I wish to thank everyone that came to the Friday June 25, 2010 meeting. Not only the neighbours that I met during my Tuesday walk around Margarets St. showed up, but also many other that heard about the meeting and decide to come.
I told Michael Klassen from Citycaucus that there would be "a few" residents that are willing to come out and share the story on Friday afternoon. We were overwhelm by the 25+ people that show up. This is huge considering that I only talked to about 30 neighbours and most are not available on early Friday afternoon.
Michael contacted Global TV News and CKNW News when he realizes this is a big story that affect many many residents.
CKNW and Global News Cameraman was gracious to interview several residents and hear our side of story. What make it even better is we also have cyclists view on camera and tape recording. Everyone hates the median barrier. The cyclists said it is so dangerous to cross the intersection now that they have to wait once at the stop sign and once more at the median barrier before able to cross the intersection.
This is not just about the cyclists being at risk, but also any parents with stroller trying to cross Clarendon. With the 4 Ways STOP signs before, the vehicle speed is around 30km/hr near the intersection. Now the speed that vehicles drive down that stretch of Clarendon is around 60km/hr. If you ask me, it is clear which traffic pattern is safer.
Many people probably wondering what will happen next?
We are planning to raise the median barrier issue during the Waverley Parents/Teachers meeting in September. We are going to ask the school Principal to consider open the meeting to the public like a "townhall" meeting, so all neighbourhood residents can come and voice their concerns.
We will also invite Michael Klassen from Citycaucus, Global TV News and CKNW news to the "town hall" meeting. We estimate that we would have at least a few hundreds concern parents/teachers/residents at the meeting. With the show of group force, we are confident that we can force the Mayor/City Engineering Services to back down and dismantle the median barrier.
I will update this blog and tell the neighbourhood once all the "townhall" meeting detail are confirmed.
Thanks everyone!
I have been in contact with the city engineer for a few weeks now. The one thing I found out is that the person heading this little disaster - uses the 45th ave bike path daily. Do you think it a coincidence?
ReplyDeleteHere is my discussion thread with him:
Ross and Mike,
I would like to follow up this email with some further thoughts on the drive to get more cyclists on the road. The effort to put more routes in place, more traffic clamed areas is all a great idea, but there are many thing that are lacking in all the planning that is going on and I would like to address these issues.
First is that the biggest barrier for common commuter is not the routes, but rather at the destination with regards to bike storage, and shower facilities. In my office at least, there are 15 cyclists out of 20 employees, and seeing as we are all men, we can put up with the “locker room” smell to one degree or another. Some other offices are not so much in the same boat, and thus a significant barrier is the ability to shower, and store ones bike. If the city were to invest in some kind of cycling infrastructure where by cyclists can use a community shower, and a large secured bike storage area that services many offices, then the city would be farther ahead in getting people to cycle to work.
The second biggest barrier is the weather. Most cyclists, and by this I mean 90%, does not want to cycle in the rain for fear of getting wet and sweaty, which leads right back into the first point. The other fear is the lack of visibility in the grey Vancouver winter, regardless of lighting technology. In the winter I am lit up like a Christmas tree, and still motorists miss me, which means that those same motorists will surely miss the novice commuter.
The third is a distance issue. I generally try to put on at least 50km/day of cycling, which means I will generally go for a ride out to UBC, or SFU before I come into work. Most other commuters cannot and will not do this as their average speed is less than 25kph. The average GVRD resident needs to travel at least 20km to and from work, and this is not including the travel between other commitments such as children’s soccer class, dance class and the like. The reason I can cycle to and from work is that I only live 9km from work, and if necessary I can get home in 20 min.
As much as I would like to get the city moving forward with more initiatives to get kids on bikes, families on bikes, I am not making excuses, but the reality remains that the cost of living is pushing people outside the boundaries of casual commuting. Until the GVRD addresses the issue of allowing more bikes on mass transit, employers allowing more facilities to encourage proper hygiene, all these efforts will fail the average cyclist, and enrage the driving public. I understand exactly where you want to go with these initiatives and support the direction, but I cannot as a cyclist support this specific decision.
Sincerely,
Csaba Knezy
Supply Chain Manager
From: Csaba Knezy (RI)
Sent: June 21, 2010 10:45 AM
To: 'ross.kenny@vancouver.ca'
Cc: 'Anderson, Mike'
Subject: RE: Intersection changes at 45th and Elliott and 29th and Ontario
Ross,
I just sent this to Mike for his records, and am forwarding to you for yours as well.
Mike,
Now that the barriers have been put in, and the stop signs on Elliott have been removed, I have to tell you that the situation is FAR more dangerous than before for the casual cyclist.
My initial observations (and I communicated this to your relief staff in a calm supportive manner BTW) is the following:
ReplyDelete1) The cyclists have migrated to 46th ave to use the crossing light. This is a result of not having cars stop on Elliott to allow cyclists the ability to cross. What in effect has happened is that while stopped on 45th you are (as a cyclist) made to wait for an opening on Elliott to cross. Considering the number of vehicles (Transit, city trucks, and cars) traveling north-south on Elliott, the opportunities are far and few in between. Thus cyclists are being forced to migrate to 46th.
2) The number of cars turning off Elliott onto 45th has not been reduced, and in fact a new side effect has come into play. What I have observed is that motorists will turn right off of 45th to go south on Elliott and turn the next immediate left into the alley backing the houses on 45th and 46th. They then make the first opportunity to get back onto 45th to get to Earles – and in the process they fail to stop at the stop sign and enter 45th not paying attention.
I think that a rethink on this needs to take place because for the average cyclist (this is my wife, my daughter and son whose ability is that of the average population – 90th percentile) the changes made is creating more aggravation on the motorists part. I have had several parents whose children attend my daughters school (Corpus Christi) chastise me on the decision that the City has taken on this subject. I have not given your name, nor number, but have offered the information surrounding the group responsible for these changes and contact them with their concerns and asking that they do it in a respectful manner.
I along with you would like a city not unlike Denmark and Holland with cyclist-centric cities, but the manner that this project was implemented will only do us cyclists a disservice by aggravating the situation, rather than gaining support for the situation.
I hope that this is taken as constructive and supportive criticism and not as a bitchfest by some “Not In My Back Yard” comment.
Sincerely,
Csaba Knezy
Supply Chain Manager
From: Anderson, Mike [mailto:Mike.Anderson@vancouver.ca]
Sent: June 15, 2010 5:35 PM
To: Csaba Knezy (RI)
Subject: RE: Intersection changes at 45th and Elliott and 29th and Ontario
Hello Mr. Knezy:
Once the physical barrier goes into place, we expect that compliance to the signage will increase significantly. It will be very difficult to violate. I do know that motorists are not obeying the new signs. However, we will be contacting the VPD about this measure to request additional enforcement as necessary.
Thank you again for your input.
Best regards,
Mike Anderson, MCIP, P.Eng.
Greenways & Neighbourhood Transportation | City of VANCOUVER
________________________________________
From: Csaba Knezy (RI)
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 3:20 PM
To: Anderson, Mike
Subject: RE: Intersection changes at 45th and Elliott and 29th and Ontario
No worries – too much work, not enough time.
Can you send a ring into the VPD traffic division – People do not understand the signs posted on 45th
I get the issue that the locals will have to deal with it. I personally am fine with it…. My father-in-law….. not so much
Sincerely,
Csaba Knezy
Supply Chain Manager
From: Anderson, Mike [mailto:Mike.Anderson@vancouver.ca]
ReplyDeleteSent: June 14, 2010 2:26 PM
To: Csaba Knezy (RI)
Subject: RE: Intersection changes at 45th and Elliott and 29th and Ontario
Hello Mr. Knezy:
Apologies again for the delay in my response. Thank you for your patience.
We are currently working on some web-based information for both motorists and cyclists about sharing the road, including information on traffic circles. In many cases, I think both motorists and cyclists know the rules about passing through circles, but choose to ignore them. In particular, I believe most road users know that they are supposed to keep right around circles but it may seem more convenient to shortcut to the left. There may be less understanding about right-of-way (yielding to those in the circle). We have regular communication with ICBC about this issue as well (and others), and are hoping to work with them to update the driving curriculum.
Regarding 45th Avenue, I understand your concerns about local traffic impacts. We recognize that there will certainly be some localized inconvenience resulting from these measures. However, we cannot continue to accept the volume of traffic that is using 45th Avenue as a through route. There are not currently other possibilities being considered. Our approach will be to monitor the trial measures to determine if they are achieving our objectives and to determine whether any adjustments should be considered.
Best regards,
Mike Anderson, MCIP, P.Eng.
Greenways & Neighbourhood Transportation | City of VANCOUVER
p. 604 871 6916 | e. mike.anderson@vancouver.ca
________________________________________
From: Csaba Knezy (RI)
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 9:09 AM
To: Anderson, Mike
Subject: RE: Intersection changes at 45th and Elliott and 29th and Ontario
Mike,
I completely agree with cyclists trying to maintain momentum – I am 185lbs and I don’t like to stop if I do not have to. As for round abouts – the CoV needs to work with the BC department of Motor Vehicles and ensure that they test people on how to use round-abouts. Too many people and cyclists do not know how to use them properly. If done properly round abouts actually help maintain flow better than 4 ways. If at all post on the Vancouver City website in the bicycling section how cyclists should behave – as well as working with ICBC and BCDoMV on education of this (especially in Richmond )
As for the 45th ave comment of non-local traffic – I agree whole heartedly on what people are trying to avoid 41st but you forgot to include the 49th ave group who are also trying to get onto Rupert – even though the advance green has been instituted, there still is a few drivers using 45th. I want to bring to your attention though is that as this process is being used to deter non-local traffic from using 45th – local traffic is paying the penalty as well. I think that given the circumstances – trying to turn left onto 41st ave off St Margarets is begging for trouble for many people on the block. Again, I have the capacity to be able to “mash the go pedal” on my car and turn left onto 41st, but the fact remains that I choose not to and generally speaking will use Elliott to turn left onto 41st. I will not use Nanaimo for the same reason and St Margarets, I have no clear views, or opportunities at time where I will have to wait for a pedestrian or cyclist to activate the lights there. In reading your response – I get the impression that there are other possibilities that may be put onto the table but are not begin considered for whatever reason. Are you at liberty to share those at all?
Sincerely,
Csaba Knezy
Supply Chain Manager
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