roasting Company coffee, was offered. Relationships with elected officials and government staff were reinforced. Progress was made. A lot of credit goes to the Cycling Salt Spring (CSS) committee of a non-profit Island Pathways. The CSS worked with Adam Olsen to plan and manage the day’s events.
But lots more is needed. The 2 kms of road re-building is a small part of the 20 kms needed. That 20-km gap on Salt Spring is part of a proposed 250-km Salish Sea Trail loop which is completed in the neighbouring regions. The Salish Sea Trail is important for cycle tourism, bike commuters and local cyclists. Ride on!
Adam Olsen, Jean Wallace and Birdie Munger
P.S. Congratulations Birdie on your Salt Spring Island work. Perhaps that portion of the Salt Spring Road will have paved shoulders before Montreal's Sherbrooke Street in front of the oil refineries has sidewalks!
