16 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

I think it is time for the CRD and municipalities to put a stop to motorized vehicles buzzing along the Galloping Goose. Being right up against the trail I get to see everyone who crosses the bridge between Vic West and Selkirk and the propensity of electric scooters (Vespa style, not senior citizen sidewalk scooters) and gas powered (and extremely loud) bicycles has increased. Electric bicycle motors are restricted to reach the speed of an average bicycle commuter and they're very quiet.

Cyclists not warning of their approach and passing pedestrians at a high rate of speed is one thing, but imagine accidentally stepping into the way of a scooter going 40+km/h? At least with the motorized bicycles you can hear them coming from a mile away -- literally.

I see the use of these vehicles as a clear abuse of the trail and I'm surprised the CRD and municipalities are either turning a blind eye towards this or have poorly implemented regulations clearly restricting access of Vespa-style scooters and motorized bicycles.

[Mike K.]

I should also mention that, as-is, the trail is not setup for motorized vehicles to safely operate alongside pedestrians and un-motorized bicycles (I can't believe I'm even saying that -- only in Canada/America would we stick a 2HP motor on a bicycle ).

If the trail had a separate lane for these types of vehicles and regulated noise through the use of mufflers for gas powered bicycles that would be a different story altogether.

[Mike K.]

I received a response from VicPD via VV's Twitter about the use of gas powered bicycles on the Galloping Goose, and it is illegal to operate them on the trail.

[Bernard]

I personally would like to see all motorized vehicles treated as motorized no matter the type or form of motor. Electric bikes and electric wheel chairs/tricked old man crazy things are close to a Vespa than their non electric brethren.

The Goose, and other trails, should be 100% non-motorized

[Holden West]

Those electric bikes zoom as fast as motorbikes but in complete silence. Very dangerous to others using the trail.

[Mike K.]

I've seen electric Vespa-style scooters move at quite a clip on the GG. But as long as they have pedals on them I guess they're within the law and can operate unlicensed on surface roads much like traditional bicycles.

[Rob]

It is against regulations to use any gas powered vehicles on the trail system. As for electric bikes, they must be "electric assist" only which means you must be mostly pedaling yourself and occasionally getting assistance from the electric motor. Some of the "scooters" we see either have pedals that are too far back to use or have been removed. These vehicles are not supposed to be used on the trails but are sold as trail ready. But just wait, the pressure on the trail system will only increase when the next generation of Segway Scooters and other personal mobility devices arrive. I have been talking about this issue for over 15 years but most folks just deny that we need to plan now for space to accommodate the future need. I remind them to look at the difficulty we have finding space for dedicated transit, cycling infrastructure or pedestrian amenities once the motor vehicle space has used up the land.

[maniac78]

I think the only part of the trail I find busy is downtown to switch bridge and only on nice days in the summer. The rest of it from switch bridge to langford is a ghost town same deal heading out to the ferries. But yeah most of the electric scooters are driven by complete douche bags not that there's a shortage of douche bag cyclists either.

During the winter save for the stupid high school kids jogging it's pretty much all a ghost town.

[LJ]

During the winter save for the stupid high school kids jogging it's pretty much all a ghost town.

You have something against jogging, high school students, or both?

[G-Man]

I say as long as people are being responsible they should let the e-bike's on the trail.

[maniac78]

You have something against jogging, high school students, or both?

I just wish they would stop taking up both lanes on the goose. If they took up just the right lane that'd be cool.

[aastra]

During the winter save for the stupid high school kids jogging it's pretty much all a ghost town.

At this point I'm almost certain that maniac78 is not John Luton.

[Zooni]

Lets break this down and take a look at what the Galloping Goose is. The Galloping Goose used to be a rail line servicing the outlying communities. The cost and under use of the line, had it converted into a trail.

 

Now we have the me me me thinking involved in a transportation route. I think it should be used for walking. I think it should be used for bicycles, I think it should be used for jogging.

 

So your a healthy person living in Victoria and like to ride bicycles and all of a sudden it's your personal entertainment trail. Sorry, it is not about you and your own wants, it is about community transportation. For people who live in Sooke and who are excersing sound enviromental judgement by using electrical vehicles, the trail is a transportation route.

 

I live in Sooke and I haven't seen Mike out here every day on the trail. If you want a bike only trail, then I suggest you pick one that is NOT a transportion route of out lying communities. try Beacon Hill park or the trail beside the break water.

 

As far as no motorized vehicles, that is about as shallow thinking comments as I have read. There are all sorts of elderly people who rely on electric scooters just to get around. Am I going to ban them from enjoying life because some young cyclist thinks he/she owns a trail. Not in this lifetime.

 

The Galloping Goose and Lochside trails are today, what they have always been. Transportion mechanism for outlying communities.

[Mike K.]

Welcome to VV, zooni

 

Suggesting that this is solely a "transportation mechanism for outlying communities" is a bit of a me-me-me mentality in itself, no? It's a trail, it's a shared resource, and people have the right to use it however they want so long as it does not negatively impact other users.

 

If someone is abusing the trail or using vehicles that are not suited for what the intended purpose of the trail was, then that's a problem that affects everyone equally, regardless of how they use the trail and where they are from.

[Szeven]

Isnt Sooke 40km from Victoria? That would take an electric scooter 2 hours no? Do they even go that far on a charge?

[Kikadee]

I was on the Goose up past Sooke Potholes (somewhere between 50KM post and 51 KM post) and what do I see coming towards me? A licensed dual-sport motorbike. I 'think' he might have been lost. Gave him a 'wtf?' look and he turned around slowly and drove back where he came from.

[Wayne]

I bike the Goose and Lochside trail everyday to and from work, year round.  It is rare to see a motorized vehicle and yes, should not be there. Electric scooters are becoming a more common sight.

 

It is a great  bike transit system. However late spring and summer, it becomes hazardous.  Parents walking with their children and they are running all over the trail (like a playground).  Pets not on leashes. And fellow cyclists not paying attention or slowing down. Majority of the time, people are very respectful of the trail system and each other. Just not always the case.

 

I am glad to see police biking the trail during these months and hopefully they do enforce the no gas powered rule.