Controversial lane closures will return to Vancouver span this summer
Christina Montgomery
Province
Cyclists cross the Burrard Bridge yesterday in Vancouver. Up to two lanes of the bridge may soon be reserved for bicycles in a trial run to promote safety. Photograph by: Jon Murray, The Province
Controversial lane closures that pitted cyclists against motorists — and delayed commutes by about 15 minutes — a decade ago will return to Vancouver‘s Burrard Bridge this summer.
The only question: Will it be one lane or two given over to the $1.5-million test of how to make the aging, six-lane bridge friendlier to growing pedestrian and cyclist traffic without badly jamming the busy commuter route.
A staff report heading for council next week — and what is likely to be a large crowd of speakers — doesn’t make a formal recommendation on any of the three one- or two-lane options it presents.
But it notes that closing just one lane would make life less miserable for motorists.
The trial will run past Labour Day if approved, with an assessment ready by October and a final report on any permanent changes, repairs and upgrades to the bridge ready by early 2010.
Work on Cambie and Granville streets will be largely done in time for the trial.
Much of the vehicle traffic is expected to flow to the Granville Bridge, whose eight lanes now carry 60,000 cars a day. Burrard, with six lanes, carries 70,000.
The trial options include:
– Four lanes for vehicles, a curb lane in each direction for cyclists only and both sidewalks for pedestrians only. Advantage: safer for pedestrians, better and safer biking conditions, best way to test effect on motor traffic and goods movement;
– Five lanes for traffic, west curb lane for southbound cyclists, west sidewalk pedestrian-only, east sidewalk shared by cyclists and pedestrians. Advantage: Less impact on drivers, better and safer cycling, no change in pedestrian access to bridge;
– Five lanes for vehicles, one lane for southbound cyclists, east sidewalk for northbound cyclists only, west sidewalk for pedestrians only. Advantage: Pedestrians get sidewalk they mostly use, cyclists and pedestrians separated for safe passage.
A one-lane closure in 1996 that backed up traffic by about 15 minutes was cancelled after five days when drivers and downtown business groups complained.
But physical conflict between cyclists and pedestrians on the narrow sidewalks continued. One woman, thrown into traffic and injured when she swerved to avoid a pedestrian, later sued the city.
Barriers along the sidewalks were rejected when it was determined the walkways are too narrow for them. New sidewalks hung from the outside of the bridge would cost about $63 million.
Coun. Heather Deal, who is spearheading the ruling Vision Vancouver party’s push for the trial run, told The Province the test is worth running despite controversy about the past effort.
“It’s simply not practical to leave [bridge traffic] the way it is,” she said. “It’s a safety issue.
“We’re going to provide a safer alternative that’s going to save taxpayers some money.”
The report is expected to be held over until Thursday to accommodate speakers.
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