11042 replies to this topic

[marks_28]

Can’t read the first article without signing up for a free trial. But the gist of the other two is that they lead to large traffic jams and aren’t used? And the classic ‘photo of an empty bike lane’ so surely it’s never used and was a terrible idea. There are lots of photos of unused roads, should we close those down too?

But I digress..

Maybe these bike lanes are in fact not well used. Maybe they were poorly and haphazardly designed? Maybe they are single unconnected stretches of lanes where the rider has to navigate dangerous sections of non protected roads. Maybe they are on side streets without businesses where cyclists don’t actually want to go. There could be a myriad of reasons. Doesn’t mean a well planned and designed bike network wouldn’t work well.

[Barrrister]

I think the bike routes are great but it is time to have license plates on bikes along with a modest licensing fee to help pay for the maintence of the bike routes. Maybe starting at $400 or $600 a year and then bumping up in the future.

[Victoria Watcher]

and what fee should pedestrians pay for sidewalk upkeep?  say maybe $200.year?

[marks_28]

Lmao, I’m assuming this is a joke. But if not, $500 a year? That’s modest? What will regular car drivers get charged annually for their share of road maintenance?

[Barrrister]

Actually the city I believe gets a portion of the gasoline tax which couvers either all or most of the road maintance costs. Sidewalks are couvered by property tax which generally takes into account frontage to some degree in assessments. 

 

Road costs are going to be a real problem as we shift to electric vehicles since this will greatly reduce the gas tax revenue. 

 

I dont have a problem paying for a bicycle fee for my bikes and I am sure that most bicycle riders are happy to pay their share for maintaining the ever growing number of bicycle routes, 

[marks_28]

Yes, gas tax pays for a portion of the bike lane construction. The rest of it is from federal and provincial grants (I believe).

However, regular road maintenance is covered by property taxes, so we all pay for that, either directly or indirectly.

Unfortunately I don’t think many are going to think $500/year is fair nor would they be happy to pay that. Their property taxes are going towards the ongoing maintenance, and when cyclists drive, they are also contributing to gas tax. Don’t think many want to pay their share twice. Especially when the amount of wear and tear on roads cause by cyclists is minuscule compared to regular cars and trucks.

[Barrrister]

Actually the municipalities get a share of the gas tax for maintence. There will be higher maintence costs for portions of the exclusive bike paths when it comes to control lights and a number of other costs

 

Nobody is ever happy paying taxes but I doubt that $599 a year will even couver the costs of building and maintaining new routes.  Most buke riders i know say that they are concerned with the city so I am guessing that they would be willing to carry a least a part of the costs as good citizens. . 

[marks_28]

Ok, let’s try and break things down a bit here. Regular road maintenance costs are astronomically higher than bike lane maintenance. Will regular car drivers pay their share to cover those costs, as cyclists will be for their bike lanes?

[Nparker]

and what fee should pedestrians pay for sidewalk upkeep?  say maybe $200.year?

Not that I see much sidewalk "upkeep" (except where other infrastructure projects make sidewalk repairs necessary), but presumably property taxes and general civic revenue cover these expenses. I rather hope my property taxes pay for more than CoV councillor salaries, catered lunches, musical handrails, ping-pong tables and poets laureate, though to be honest I am not sure.

[On the Level]

Regular roads are used by bicycles as well as cars, so maintenance would presumably be shared. 

 

As far as where the funds come from, businesses pay a large portions of property taxes in Victoria (47%) keeping the household portion low, so it is businesses that are paying for a big chunk of road maintenance. 

 

Of course the $$ that those businesses need to exist is coming from all over the CRD, so indirectly other municipalities are paying for a portion of Victoria's road maintenance.  Then of course we have parking, parking fines, gas tax grants etc etc etc.....again with much of it coming from residents of other municipalities.

 

Unless the bike lanes increase access to Victoria for others that do not reside downtown, we will see a shift in where the funding comes from and it will be born by local residents.  

 

https://www.cfib-fce...port 2018.pdf  

[Victoria Watcher]

Regular roads are used by bicycles as well as cars, so maintenance would presumably be shared.

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Ok then cyclists should pay $500 for the bike lanes plus $400 more if they use the road too.

$75 more again if they are seen walking their bikes on a sidewalk.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 October 2020 - 10:04 AM.

[On the Level]

While I know it's legal to use wither the road or the bike lane, cyclists should be using the bike lane if one is available.  There is no better way of making yourself look like a jackass than getting in the way of traffic while the bike lanes sits empty beside you. 

Edited by On the Level, 24 October 2020 - 11:13 AM.

[FogPub]

Maybe in the future you'll change your habits and bike or walk instead?

That's rather a long walk from the Cook-Richardson area to Galey Farms...

 

And not a great route to bike either, unless you like going up and down a fair number of hills or are willing to go a long way out of your way to find a flatter route.

[rmpeers]

Recently drove on the redesigned Humboldt stretch. My main thought was "Could this design be any worse?"

[mbjj]

Lol that article was a bit much. Painting a worst case scenario in terms of light timing. Sure, you’ll probably have to wait maybe 15 seconds longer turning left on Cook? But after that it’s a crap shoot in terms of lights, but on average maybe another 30 seconds in increased time?

I’m confident that the benefits of increased bike traffic along Vancouver St will outweigh the emissions from the very small increases in travel time. I’m sure once Mr Cleverley traverses up the improved Vancouver St on his bike a few times, he may even change his stance on it.

Except you can't even get along Cook now. As I said, traffic stopped as far as we could see. Build the stupid lanes, just don't block off an effective thoroughfare. I'll be chuckling with glee  I suppose as I spend extra minutes several times a week spewing emissions.

 

Where do I know the name Bill Cleverly from?

[Victoria Watcher]

retired TC city hall reporter.

[mbjj]

Maybe in the future you'll change your habits and bike or walk instead?

Walk to Blenkinsop, lol? And no, I won't be riding a bike after two abdominal surgeries.

[Nparker]

Walk to Blenkinsop, lol? And no, I won't be riding a bike after two abdominal surgeries.

I don't mean to speak for aastra, but I suspect he was being facetious with his suggestion. 

[aastra]

 

Maybe in the future you'll change your habits and bike or walk instead?

 

FYI to all, this was a joke.

[aastra]

Hoofing a 9-mile return trip in the pouring rain while carrying a heavy load can be a bit of a slog.