The Inside Passage Bike Route is a proposed cycling touring linking Comox, Courtenay, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Chemainus, Duncan, Mill Bay and communities in-between. It will also connect with BC Ferries to Hornby Island, Denman Island,  Gabriola Island, Saltspring Island and Thetis Island. The Route is a project of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition, the Oceanside Cycling Coalition and the Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition. The goal is to establish a continuous trail for cycling along the beautiful eastern shore of Vancouver Island. The upgraded cycling facilities will also enable locals to cycle more for their daily trips.

Help make the Inside Passage Bike Route and other cycling improvements on the Island happen. Please sign the Billion for Cycling and Walking petition and share it with your friends, family and co-workers.

The Vancouver Island cycling coalitions are working with other cycling groups and the BC Cycling Coalition to help create a designated bike-touring route linking the whole of the Island with the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland.

Economic Benefits

The Inside Passage Bike Route will enable cycling tourists to safely and conveniently access hotels, stores, bakeries, pubs, restaurants, farms, wineries and tourist attractions thereby greatly enhancing their vacation experience and benefiting local businesses, the economy and increasing tax revenue for the Provincial and Federal Governments.

Help Make it Happen

The $1 billion for cycling and walking proposed by the BC Cycling Coalition would greatly speed the completion of Inside Passage Bike Route and other cycling improvements on Vancouver Island thus enabling residents and visitors to experience the economic, health and environmental benefits of cycling sooner. Please sign the petition and share it with your friends, family and co-workers.

Bold Action Now

It is time for bold action now to enable every person, including older adults and children, in BC to cycle or walk safely for their everyday trips and recreation.

Investing $1 billion over ten years in cycling and walking will send a strong message to the world that BC is serious about addressing Climate Change.

Cycling and walking will become attractive choices for everyone, leading to significantly improved fitness and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, congestion, and traffic injuries and fatalities. The paths and protected bike lanes could also be used by people in wheelchairs and other mobile devices.

Investing in cycling and walking will benefit the economy by increasing tourism, reducing healthcare costs, increasing workplace productivity, attracting talented workers, and reducing the societal costs of traffic fatalities and injuries.

Cycling is Popular

There is broad public support for cycling improvements. In the B.C. on the Move Engagement Survey, 72% of respondents supported enhancing cycling infrastructure. Cycling is popular. Almost 70% of adults in BC ride a bicycle at least once a year, 42% at least once a month and 25% at least once a week. Many want to cycle more, with around 65% indicating they would ride more if there were separated bike lanes that protected them from traffic.

A Transportation Bargain

On a per dollar basis, we all benefit more from cycling more than other modes. While bike paths and protected bike lanes are a bargain that will benefit far more people per dollar invested than other transportation projects, it does take a significant amount of cash to build networks of them in communities around the Province. For example:

• Metro Vancouver: $850 million
• Capital Regional District: $275 million
• City of Kelowna: $267 million (cycling and walking)
• City of Chilliwack: $27 Million
• City of Kamloops: $13 Million

At current rates of investment, these plans will take 30, 40 or even 50 years to complete, leaving people to brave busy roads on their bikes or more likely, not bothering to bike at all. Today's children will be grandparents by then.

The Provincial investment combined with local and federal funds will enable the completion of ambitious local and regional plans across BC. For example, the Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy predicts that upon network build out, cycling will increase to 10% of trips. The CRD Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan predicts cycling network build out cycling mode share will increase to 15%. 

Funding Sources

The funding for the $1 billion investment could come from a variety of sources including an increase in the Carbon Tax, predicted budget surpluses, a reallocation of transportation budget, cutting the tax break on those earning over $150,000 or a tax on sugary drinks.

By providing people with practical and safe transportation choices, this investment would decrease the rate of the Carbon Tax required to meet Provincial goals also saving money for those who don't cycle or walk.

Take Action

Please sign and share the petition with your contacts.

More Info

BC Cycling Coalition Climate Leadership Plan Submission

Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan, Capital Regional District

Metro Vancouver Regional Cycling Strategy Implementation Plan

Recommendations by the Canadian Diabetes Association for B.C. Budget 2016

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