Cycling Priorities Poll

We would like to know what you think the top priority should be for the BC Cycling Coalition. The results will help gulde our activities over the coming year.

The Latest

• Protected Bike Lanes Make Communities Safer for Everyone

  A study has found that networks of protected bike lanes make cities safer for everyone including those driving and walking. Based on the experience of existing protected bike lanes, they predict that a complete network of protected bike lanes would decrease traffic fatalities by 44% and fatal/severe injury by 50%. The study by Wes Marshall from the University of Colorado Denver and Nick Ferenchak from the University of New Mexico, found that it was the protected bike lanes that resulted in the improvements, not higher cycling rates or safety in numbers. This is likely due to safer street design, and lower motor vehicle speeds This strongly increases the business case for massive investment in protected bike lanes. This investment, in addition to GHG emissions reductions, could significantly reduce ICBC costs that total around $4.6 billion per year. This would result in lower insurance rates so those that drive should be supporting investing in protected bike lanes if they want lower insurance rates.

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• Safer Cycling Soon - Speed Cameras Coming to 35 Intersections

  Some good news! Speed cameras will be coming to 35 intersections this summer. This is a badly needed measure that will make our roads safer for everyone cycling, walking and driving. Minister Farnworth says, “We’ve taken time to systematically pinpoint the locations linked to crashes and dangerous speeds that are best suited to safely catching, ticketing and changing the behaviours of those who cause carnage on B.C. roads.” The BC Cycling Coalition strongly encouraged this in our letter of July 2017 to Attorney General Eby. Thanks to all of you that have sent emails in support of safer speeds. Shockingly, many vehicles are barrelling through intersections at 30 km/h over the 50 km/h limit. This is really dangerous behaviour that must be stopped. Even crashes at speeds of 50 km/h are likely to be fatal to those cycling and walking so the slower the better. If the speed limit is 50 km/h, 20 km/h over is 70 km/h. The Government should consider at least a small fine for even 5 km/h over the speed limit at intersections popular with people cycling and walking and even better, lower the speed limit to 30 km/h. While this is a badly needed improvement, speed cameras are needed at far more than 35 intersections. Please write the Premier in support of speed cameras. Let him know what intersections in your community you would like speed cameras at.  

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• Province Starts Consultation on Active Transportation

  The Province has started consultation on active transportation! This is a great opportunity to make cycling safer and more comfortable for everyone in BC. Input will be excepted until April 15.  The development of an active transportation strategy with significant investment in and policy support for cycling, walking and rolling has be the major objective of the BC Cycling Coalition over the last few years. Our reps have already participated in the two stakeholder forums in Vancouver and Surrey and a facilities design guidelines meeting.  Minister Trevena states: By investing in strong, sustainable communities I believe we can build a better B.C. for ourselves, our kids and our grandchildren. As part of CleanBC, we want to work in partnership with communities to improve active transportation infrastructure that connects the places where people live, work, learn and play. Transforming how we get around not only helps to reduce pollution, it can lead to healthier outcomes for people and make our communities cleaner and more livable. Through this site, British Columbians are encouraged to bring their ideas about the ways governments can work together to build new active transportation infrastructure or better support existing network connections. Your input is valuable so please join the conversation! Working together, we can make communities more livable with investments in cleaner transportation options that are convenient and affordable. On the investment side, we are encouraged that the CleanBC plan states:  Among global leaders in active transportation, annual per-person investments are growing. The Netherlands spends $48 per person per year on active transportation programs; Denmark invests $34 per person, and New Zealand recently announced an investment of $24 per person on infrastructure, education, promotion and safety. Lessons learned in these leading jurisdictions will help to inform the new B.C. strategy.   Take Action Questions will be posted on the active transportation website every two weeks. The first question is:  What does active transportation mean to you and how does it fit into your life? Please respond here. Input and submissions can also be emailed to [email protected] Support our work to make cycling safer. Please donate. More Info BC Budget Submission - October 2018 Clean Transportation Submission - August 2018 Electric Bike Affordability Position Paper - September 2018 BCCC Rural Dividend Submission - March 2018 Making Roads Right for Ride-hailing, Delivery & Taxis - Ready for Automated Vehicles  

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• Kids on Wheels Instructors / Assistant Instructors

  We are looking for instructors for our awesome program this spring and summer! See more details in the posting.

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• Arno

  We have all lost a great leader in cycling in Canada, BC and Vancouver. Really amazing all the great work Arno did. His passion and positive attitude was really inspiring. So power, gentle and kind.  He lead the BC Cycling Coalition over the last four years and has been instrumental in our work to encourage the BC Government to develop an Active Transportation Strategy, which they have recently committed to doing. Arne Elias said when he was talking to advocates across Canada regarding forming Canada Bikes, Arno was the one who responded most positively. He was instrumental to the establishment and growth of Velo Canada Bikes. He lead HUB through their transformation from a volunteer run organization to one of the largest groups in Canada.  He also was on the board of Bike to Work BC and volunteered at our Community Bikes. He would haul a bus bike rack around to events in Vancouver. And I'm sure he did a lot more that I don't know. His final day was no exception. We cycled out on a nice November day to New West on the Central Valley Greenway, which he loved, to a meeting he arranged with TransLink on the BC Active Transportation Summit. The meeting went really well with TransLink strongly interested in partnering with us on the Summit. He was really happy about this success. He left New West on the SkyTrain then was cycling home. He was found lying in the grass next to a bike path road severely injured. We think he missed the path ramp and hit a curb. He passed away the next day with his family by his side. Arno is really missed. We all do our best to continue and build upon his legacy.

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• Finance Committee Recommends Eliminating the PST on Electric Bikes

  Following our submission in October, the recommendations of BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services included eliminating PST on electric assist bicycles. While this is definitely good progress, it is only a recommendation to the B.C. Government. Please help make sure they eliminate the PST from electric bikes: Write the Premier and Ministers Currently in B.C. bicycles and transportation fares are exempt from PST charges, and clean energy vehicles are eligible for rebates up to $5,000. Purchases of new electric bicycles, and their electric parts, are charged PST, and are not eligible for rebates. In addition to this not being very fair or equitable, the PST on electric bikes is also a real hassle for bike shops when they are repaited as PST is charged on the electrical parts but not the other parts of a bike. The recommendation is on page 78 of the Report on the Budget 2019 Consultation: 95. Encourage the use of electric, cargo and adaptive bicycles by eliminating the PST on electric assist bicycles. The report includes some of our input on electric bikes on page 73: The British Columbian Cycling Coalition further identified opportunities to extend cycling as a transportationoption for more people with the use of electric, cargo and adaptive bicycles. Electric bicycles can increase thenumber and length of cycling trips, and enable people with physical challenges to cycle for transportation. Cargo bicycles, on the other hand, help people to carry children or larger loads on their bicycles, and can beused by businesses for deliveries. They recommended exempting these bicycles from the PST to encouragetheir adoption and use. By enabling more people to cycle further for more trips, electric bikes can also help B.C. meet its climate goals. More information B.C. Budget Submission - Cycling and Walking are Affordable Mass Transportation |BC Cycling Coalition Electric Bicycles - Affordable Healthy Clean Transportation | BC Cycling Coalition
  Help Make Going Green Affordable!

• Mayors & Councillors Pass Motor Vehicle Act Improvements Resolution

  Great news! Resolution B102: Updating the BC Motor Vehicle Act to Improve Safety for All Road Users passed at Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference. Thanks to the City of New Westminster for moving this resolution forward. While this is a very important step forward, much work still needs to be done to help ensure that the BC Government updates the Motor Vehicle Act to make our roads safer for people walking and cycling. Your donation will be a real help enabling us to reach more people and groups who support cycling and engage government officials. Please contribute today!  Proposed changes to improve the safety and comfort of people cycling, walking and using a wheelchair include: Change of name of the act, as it applies to all modes, not just motor vehicles Specify minimum passing distance of 1.5m for people cycling, walking and using a wheelchair Legal definitions of bicycle lanes and separated cycling facilities to enable better enforcement against vehicles blocking bike lanes Legalization of bicycle specific signals Allowing riding two abreast  Removal or updated as near to the right clause Enabling cities to create blanket speed limits less than 50 km/h A default speed limit of 30 km/h on local neighbourhood streets (no centre line) More information on the proposed changes here. Please write your mayor and council thanking them for supporting the changes to the Motor Vehicle Act.         Share  
  Yes. Improve the Motor Vehicle Act!

• BC Communities Proving Lots of People Will Bike to Work

  Thanks in large part to increases in BC, cycling is the fastest growing mode of commuting across Canada. 12 communities are leading the way with over 10% of commuters cycling.

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• Moving Active Transportation Forward in BC

  Through our Moving Active Transportation Forward in BC initiative, we are helping to facilitate a Provincial cycling and walking strategy and assist smaller communities in implementing their cycling networks. The goal is to help enable everyone in BC to cycle and walk for their daily trips while eliminating fatalities. The project includes engaging municipal officials, the public, business and other organizations in communities across BC to help find opportunities and to overcome barriers. We are working with Heart & Stroke BC and the BC Alliance for Healthy Living on the complimentary Communities on the Move Declaration in support of healthy transportation. Thanks to the Real Estate Foundation of BC  for supporting our Moving Active Transportation Forward in BC initiative.  

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