Jump to content

      



























Photo

[Bicycles] Bike lanes and cycling infrastructure in Victoria and the south Island


  • Please log in to reply
11042 replies to this topic

#4121 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:16 AM

It wouldn't be if pedestrians adhered to the simple rule of not entering the crosswalk when the walk signal disappears. All the counters have done is give pedestrians the motivation to cross when they shouldn't be, and that's what causes vehicle back-ups.

This is actually one of the stupidest laws we have and only reinforces the prioritization of moving cars instead of moving people. If I can cross the road in time before the red is my responsibility just like it is when driving.  Luckily it is basically never enforced.  It's just another thing some people like to whine about but when they walk downtown they certainly do cross when the evil hand is blinking.

 

I'm watching you Mike.  I'll get it on camera.


  • aastra and Jackerbie like this

#4122 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:17 AM

I love the pedestrian counters.  I've devised a formula for when you can make it acroos.

 

If you are 20 and over, if goes like this:  Take your age, and divide it by 6.   That's the number of seconds a healthy individual can easily make it across in.

 

If you are 24 years old or under, go ahead and cross on 4 or more seconds.  42, you'll need 7 seconds.  If you are 60 or over, allow at least 10 seconds on the countdown timer.

If you're fast you can easily cross Douglas with 2 seconds to go on the counter.



#4123 Mike K.

Mike K.
  • Administrator
  • 83,184 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:22 AM

This is actually one of the stupidest laws we have and only reinforces the prioritization of moving cars instead of moving people. If I can cross the road in time before the red is my responsibility just like it is when driving.  Luckily it is basically never enforced.  It's just another thing some people like to whine about but when they walk downtown they certainly do cross when the evil hand is blinking.

 

I'm watching you Mike.  I'll get it on camera.

 

No way Jose, common sense prevails and I wait. I'm not in a hurry to get hit by a vehicle.


  • Nparker likes this

Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.


#4124 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:25 AM

No way Jose, common sense prevails and I wait. I'm not in a hurry to get hit by a vehicle.

Why would a vehicle be more likely to hit you at the end of the countdown?  Either way it's a right hook.  It could happen at the very beginning of the "white man" just as easily.

 

NYC removed their countdown law.  Quebec doesn't have one.  Toronto has been under pressure to do the same.



#4125 VicHockeyFan

VicHockeyFan
  • Suspended User
  • 52,121 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:27 AM

No way Jose, common sense prevails and I wait. I'm not in a hurry to get hit by a vehicle.

 

Remember folks, we use aliases on here for a reason, no outing people even when you know that nagel is actually named Jose.


  • Mike K., Nparker, Hotel Mike and 2 others like this
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#4126 lanforod

lanforod
  • Member
  • 11,241 posts
  • LocationSaanich

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:27 AM

Remember folks, we use aliases on here for a reason, no outing people even when you know that nagel is actually named Jose.

 

Wait, I'm not supposed to call Mike, Mike?  :banana:  :banana:  :banana:



#4127 Coreyburger

Coreyburger
  • Member
  • 2,864 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:35 AM

Tell that to the mayor, then. I'm going by what she said.


Dunsmuir doesn't have lights, Hornby does (exactly like Pandora). So do the new Edmonton protected bike lanes, and Calgary, etc. This isn't unique to Victoria by any means

#4128 Mike K.

Mike K.
  • Administrator
  • 83,184 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:36 AM

Why would a vehicle be more likely to hit you at the end of the countdown?  Either way it's a right hook.  It could happen at the very beginning of the "white man" just as easily.

 

NYC removed their countdown law.  Quebec doesn't have one.  Toronto has been under pressure to do the same.

 

When you dart out at the last second, as drivers are finally seeing a window of opportunity to turn and prepare to do so, you run the risk of getting hit. I see this day in, day out. People just can't spare a minute of their time because only their time is valuable.

 

I get the sense from nagel that sharing the road is only a buzzword used when convenient. When it comes to the other side of the equation, there's a million reasons why it's not practical, not sensible, not convenient, not fair...


Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.


#4129 Mike K.

Mike K.
  • Administrator
  • 83,184 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:37 AM

Dunsmuir doesn't have lights, Hornby does (exactly like Pandora). So do the new Edmonton protected bike lanes, and Calgary, etc. This isn't unique to Victoria by any means

 

So you're saying Mayor Helps was wrong, then? She said the lighting situation in Victoria is unique. She said, on CFAX, that our setup will be different from all other setups.

 

I just checked on Streetview and you're absolutely correct, Hornby has an identical setup. My bad.


Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.


#4130 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:37 AM

When you dart out at the last second, as drivers are finally seeing a window of opportunity to turn and prepare to do so, you run the risk of getting hit. I see this day in, day out. People just can't spare a minute of their time because only their time is valuable.

 

I get the sense from nagel that sharing the road is only a buzzword used when convenient. When it comes to the other side of the equation, there's a million reasons why it's not practical, not sensible, not convenient, not fair...

I don't want to share the road.



#4131 Mike K.

Mike K.
  • Administrator
  • 83,184 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 08:41 AM

Courtesy goes a tremendously long way. I just wish we'd see more of it on our roads and intersections, period.


  • Nparker, Mr.B and nagel like this

Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.


#4132 shoeflack

shoeflack
  • Member
  • 2,861 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 09:18 AM

You know, it's honestly so sad really to see the constant anti-bike sentiment here. Such a North American way of thinking to need an instant return on investment with these bike lanes. What ever happened to planting a tree under whose shade you don't expect to sit.

 

I can walk by any number of modern buildings in Victoria, something we always champion as being a positive for the City, that have empty ground floor commercial space. Does that make those buildings a failure? Sure, it wasn't public dollars spent, but it's the same principle.

 

What about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Was he a fool for creating the Interstate Highway System? Building massive road infrastructure that he would never see reach it's full potential in his lifetime? But something that no one can now argue was a failure.

 

It takes time for projects to reach their full potential. This is called pro-active planning. We bemoan the Mackenzie Interchange as being reactive planning, yet we now bemoan this pro-active planning as well? Complaining for the sake of complaining if I've ever seen it.


  • VicHockeyFan, Coreyburger, Bingo and 12 others like this

#4133 Mr.B

Mr.B
  • Member
  • 139 posts
  • LocationVictoria, BC

Posted 15 May 2017 - 10:04 AM

There will be an increase, for sure.  Plus we'll have ice cream, pop, juice, sandwich bike vendors on the Goose now, right?

 

Surely even you can see that once the bridge is done and there is a safe/solid connection from the Goose on Harbour road across the new bridge and up Pandora to Cook, that there will be a dramatic increase in bike users on the cycle track...



#4134 sebberry

sebberry

    Resident Housekeeper

  • Moderator
  • 21,503 posts
  • LocationVictoria

Posted 15 May 2017 - 10:26 AM

I'd actually count myself as one of those that is glad there is a separate right turn phase when driving.  It's actually now easy to turn right downtown with the high pedestrian volumes.  You're screwed on both red and green. 

 

I agree, but the signals for turning cars should be replaced with a "No right turn" light that illuminates when the bike lane and crosswalk have the proceed lights.  There's no sense in restricting right turns when Vancouver, Quadra, Blanshard, etc... have the green light and traffic from the left is clear.


  • rjag, Ismo07 and Midnightly like this

Victoria current weather by neighbourhood: Victoria school-based weather station network

Victoria webcams: Big Wave Dave Webcams

 


#4135 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 10:31 AM

I agree, but the signals for turning cars should be replaced with a "No right turn" light that illuminates when the bike lane and crosswalk have the proceed lights.  There's no sense in restricting right turns when Vancouver, Quadra, Blanshard, etc... have the green light and traffic from the left is clear.

It is a good idea but I'd like to see an example of this. 



#4136 dasmo

dasmo

    Grand Master ✔

  • Member
  • 15,239 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 10:34 AM

You know, it's honestly so sad really to see the constant anti-bike sentiment here. Such a North American way of thinking to need an instant return on investment with these bike lanes. What ever happened to planting a tree under whose shade you don't expect to sit.

I can walk by any number of modern buildings in Victoria, something we always champion as being a positive for the City, that have empty ground floor commercial space. Does that make those buildings a failure? Sure, it wasn't public dollars spent, but it's the same principle.

What about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Was he a fool for creating the Interstate Highway System? Building massive road infrastructure that he would never see reach it's full potential in his lifetime? But something that no one can now argue was a failure.

It takes time for projects to reach their full potential. This is called pro-active planning. We bemoan the Mackenzie Interchange as being reactive planning, yet we now bemoan this pro-active planning as well? Complaining for the sake of complaining if I've ever seen it.

So bang on!
  • nerka likes this

#4137 Kach

Kach

    SteveK

  • Member
  • 277 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 11:18 AM

You know, it's honestly so sad really to see the constant anti-bike sentiment here. Such a North American way of thinking to need an instant return on investment with these bike lanes. What ever happened to planting a tree under whose shade you don't expect to sit.

 

I can walk by any number of modern buildings in Victoria, something we always champion as being a positive for the City, that have empty ground floor commercial space. Does that make those buildings a failure? Sure, it wasn't public dollars spent, but it's the same principle.

 

What about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Was he a fool for creating the Interstate Highway System? Building massive road infrastructure that he would never see reach it's full potential in his lifetime? But something that no one can now argue was a failure.

 

It takes time for projects to reach their full potential. This is called pro-active planning. We bemoan the Mackenzie Interchange as being reactive planning, yet we now bemoan this pro-active planning as well? Complaining for the sake of complaining if I've ever seen it.

 

Well said.


  • nerka likes this

#4138 Coreyburger

Coreyburger
  • Member
  • 2,864 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 12:40 PM

It takes time for projects to reach their full potential. This is called pro-active planning. We bemoan the Mackenzie Interchange as being reactive planning, yet we now bemoan this pro-active planning as well? Complaining for the sake of complaining if I've ever seen it.

 

Indeed. I would also point out that Copenhagen started (re)building protected bike lanes when their mode share was ~10%, pretty much exactly where we are now - https://www.citylab....rent-ours/1849/



#4139 Ismo07

Ismo07
  • Member
  • 5,224 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 01:54 PM

It is a good idea but I'd like to see an example of this. 

no-right-turn-on-red.jpg



#4140 nagel

nagel
  • Member
  • 5,751 posts

Posted 15 May 2017 - 02:05 PM

Does that actually go blank when it's not red?  Cause we don't have any lights here that do that, that I'm aware of.



You're not quite at the end of this discussion topic!

Use the page links at the lower-left to go to the next page to read additional posts.
 



2 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 2 guests, 0 anonymous users