Introducing the Dunsmuir separated bike lane

[SumBoringSoup]

we should have one in norwalk california :)

[usernameisrobert]

what an ass robertson is...green agenda nazi...wasting tax payers money on a project that does nothing other than kill business...i live/work downtown and see little bike traffic in those lanes even on sunny days...and i see as many bikes riding down any other street or sidewalk as on the dedicated lanes....on the sidewalk even on the streets with a bike lane (figure that one out)....what a shill...selling us out to the f'ing tides foundation/agenda21/ICLEI/euge­nicist bastards...

[604commuter]

Separated bike lanes are more dangerous.

City of Helsinki reports that "two-way cycle paths [separated bike lanes] in particular should be avoided in an urban street network.”.

City of Copenhagen, reports that “A decline in road safety at junctions has undoubtedly taken place after the construction of cycle tracks [separated bike lanes]”.

“Separated bicycle facilities .. do not necessarily appear to be safer.”.

- Department of Transport, Walking and Cycling Branch, Melbourne

604commuter.ca

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter I would like to know the context of your sources. I know Copenhagen well, & i suspect that the report was recommending total separation at junctions too. This is almost an almost universal policy in Denmark. This policy of separation has led to the highest uptake of cycling in the world. The department of transport in Melbourne has on the other hand presided over a massive drop in cycling. The state of Victoria is not a cycle friendly place.

[604commuter]

@zivkovicable

the quote “A decline in road safety at junctions has undoubtedly taken place after the construction of cycle tracks [separated bike lanes]”.

comes from a report titled "Road safety and percieved risk of cycle tracks and lanes in Copenhagen" - a Google search will bring the original file

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter From the same report. "Many studies of cycle tracks have been undertaken in northern europe. A meta analysis of 11 studies show a reduction of 4% in crashes, & the crash reduction is almost the same for pedestrians, bicyclists & motorists respectively." & "The construction of bicycle tracks resulted in a 20% increase in bicycle mileage on those roads, where bicycle tracks have been constructed". In Denmark cycling has become a normal every day activity, made possible by segregation.

[604commuter]

@zivkovicable

"many" studies, catch phrase for lobbyists pitching their point of view in biased studies. The fact remains that Copenhagen reports a decline in road safety. Helsinki outright discourages bike lanes.

As for the 20% increase in mileage - a typical bike trip is 3km long (again Dutch data - consistent with other locations), so a trip got extended by 600 meters - not a big deal, hardly a reason to be wasting money on infrastructure that makes roads more dangerous.

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter Hang on a minute, you do realise that I was quoting from "Road safety & perceived risk of cycle tracks in Copenhagen" the report that YOU recommended here. Have you read it ??!! Are you now saying it's a biased study?

[604commuter]

@zivkovicable

... and the Copenhagen report was clear - "a decline in road safety", Copenhagen report made references to OTHER REPORTS and did not share their findings - hope that clarifies.

Let's be clear City of Copenhagen reports a decline in road safety. Melbourne literature review covers over 200 studies and it also reports that one cannot claim that separated bike lanes are safer so let's stop spreading the myth that separated bike lanes are safer. Actual facts do not support that.

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter No, I used direct quotes from the authors, & this concession can be found in the introduction. I can see you haven't read it all, & are just a lobbyist (troll) pitching your biased point of view in support of the status quo.

[604commuter]

@zivkovicable ignores conclusions in the Copenhagen report: "Taken in combination, the cycle tracks and lanes which have been constructed have had ... negative effects on road safety."

As a commuter I expect safe road infrastructure not project that make it more dangerous as we see in Vancouver where accidents and injuries at the north end of the Burrard Bridge went up significantly after separated bike lanes were installed.

As a taxpayers I object to Vision Vancouver wasting money.

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter You are ignoring the introduction, & therefore the whole context of the report. If junctions are dangerous separate here too, easy! As for your tax money, cycling facilities pay for themselves many times over by reducing congestion, massive health care costs associated with, respiratory disease, obesity & treatment of physical trauma associated with motorised transport. The Danish & Dutch systems of separation are the only ones that have led to a significant increase in cycling.

[604commuter]

@zivkovicable out of respect for this forum it is important to admit that this exchange has become counterproductive.  Readers were provided with the sources and are free to learn more about the points regarding safety that were raised here. Safe commuting.

[zivkovicable]

@604commuter Funny! You weren't respecting the forum when you recently opened your new account, specifically to post numerous identical anti bike lane comments.That's spamming & trolling at the same time!

Who do you work for?

[qaziofattock1]

I wonder why don't these guys go in Stanley park and ride the bike there .

In China they tried but now everybody rides a car . I guess they finally figure out that cars are much faster then those bicycles.

[shortthemkts]

dumbest thing ever done in downtown. Freakin' granola eaters

[DustinPurplePirate]

I and everyone I know enjoys the Dunsmuir BIke Lane. Great work!

[canadianveggie]

Best bike lane in Vancouver.

[dregerclock]

I hope this path prevents accidents, but It sounds like the concept and purpose was to make people FEEL safer riding along the street. I'm not sure it MAKES them safer. The cyclists are hidden and out of the sight line of drivers approaching intersections. I am afraid that this might lull people into a feeling of safety and actually make them more invisible to cars.

[604commuter]

@dregerclock

You are absolutely correct about your suspicions - separated bike lanes are not safer. ICBC reports and increase in accident and injuries on the north end of the Burrard Bridge after bike lanes were introduced.

[prinzrob]

Not to be too critical, but why do the folks in bike safety videos always have their helmet chinstraps on so loose? (I''m looking at you, Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver... 2:38 )

[bikerusl]

The planter one is easily the best. However, it is more for a situation like the Burrard Street Bridge. Better would be the simply raised with a curb lanes like those in gastown and next to city hall. The curbed lanes take less space. The biggest problem with the lanes that are not curbed is that they are like the Montreal bike lanes. The Montreal lanes have been in use for ages and we know why they didn't work that well. It ghettoises the cycle lane...

[bikerusl]

@bikerusl ...the lane has debris build up and can't get cleaned by street sweepers or simply passing cars. Dirt gets trapped there. This is especially bad with snow (obviously not as big of a problem here). The safety problem is that it effectively makes another intersection... one that motorists don't feel compelled to stop at (indeed there are no specific signals or protocol for this new type of intersection) So when people cross streets the danger is worse. They've tried to address this...

[bikerusl]

@bikerusl ...with the "no left turn" rules but I doubt that will be enough of a solution. Really this is a great style of lane for long straight stretches like a bridge or highway. Something a lot more integrated that doesn't trap debris would be a lot better. That is the curb style lanes as seen in Amsterdam, Germany, and we have a few tiny stretches. Good on the city for taking this challenge on, it's hard to to but so important. Also the planter style idea is just wonderful, more friendly :-)

[pjotr320]

A big step forward in cycling infrastructure. A lot of Vancouver's streets are wide enough to build similar cycle paths.

[madraven07]

Useful information. I thought all those weird concrete dividers were an art installation. Just kidding. I'm using the new Dunsmuir bike lanes everyday now - sometimes even go out of my way, because the ride is so much better.