2302 replies to this topic

[Kyjen]

“chipping out concrete on many of the centre islands”

I noticed about a week ago they jackhammered out one side of each of the centre two pedestrian walkways (Herald). I know police use those walkways to drive through to go between the 500 & 600 block. I just assumed they were making the centre crosswalk wider for fire trucks/ambulances.
Also notice earlier this week based on tire tracks, a semi’s trailer or large truck that was turning right onto Gov from Herald clearly went over the larger then normal curb that separates bike and traffic lanes taking out the 3ft sign that warns people there’s a curb.

[Sparky]

The jackhammers are out all down  the new bike lanes on Government Street, chipping out concrete on many of the centre islands as the fresh garden dirt spills out onto the roadway ... this (now removed) concrete is the stuff that was just poured a few weeks ago!

 

Looks like some Government Street bike lane, "bike lane blocking parking spaces", and traffic calming design deficiencies that we were told were just our imaginations running wild ... aren't in fact just our imaginations at all !

Spy Black

I just travelled Government Street from Hillside to Johnson and did not see any remediation to the bike lane concrete. There was evidence of remediation to the centre planter areas...but nothing resembling your "bike lane" comments.

 

 

[mbjj]

I haven't seen Government St. in person since the changes. Judging by the photos, I won't be going there any time soon. Used to sometimes go to the Marks down there, I'll head over to Mayfair now instead. 

[Ismo07]

Spy Black

I just travelled Government Street from Hillside to Johnson and did not see any remediation to the bike lane concrete. There was evidence of remediation to the centre planter areas...but nothing resembling your "bike lane" comments.

 

 

This is warranty work...  Cracks on the first day...

[Sparky]

Bless you Ismo

I have been watching the rebuttals that you have been receiving lately but rest assured that we (ok me) appreciate your input on this forum.

[Victoria Watcher]

I like the Ismo input.

[phx]

Ah when you said that, much of the discussion was about right turns on a red, so that's what I continued on...  Which design of a bike lane is better? 

As I said, turning across a through-traffic lane was traditionally frowned upon due to the risk.

[FogPub]

Ah when you said that, much of the discussion was about right turns on a red, so that's what I continued on...  Which design of a bike lane is better?  The 2 way or one lane on each side of the street?  Or do you just dislike all protected bike lanes?  Hasn't the Pandora lanes been around for like almost 7 years now?  Fort for 5?  Kind of seem to be working...  Very few times are people waiting at lights, no increase in accidents (thought people say there are) even with a huge increase in bicycle traffic.  I had my doubts as well but after many years of observation kind or have to give them a pass, and sure there are a couple of contentions but what are specific issues about them that are poor?

The main things that are poor about both the Pandora and Fort bike lanes is that they are two-way lanes on one-way roads.  I know this and as a pedestrian I still often forget to look the other way when crossing one, naturally expecting the bike traffic to come from the same direction as the car traffic.  I've also noticed (I assume due to this design) a significant uptick in cyclists treating painted bike lanes on various other roads as if they are two-way.

 

The thing that is really poor about the Fort bike lane is that it's on the wrong side of the road, thus requiring eastbound cyclists to perform an inefficient (and perhaps dangerous, depending how they do it) crossing just after Cook St., in order to get to the right-hand side of the road.

Edited by FogPub, 15 July 2022 - 09:54 PM.

[Spy Black]

Spy Black

I just travelled Government Street from Hillside to Johnson and did not see any remediation to the bike lane concrete. There was evidence of remediation to the centre planter areas...but nothing resembling your "bike lane" comments.

 

Let's revisit this comment in a short while.

A little birdie tells me that the jackhammers aren't anywhere close to being finished on Gov't St yet.

[Ismo07]

The main things that are poor about both the Pandora and Fort bike lanes is that they are two-way lanes on one-way roads.  I know this and as a pedestrian I still often forget to look the other way when crossing one, naturally expecting the bike traffic to come from the same direction as the car traffic.  I've also noticed (I assume due to this design) a significant uptick in cyclists treating painted bike lanes on various other roads as if they are two-way.

 

The thing that is really poor about the Fort bike lane is that it's on the wrong side of the road, thus requiring eastbound cyclists to perform an inefficient (and perhaps dangerous, depending how they do it) crossing just after Cook St., in order to get to the right-hand side of the road.

 

Yes the transition at Fort and Cook is goofy certainly, not many cities have bike lanes on both sides for the same direction.  I think there is a phase to clean that up.

 

2 way bike lanes one one way streets is not uncommon, whether on one way roads or two.  I've never really felt it was a big difference on either road application.  It's less expensive to build that way.  I assume they are usually placed on the side of the road with the least vehicle crossings for the most part while also keeping in mind bus access as well...

 

As for what individual cyclists do, regarding the riding down the wrong way, not much I can say to that.  Cyclists tend to go the easiest way, similar to car drivers if they could.  When crossing any one way street I still have a glance both ways (see too many cars coming the wrong way) so as a pedestrian the 2 way bikes lanes aren't much of a chore for me personally.  Usually wave both cars and bikes through as they have a good momentum going.

[JohnsonStBridge]

Yes that will be fixed in the upcoming Fort St Central/East bike lane construction. The approved design for the Fort Street Central bike lane will extend the two-way bike lane on the north side of Fort St from Cook St up to the Yates St intersection. This will defer the need for bicycles to cross from the north to south side of the road until the Yates St intersection where it will have a proper crossing as the bike lane transitions to a one-way on both sides of the road design from the Yates St intersection to Foul Bay Rd. 

[FogPub]

Yes that will be fixed in the upcoming Fort St Central/East bike lane construction. The approved design for the Fort Street Central bike lane will extend the two-way bike lane on the north side of Fort St from Cook St up to the Yates St intersection. This will defer the need for bicycles to cross from the north to south side of the road until the Yates St intersection where it will have a proper crossing as the bike lane transitions to a one-way on both sides of the road design from the Yates St intersection to Foul Bay Rd. 

They still have to cross, though, which is less efficient both for them and for drivers (doubtless there'll be yet another traffic light put in for this crossing) than if a one-way lane went up the south side all the way along.

[Victoria Watcher]

Crews were set to begin work Monday on what’s seen as a significant gap in the regional cycling network.

 

 

The 1.1-kilometre Kimta E&N Cycling Connector, due for completion in about six months, is intended to provide a safe link between the E&N Regional Trail, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and downtown Victoria .

 

https://www.timescol...e-trail-5813171

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 September 2022 - 03:48 AM.

[Ismo07]

Let's revisit this comment in a short while.

A little birdie tells me that the jackhammers aren't anywhere close to being finished on Gov't St yet.

 

Is this a short while enough?  Has it been completed by this point?

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria bike valet project sees 8,000 bicycles parked in three months

 

 

 

Heather and Alex MacLennan are frequenting Victoria’s core more than they used to, thanks to the City of Victoria’s bike valet service.

 

“We would never come in with our bikes before,” Alex said. “We’re really hoping it’s not going anywhere and it stays through the winter, because we definitely come down more.”

 

But the service — launched as a pilot project on June 24 — is set to close down Nov. 6 for the winter. The city said it will work with its partners to evaluate and reassess the program for the spring season.

 

“We’ve seen continual growth each and every month and we’ve also seen a nice diversity of users,” said Sarah Webb, active transportation specialist for the city. “People that are there for 20 minutes, people that are there for four hours and people that are there for nine hours.”

 

Roughly 8,000 bikes have been parked at the free Centennial Square valet service since it opened, Webb said. About 30 per cent were oversized bicycles like cargo, electric, adapted and longtail bikes.

 

The $160,000 bike valet project was funded as part of a $500,000-multi-year enhanced bike parking portfolio allocated by Victoria council in 2021. Other projects include a bike parking retrofit at the Yates Street parkade and six new bike shelters.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-months-5905638

 

 

 

$160,000 to park 8,000 bikes.  $20 per bike parked.    That's not a good program.  

[todd]

Crews were set to begin work Monday on what’s seen as a significant gap in the regional cycling network.

screenshot-www.timescolonist.com-2022.09.13-07_47_43.png

The 1.1-kilometre Kimta E&N Cycling Connector, due for completion in about six months, is intended to provide a safe link between the E&N Regional Trail, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and downtown Victoria .

https://www.timescol...e-trail-5813171

Finally putting in a bike lane that is actually appropriate.

Edited by todd, 04 October 2022 - 09:46 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

CAMPBELL: It’s (still) open season on Victoria cyclists. Someone is going to get killed

Another day, another cyclist struck by a driver

https://www.vicnews....-to-get-killed/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 February 2023 - 03:52 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Bike valet returning to downtown Victoria with expanded hours

 

City offered coat check-style service as a pilot project in 2022

 

 

https://www.vicnews....expanded-hours/

 

 

 

 

 

 

In its inaugural season, the valet parked more than 11,000 bikes and registered over 800 bicycles

 

 

 

 

 

The pilot project, which ran from June to November in 2022 had a budget of $146,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$13.27 per bike parked.  Not efficient.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 March 2023 - 12:19 PM.

[Nparker]

There needs to be a user fee for this service to recover at least some of the cost. $5/bike sounds reasonable to me.

[sebberry]

There needs to be a user fee for this service to recover at least some of the cost. $5/bike sounds reasonable to me.

 

Aren't the anti-car folks always complaining about the free storage of personal automobiles on public property when ranting about free parking?

 

Maybe the free storage of personal bicycles should come to an end.