tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37079593930278298112024-03-04T20:33:19.948-08:00604 COMMUTER604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-85136929402971665742011-08-31T11:44:00.000-07:002011-11-20T13:22:40.744-08:00Another empty bike lane - cyclists are no-show on Burrard Bridge<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite all the money poured by Vision Mayor Robertson and all the hype feverishly pitched by Vision Councillor Meggs there are no increases in cycling volumes on high profile bike routes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Review of the City of <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20110728/documents/penv2-DowntownSeparatedBikeLanesStatusReportSummer2011.pdf">Vancouver Downtown Separated Bicycle Lanes Status Report</a> released this July shows that <b style="background-color: yellow;">cycling volumes on most established separated bike routes are flat to declining</b>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I8Z1Mr-LcEo69Y7sDTn-iT6OX1J5mAHQkfDUlAgAPhWPj2y9vo4Yr3SN4djmENuZPOnpXvXppfMaOQF_pWHLl20AQPwbXvqEJ8D0M3XFGVcNyfNAYHBMCOuNjg5ydBHOVWxmp45CnEM/s1600/cycling+volumes+CoV+report+summer+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I8Z1Mr-LcEo69Y7sDTn-iT6OX1J5mAHQkfDUlAgAPhWPj2y9vo4Yr3SN4djmENuZPOnpXvXppfMaOQF_pWHLl20AQPwbXvqEJ8D0M3XFGVcNyfNAYHBMCOuNjg5ydBHOVWxmp45CnEM/s640/cycling+volumes+CoV+report+summer+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">source: City of Vancouver, Downtown Separated Bicycle Lanes Status Report, Summer 2011, Appendix A</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vancouver taxpayers are being fed arrogant hype claiming increases in cycling as a result of separated bike lanes being installed while City's own data shows decreases in cycling on main cycling routes like Burrard Bridge or the <a href="http://604commuter.blogspot.com/2011/07/disappearing-cyclists-city-reports.html">Ontario Bike Route</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-74715948119009474382011-08-29T15:00:00.000-07:002011-11-08T08:57:40.027-08:00Province provides funding for VPD traffic enforcement<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financial mismanagement of Vision City Hall was on full display last week when its police force - the Vancouver Police Department - had to be subsidized by Provincial Government so the VPD can carry out traffic enforcement.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For years Vision City Hall ignored Chief Constable Chu's pleas for sufficient funding of the VPD. In his 2011 budget submission to Vision Mayor Robertson, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Chief Constable Chu spelled out that traffic units will be impacted by insufficient funding</span>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos to the BC Provincial Government for stepping in and providing emergency funding to the VPD. Questions remain if Vision Mayor Robertson is capable of providing adequate policing in Vancouver. Should Vancouver be policed by the RCMP if Vision City Hall is not capable of allocating thousands of dollars to the city's police force and instead wastes millions of taxpayers dollars on unused, dangerous and congestion-causing bike lanes?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sources:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theprovince.com/news/safety+blitz+hits+Vancouver+curb+pedestrian+accidents/5289939/story.html">- Province newspaper reports on Provincial funding for the VPD</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByQMKWR68FmeNTcwZmIwOGMtOWFmZC00ZDVmLWFlYTItZDU0NGM3Y2I0MjNk&hl=en_US">- 2011 VPD budget submission</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByQMKWR68FmeNDc3MDcxYmMtMjA3ZC00NDBjLWI0ZDUtYzMyNzRmZGIxNDRh&hl=en_US">- 2010 VPD budget submission</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByQMKWR68FmeZjA4Njc3MmUtYWM0Ni00M2NjLWE2MDUtN2I5MDljNTE4OGVk&hl=en">- 2009 VPD budget submission</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-75489296079120258682011-07-14T12:50:00.000-07:002011-07-15T11:49:12.710-07:00Tailgating TransLink<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">TransLink executives just released their “Cycling for Everyone” plan. As part of that plan they promote dangerous <b>tailgating as a method to improve space efficiency</b>. The document signed by the TransLink CEO – Ian Jarvis, states that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">cyclists can ride so close to each other that they are separated by only half a second</span>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYOYK5EIs6blxfiepKkp0rAWwWM2nMbAdXpcSDus2rMIn-mRNfM8hqMquL1gZuaEe-OhiZq0q_PGxagqs1PjmmZwNsjQqrLe3PzFmX2bMjR-VVXVae40AAyhO9sfGlmr5UZMuC4o0va0/s1600/space+efficient+tailgating+wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYOYK5EIs6blxfiepKkp0rAWwWM2nMbAdXpcSDus2rMIn-mRNfM8hqMquL1gZuaEe-OhiZq0q_PGxagqs1PjmmZwNsjQqrLe3PzFmX2bMjR-VVXVae40AAyhO9sfGlmr5UZMuC4o0va0/s640/space+efficient+tailgating+wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Any TransLink bus driver knows that following closer that 2 seconds behind is not safe. At least 2 seconds are needed to react to a traffic situation. <b>Fortunately for commuters, executives in charge of TransLink are not driving our buses. Unfortunately for the taxpayers TransLink executives waste our tax dollars promoting unsafe riding practices.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On page 11 of that TransLink piece readers will find a claim that “one travel lane can accommodate 14,000 bicycles per hour.” Since a typical lane in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> is 3.3 meters wide and a two-way bike path is 3 meters wide then a typical lane can accommodate two cyclists travelling safely side-by-side. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That would make 7,000 cyclists in each bike path to make it equivalent to TransLink’s claim of 14,000 cyclists per lane. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dividing 3,600 seconds in each hour by 7,000 you will arrive at cyclists being separated by half a second. Four times more closely than safe. Just imagine the carnage of 14,000 cyclists riding side-by-side separated by less than half a bike wheel length.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In the same paragraph TransLink places cars closer than 2 seconds apart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">TransLink – 14,000 bikes per hour, pg 11<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Regional-Cycling-Strategy.aspx">http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Regional-Cycling-Strategy.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> – lane widths, pg 29<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/mediaroom/news/pdf/HornbySeparatedBikeLanePresentation2010.pdf">http://vancouver.ca/mediaroom/news/pdf/HornbySeparatedBikeLanePresentation2010.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ICBC- tailgating<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://apps.icbc.com/rs-tips/tailgating/tailgating.html"><span lang="FR">http://apps.icbc.com/rs-tips/tailgating/tailgating.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-78360031205107456732011-07-11T12:46:00.000-07:002011-08-07T10:54:04.354-07:00Disappearing Cyclists - City reports fewer cyclists on a popular bike route<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/cycling/bikeways/routes/ontario.htm"><span id="goog_694685846"></span>Ontario Bike Route<span id="goog_694685847"></span></a></span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> is a popular bike route in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> running north/south through the heart of the City. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Comparing spring and summer months of 2009 and 2010 shows a<b> 15% decline <span style="font-weight: bold;">in cycling</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> along that cycling route. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF8sPuNzahUIWPNDvM6zXoOPZ6s94oTGieNrIRZgcIYGnX2sk6IioLG4I8E7u4Az7z79XLfgX3ox_IKHYPJ2F-uwNsci8B4-70s2-jzGk12O5ztlb_nQIQlrnH2H4kOvxRgHXQhkxxns/s1600/disappearing+cyclists+2009+to+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF8sPuNzahUIWPNDvM6zXoOPZ6s94oTGieNrIRZgcIYGnX2sk6IioLG4I8E7u4Az7z79XLfgX3ox_IKHYPJ2F-uwNsci8B4-70s2-jzGk12O5ztlb_nQIQlrnH2H4kOvxRgHXQhkxxns/s640/disappearing+cyclists+2009+to+2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">In 5 out of six months there was a reduction in cycling. Spring months show double-digit drops in cycling exceeding 30% in April of 2010 when compared to 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-35298360989843250492011-07-08T10:41:00.000-07:002011-07-08T12:20:41.365-07:00ICBC reports more injuries after bike lanes were installed.<div class="MsoNormal">Local media brings to light an <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByQMKWR68FmeZWQxNzIxOWItNDE5Ni00ZTg2LWFhODQtZjE3NjVlNWMzOWY4&sort=name&layout=list&num=50">ICBC report</a> showing that <b><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city> commuters</b> – travelling by bus, in a taxi, carrying deliveries or in private cars - <b>are getting injured more frequently after segregated bike lanes were introduced</b>. Over the four year period before bike lanes were installed, there were nearly 150 accidents a year resulting in about 50 casualties a year. Since the bike lanes were installed, more than 60 commuters are injured every year. This represents a <b>31% and a 20% increase in accident casualties in 2009 and 2010 respectively</b>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBkYprFXOyqkgmpFT6vMsCvf-T3h88P7XlIdKjLe0j4nx5yTZMsDae53KZErBlcyJ5PX5mS6KxOfRbHu3GFXA_dX1oJUj7zPywr1GX2nhxv8Sd7tFl4hXc6DLzn4LCVNMY_k1jE4Ob4M/s1600/more+casualties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBkYprFXOyqkgmpFT6vMsCvf-T3h88P7XlIdKjLe0j4nx5yTZMsDae53KZErBlcyJ5PX5mS6KxOfRbHu3GFXA_dX1oJUj7zPywr1GX2nhxv8Sd7tFl4hXc6DLzn4LCVNMY_k1jE4Ob4M/s640/more+casualties.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Getting used to the new layout is not the answer. A full year after segregated bike lanes were installed, in the second half of 2010, there were still 25% more accidents than in the years leading up to the installation of segregated bike lanes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The reason is simple: Introducing segregated bike lanes makes intersections more confusing. And confusion leads to accidents. <a href="http://604commuter.blogspot.com/2011/06/no-safety-behind-wall-separated-bike.html">Traffic studies throughout the world show that</a>. But City Hall chooses to ignore those facts.</div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-64557040283423828702011-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:002011-11-20T13:24:09.182-08:00Free education – Ask and you will be answered<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vision Councilors Heather Deal and Andrea Reimer are <a href="http://www.vancourier.com/news/City+conduct+injury+study+Burrard+Bridge/2896883/story.html">reported </a>to oppose investigating injuries on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Burrard</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype></st1:place>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coun. Deal and Reimer are using the “enormous” cost of such a study as an excuse for ignoring the safety of commuters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, all it takes to find out about <a href="http://604commuter.blogspot.com/2011/07/icbc-reports-more-injuries-after-bike.html">injuries to <st1:city w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:city> commuters on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Burrard</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype></st1:place></a> is to ask ICBC - <b style="background-color: yellow;">ICBC provides the data free of charge</b>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8dNMcYFygK4t2-_engS_FtP19KQpYeSPOdVvy36LOA4PxtOhRnE3LOnNVSYWwd_kB7KCQJt0r6avqVWCTecJuflBzLmD9VZwaGrALmRe41L2w803eLLNeiLbQ_IqOT3WfYzzi27vFAA/s1600/no+injury+study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8dNMcYFygK4t2-_engS_FtP19KQpYeSPOdVvy36LOA4PxtOhRnE3LOnNVSYWwd_kB7KCQJt0r6avqVWCTecJuflBzLmD9VZwaGrALmRe41L2w803eLLNeiLbQ_IqOT3WfYzzi27vFAA/s320/no+injury+study.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately for the 95% of commuters that travel by bus, car and taxi, deliveries and services , <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><b>ICBC report shows 31% increase in injuries in 2009 and 20% increase in 2010</b></span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Coun. Deal and Reimer had no problem wasting millions of dollars</span> taken away from our libraries, parks and emergency services on unused, dangerous and wasteful separated bike lanes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This underlines the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">incompetence of Vision Councillor Heather Deal and Andrea Reimer</span> who would spend enormous amounts of your tax dollars rather then ask a simple question.</span></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-6222878607804359162011-06-30T11:36:00.000-07:002011-07-31T14:05:30.311-07:00No safety behind the wall - separated bike lanes are more dangerous<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Research carried out over the years and throughout the world comes back with a simple observation – separated bike lanes are not safer, especially at intersections.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact<b>, <a href="http://www.bikexprt.com/research/pasanen/helsinki.htm">City of Helsinki</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> advises that "two-way </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>cycle paths</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> [separated bike lanes] in particular </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>should be avoided in an urban street network</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Locally, Vision Mayor Robertson flanked by his sidekick Vision Councillor Meggs can be heard ad nauseam pushing their opinions that placing cyclists behind fixed, solid barriers is safer. They invite cycling lobbyists to their Council Meetings who speak of their SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTIONS of feeling safer when cycling on a separated bike lane.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feelings and wishful thinking aside, the <b>OBJECTIVE FACTS are clear – separated bike lanes do not make anyone safer</b>. Not cyclists, not pedestrians, not motorized commuters or business traffic.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reasons are quite intuitive. On a straight stretch of a road, where all commuters can see each other clearly there is little chance of running into each other and little to no benefit from separating bikes from other road users. At the intersections however, a separated bike lane, with its separate set of rules, signs and lights makes an intersection more confusing and confusion is the leading cause of accidents. As commuters we do not run into each other on purpose.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quotes from research carried out world wide and including organizations that actively promote cycling, like the <b>City of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city></b>, reports that “A <b>decline in road safety at junctions has undoubtedly taken place after the construction of cycle tracks</b> [separated bike lanes]”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.trafitec.dk/pub/Road%20safety%20and%20percieved%20risk%20of%20cycle%20tracks%20and%20lanes%20in%20Copenhagen.pdf">City of <st1:city w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:city>, Road and </a><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><a href="http://www.trafitec.dk/pub/Road%20safety%20and%20percieved%20risk%20of%20cycle%20tracks%20and%20lanes%20in%20Copenhagen.pdf">Park Department</a></st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Locally, the <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101294550543385659079/604COMMUTER?authkey=Gv1sRgCNH9gZzz8OayYA#slideshow/5623913318450285282">ICBC reports</a> an increase in accidents and injuries at the north end of the <st1:place w:st="on"><a href="http://604commuter.blogspot.com/2011/06/burrard-and-pacific-intersection.html">Burrard Bridge</a></st1:place> after separated bicycle lanes were installed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further research concluded:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Proportion of junction accidents significantly higher with cycle tracks [separated bike lanes]”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- German Federal Highways Institute Report</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Separation of bicycles and motor vehicles leads to blind conflicts at intersections.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <st1:placetype w:st="on">Institute</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Transportation</st1:placename> Engineers (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">DC</st1:state></st1:place>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Cycle tracks [separated bike lanes] cause major safety problems at signalised junctions.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Danish Road Directorate</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“... cycle tracks [separated bike lanes] increase cyclists' risk at junctions.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Transportation Research Board, study based in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Göteborg</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Helsinki</st1:place></st1:city>, using a road-side cycle path [separated bike lane] is nearly 2.5 times likely to result in injury than cycling on the carriageway with traffic. At junctions the relative risk rises to more than 3 times. In those countries and cities which are just beginning to build cycling facilities, two-way <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cycle paths</b> [separated bike lanes] in particular <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">should be avoided in an urban street network</b>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.bikexprt.com/research/pasanen/helsinki.htm"><st1:placename w:st="on">Helsinki</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> Planning Department</a>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Finland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “42% of the collisions were localized at normal roadways, 44% at bicycle tracks [separated bike lane] and 9% at paths or at the pavement” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Odense</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Univ.</st1:placetype> Hospital</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Separated bicycle facilities are particularly troublesome in intersections involving automobile traffic and do not necessarily appear to be safer.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/70D43560D1141DDFCA2575E8000BA1EE/$FILE/WalkingCyclingLiteratureReview.pdf">Department of Transport, Walking and Cycling Branch, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-58462718953473873702011-06-30T00:06:00.000-07:002011-11-07T09:17:06.178-08:00Vision Councillors do not show up for work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBYfvg-ADruxYFPjlkehkJ1QUKpScKk572yURRcf461b-UERP0B9Qg-bdV_JX2b64JpeldGe-yNSMy5Tl2CdjTQviad3dV7qg0T49dfK2Hc9ozjnDrttmB-0bS_mjCw5fbxYQStyHJJ0/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBYfvg-ADruxYFPjlkehkJ1QUKpScKk572yURRcf461b-UERP0B9Qg-bdV_JX2b64JpeldGe-yNSMy5Tl2CdjTQviad3dV7qg0T49dfK2Hc9ozjnDrttmB-0bS_mjCw5fbxYQStyHJJ0/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/standingcommittees.htm">source: City of Vancouver</a></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYUB7CSsKhMpBi_E24tsqVqp9ZNEN0xGVk9iaJhzIG5tedr-iUFr8W2KganvZgVDJCzcp-QC8aNhVvUnspVgmE7uRvEdysLtefkH-oMGirG5bcRtfbGdyt3b1X-WaxdYln7xYBgOb_w/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYUB7CSsKhMpBi_E24tsqVqp9ZNEN0xGVk9iaJhzIG5tedr-iUFr8W2KganvZgVDJCzcp-QC8aNhVvUnspVgmE7uRvEdysLtefkH-oMGirG5bcRtfbGdyt3b1X-WaxdYln7xYBgOb_w/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYUB7CSsKhMpBi_E24tsqVqp9ZNEN0xGVk9iaJhzIG5tedr-iUFr8W2KganvZgVDJCzcp-QC8aNhVvUnspVgmE7uRvEdysLtefkH-oMGirG5bcRtfbGdyt3b1X-WaxdYln7xYBgOb_w/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfYUB7CSsKhMpBi_E24tsqVqp9ZNEN0xGVk9iaJhzIG5tedr-iUFr8W2KganvZgVDJCzcp-QC8aNhVvUnspVgmE7uRvEdysLtefkH-oMGirG5bcRtfbGdyt3b1X-WaxdYln7xYBgOb_w/s640/Slide2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div><u><a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/councilmeetings/meeting_schedule.cfm?selOption=AllMeetings&selYear=2010&selMonth=01">source: City of Vancouver</a></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y7OVHGUT6MYnAgdGGTQTXfCI6YiZTN1Y83n882PcxiRVq8Mu6TaN5r52Kf8Ip5eMkW_PpZ0ekGRyMNQs8Zk741tL-Y7mzw-eNeEsigtSq4YOloS-6VJ0WlKTE__RF0gXOvKY5HOyxOA/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y7OVHGUT6MYnAgdGGTQTXfCI6YiZTN1Y83n882PcxiRVq8Mu6TaN5r52Kf8Ip5eMkW_PpZ0ekGRyMNQs8Zk741tL-Y7mzw-eNeEsigtSq4YOloS-6VJ0WlKTE__RF0gXOvKY5HOyxOA/s640/Slide3.JPG" width="640" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkmF8B2651s&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_blank">Source: Global TV</a></div></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-54898650437839353882011-06-29T18:15:00.000-07:002011-06-30T00:36:43.364-07:00Burrard and Pacific intersection remains dangerous throughout 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAfSTeymwoUIOwmRMKRHMS99ZpYaq1KgXoBnUERwaAjDOopSMMq_ycUlckG4Ntr0FOy2i8ML6ytLsrkM1O2VKfWvJw3-ySJMU2X7IwYzzm6bMj5mENfjodfQraGR8zl9vTTbAQrpTHi0/s1600/accidents+increase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAfSTeymwoUIOwmRMKRHMS99ZpYaq1KgXoBnUERwaAjDOopSMMq_ycUlckG4Ntr0FOy2i8ML6ytLsrkM1O2VKfWvJw3-ySJMU2X7IwYzzm6bMj5mENfjodfQraGR8zl9vTTbAQrpTHi0/s640/accidents+increase.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p:colorscheme colors="#ffffff,#000000,#808080,#000000,#bbe0e3,#333399,#009999,#99cc00"></p:colorscheme><div class="O" v:shape="_x0000_s1026"><div style="mso-char-wrap: 1; mso-kinsoku-overflow: 1; mso-line-spacing: "100 50 0";">when compared to a long-term average from 2005 to 2009 </div><div style="mso-char-wrap: 1; mso-kinsoku-overflow: 1; mso-line-spacing: "100 50 0";">source: <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101294550543385659079/604COMMUTER?authkey=Gv1sRgCNH9gZzz8OayYA#slideshow/5623913318450285282">ICBC data </a></div><div style="mso-char-wrap: 1; mso-kinsoku-overflow: 1; mso-line-spacing: "100 50 0";"></div></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-71658477216104489132011-06-29T17:07:00.000-07:002011-06-30T12:05:25.070-07:00Hornby street bike lanes not popular with local residents<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Local papers contradict Vision propaganda that separated bike lanes are accepted in Vancouver.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.vancourier.com/health/Cyclists+their+bicycles+made+news+2010/4062487/story.html">Vancouver Courier writes</a> that <b>more than five in ten Vancouverites want bike lanes out of Hornby Street</b> and only one in four supports the trial.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJyj1nfDIMWVJ9tcsoRwGWcl1gWWTvdJF0lJvWWDj9LOSPVsFxhK520_hs2CPtEAsA3dfdlHq8gdbdmg_Zq6YZO9lrPqwfaijSYCilZb4TqpT8MKE0Y2ATkZ0DY8QY9cep3Nyz8kujb8/s1600/twice+as+many+oppose+Hornby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJyj1nfDIMWVJ9tcsoRwGWcl1gWWTvdJF0lJvWWDj9LOSPVsFxhK520_hs2CPtEAsA3dfdlHq8gdbdmg_Zq6YZO9lrPqwfaijSYCilZb4TqpT8MKE0Y2ATkZ0DY8QY9cep3Nyz8kujb8/s400/twice+as+many+oppose+Hornby.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is not surprising considering an <a href="http://www.globallethbridge.com/entertainment/crashes+Burrard+Bridge/3650169/story.html">increase in accidents on Burrard and Pacific</a> after bicycle lanes were installed there.</span>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-36454397821342023052011-06-24T12:31:00.000-07:002011-06-29T16:21:09.378-07:00Vision Councillor Meggs and City’s Traffic Engineer contradict each other in the media.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4hSuR1IV6ZFtGxpScOMs7kU6NROCX5vHtGhwchtgTUY_arSlYZcTLGxiMNE3Usedn_Mmmr0T1KFUXrWbWcAKCiohugIJ3LBBhhweln-nEr4aWm8v0bVUIKbI-7uNQ9OLWQfIAcJIfgo/s1600/contradiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4hSuR1IV6ZFtGxpScOMs7kU6NROCX5vHtGhwchtgTUY_arSlYZcTLGxiMNE3Usedn_Mmmr0T1KFUXrWbWcAKCiohugIJ3LBBhhweln-nEr4aWm8v0bVUIKbI-7uNQ9OLWQfIAcJIfgo/s400/contradiction.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
Local media reported a <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByQMKWR68FmeMzllYTdmNGUtMzJjZS00N2JlLTkzNDQtMDM1ZjUyODIzZmI4&hl=en_GB">dramatic increase in vehicle accidents on the north end of the Burrard Bridge</a> after separated bike lanes were installed.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Vision Councillor Meggs acts surprised in his interview with The Province and says: <b><a href="http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/crashes+Burrard+Bridge/3650169/story.html">“We are certainly going to analyze it,”</a></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. Dobrovolny contradicts Vision Coun. Meggs when he says during his interview with the Vancouver Courier that: <b><a href="http://www.vancourier.com/Burrard+Bridge+bike+lane+causes+rash+rear+enders/3742181/story.html">“we look at the data regularly, we look at it month by month”</a></b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
One of those statements must be incorrect.</div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-7135702168064986252011-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:002011-11-20T13:25:14.684-08:00Busted: Four Vision Councillors Ignore Traffic Laws<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Each day commuters can observe a full complement of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/vancouvercommuter?feature=mhsn#p/u/9/rxE9VUzy-rI">common traffic violations by cyclists</a>. What you may not know is that the local media has reported that at least <b>four Vision Councillors</b> are among the cyclists that have <b>ignored or willfully disregarded these traffic regulations</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The offenders start right at the top with <b><a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/mayorrobertson.htm">Vision Mayor Robertson</a></b>. The mayor is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDYWXX9p__8">reported </a>to have <b><a href="http://www.globaltvbc.com/entertainment/Vancouver+mayor+close+encounter+with/3327820/story.html">ignored a red light</a></b> and was lucky to escape an injury thanks to an experienced transit driver. While Mayor Robertson was reported to be “reluctant to admit wrongdoing”. The Province reported that the <b>Mayor receive “a full 10 on a one-to-10 scale of dumb things cyclists do”</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EabnoRgIbs4woUFjHerNXA0oGGekDzYYHlomIlpvObs1aef18UC8z_JDE8bTCQQhkC9UZffdQDIiGrsCqkrn9gA1pbol9G04dSVfE1k1QANM2oVt3iDmQ0bZrDAR3ZQlduic0QOjIKQ/s1600/red+light+Robertson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EabnoRgIbs4woUFjHerNXA0oGGekDzYYHlomIlpvObs1aef18UC8z_JDE8bTCQQhkC9UZffdQDIiGrsCqkrn9gA1pbol9G04dSVfE1k1QANM2oVt3iDmQ0bZrDAR3ZQlduic0QOjIKQ/s320/red+light+Robertson.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b><a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/councillor/meggs.htm">Vision Councillor Meggs</a></b> was less fortunate when he <b>caused an accident after <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgQQjJ-USy8">failing to stop at a stop sign</a></b>. He sustained back injuries but it could have been worse had he not been wearing a helmet. Multiple papers <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/news/Vancouver+councillor+Meggs+recovering+after+bike+crash/2668011/story.html">reported </a>on this incident but only one, <a href="http://www.vancourier.com/health/Cyclists+their+bicycles+made+news+2010/4062487/story.html">Vancouver Courier</a>, mentioned that the accident was a direct result of Coun. Meggs failure to stop at the stop sign.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy26CVwUy0RMQt9t0pJmjFnG1PwqqqQmDgJI-prX6CDhUZVGOugSAaBVSnKaD-ONibOG3znxtwsNdS408M7DmGU9k-6vjjPY6CAlNqtBqzG3TDEja6x3uCW-OS7WO6TepTzvLEos51WWk/s1600/meggs+crash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy26CVwUy0RMQt9t0pJmjFnG1PwqqqQmDgJI-prX6CDhUZVGOugSAaBVSnKaD-ONibOG3znxtwsNdS408M7DmGU9k-6vjjPY6CAlNqtBqzG3TDEja6x3uCW-OS7WO6TepTzvLEos51WWk/s320/meggs+crash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Two other <b>Vision Councillors <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/councillor/jang.htm">Jang </a>and <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/councillor/stevenson.htm">Stevenson </a>were caught riding side-by-side</b>. While the <a href="http://www.beyondrobson.com/city/2010/04/bike_school_with_two_vancouver_city_councillors/">piece </a>implied that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">traffic-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">obstructing,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI8lY8SIgbY">side-by-side cycling is a “common practice among many cyclists”</a>, riding side-by-side is illegal. Worse, the article reported that the <b>Councillors continued to ride side-by-side despite being told by a riding instructor that practice was against the law</b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEdbaSxm0LBk-LhM_4-cH1Pl1y7AGxETJt3ueteCSYflf0X9fPd-Z8LIJe8d8fr8PzxevymiGpqTYfqXmiz0DTK1YxWQlH9gV5D-h2hhjisQfiY7eeeBsc9mVpG3DIglIn_NGX-SwsWE/s1600/jang+stevenson+side+by+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEdbaSxm0LBk-LhM_4-cH1Pl1y7AGxETJt3ueteCSYflf0X9fPd-Z8LIJe8d8fr8PzxevymiGpqTYfqXmiz0DTK1YxWQlH9gV5D-h2hhjisQfiY7eeeBsc9mVpG3DIglIn_NGX-SwsWE/s320/jang+stevenson+side+by+side.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Cyclists ignoring <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmwnp1P5fyQ">red lights</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdmIVzJt98">stop signs</a>, obstructing traffic by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KogYY1w8Nig">riding side-by-side</a>, riding <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=563mEmupz2k">against the traffic</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWsiLG6E1Q8">illegally passing on the right</a> are typical traffic violations that commuters have to put up with from cyclists each and every day. What commuters shouldn't have to put with is the poor examples set by <b>high-profile Vision politicians that demonstrate their disrespect for other citizens and local laws</b>.</span></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-60284289845795726332011-06-14T15:21:00.001-07:002011-07-25T15:23:42.097-07:00Manufacturing Congestion - removing road and sidewalk spaceIncompetence of the Vancouver City Hall is on display at the Eastbound exit to the Pacific St. on the North end of the Burrard Bridge. There you will find a <b>lane of traffic and a sidewalk taken away</b> between the exit ramp and the Hornby St. to accommodate a bike lane.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
As a result this intersection is more congested, idling cars pollute and this location is more dangerous to merging traffic. Vancouver's popular restaurant - "Kettle of Fish" <b><a href="http://www.straight.com/article-353357/vancouver/kettle-fish-closes-after-serving-vancouver-diners-31-years">closed its doors</a> after bike lane was installed</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>Remove incompetence from the City Hall on <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/elections/index.htm">November 19th</a></b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tlEN3q5p3vH9l6jQxM7-Ly9-tmOJwo-Y8haWdOWTvvMBxN_1syEQQWqDlm96isGNwZCidEG-6Kn8m3drqOWdwoWinUMHvrrioFoGW2e8RU7BfkOJ9h_-a1EXKVP33SCAZ81pkEpLV3k/s1600/BurrardPacificEast+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tlEN3q5p3vH9l6jQxM7-Ly9-tmOJwo-Y8haWdOWTvvMBxN_1syEQQWqDlm96isGNwZCidEG-6Kn8m3drqOWdwoWinUMHvrrioFoGW2e8RU7BfkOJ9h_-a1EXKVP33SCAZ81pkEpLV3k/s320/BurrardPacificEast+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>traffic cameras show eastbound traffic <b>reduced to a single lane</b> after placing concrete barriers on the roadway (note that the <b>sidewalk is closed to pedestrians</b> as well and could be used for a bike lane)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfjkwfwD7J_PtYEDb1A-3MRSEM5BsXNL1HxtUcsgF2WtntApBUR-NRWcP7RSRR0M1tnAAKE2nrNs6wxxKFnIl8jWBjIOSF5O0uDk-w1xrVHVZQWo7GP-kmlUkhKTxfYkC380lhwdwcm4/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfjkwfwD7J_PtYEDb1A-3MRSEM5BsXNL1HxtUcsgF2WtntApBUR-NRWcP7RSRR0M1tnAAKE2nrNs6wxxKFnIl8jWBjIOSF5O0uDk-w1xrVHVZQWo7GP-kmlUkhKTxfYkC380lhwdwcm4/s320/IMG_2196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><b>NO PEDESTRIANS ALLOWED</b> on the sidewalk, roadway taken away, business driven away - result of <b>incompetence at the Vancouver City Hall</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQioFEOJ3_p48VmBoZotESr3kBO_Mofrdb-tYh0bFHPVHj1v38L4t-8Arh18cJHd-VIbQ6C7ziXXJpFH2uuj3HeU1m7cf-tkGPmdfVQUUaOL7ZenNYBgdWnyWbWQI2qRVXN-SZ9oSasZk/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQioFEOJ3_p48VmBoZotESr3kBO_Mofrdb-tYh0bFHPVHj1v38L4t-8Arh18cJHd-VIbQ6C7ziXXJpFH2uuj3HeU1m7cf-tkGPmdfVQUUaOL7ZenNYBgdWnyWbWQI2qRVXN-SZ9oSasZk/s320/IMG_2205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b>wasted road space</b> - courtesy of <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/mayorrobertson.htm">Mayor Robertson's</a> City Hall<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZpahFgGyVXBaMTFyCS4K9Ru9x1E5vzBzfHQbUjVOUvv_nqWCZUMXt9otHN8U2YaqAf_BTdqRbFQMbYAaHxBdV3YRvT6WTS3Gc9gg8aH_z4yjCXWC76jkBs0Xjs4muluCZALmbnZIUM/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZpahFgGyVXBaMTFyCS4K9Ru9x1E5vzBzfHQbUjVOUvv_nqWCZUMXt9otHN8U2YaqAf_BTdqRbFQMbYAaHxBdV3YRvT6WTS3Gc9gg8aH_z4yjCXWC76jkBs0Xjs4muluCZALmbnZIUM/s320/IMG_2208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>2/3rds of road and sidewalk space allocated to 5% of commuters - cyclists<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZgeuJVha5dv0pNDwtzOWiKJkEpPOdOe3RrhQE5sy_EooOe2TMaHtTzia44pkP6YJc9YWdiwEwm7x-M383dqDsD4lNrVyP2xBsRHZPJyLvrZjOfZF7_7exWl6q7aDYfAindULDBtMAI/s1600/pacific+Wbound+at+burrard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZgeuJVha5dv0pNDwtzOWiKJkEpPOdOe3RrhQE5sy_EooOe2TMaHtTzia44pkP6YJc9YWdiwEwm7x-M383dqDsD4lNrVyP2xBsRHZPJyLvrZjOfZF7_7exWl6q7aDYfAindULDBtMAI/s320/pacific+Wbound+at+burrard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>the same exit ramp <b>before bike lanes</b> were installed - notice <b>two lanes merging with Pacific St</b> Eastbound and <b>two left turn lanes from Pacific St onto the Burrard Bridge extending all the way to Hornby St</b> and further east.<br />
<br />
You may send this <a href="mailto:mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca">letter to the City Hall</a>:<br />
Please remove the concrete barrier from the roadway at the Eastbound exit from the Burrard Street Bridge onto the Pacific Street and place it on the sidewalk that is closed to pedestrians.<br />
This will reduce traffic congestion while preserving bike lane.604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-464367447905814682011-06-14T13:59:00.000-07:002011-06-17T07:44:29.572-07:00Best Bus<a href="http://www.translink.ca/en/Be-Part-of-the-Plan/Public-Consultation/UBC-Line-Rapid-Transit-Study/What-We-Heard/UBC-Line-Rapid-Transit-Study-Phase-1/Alternatives/Alternative-6-Best-Bus.aspx">Translink </a>puts forward a plan that is sensitive to taxpayers' concerns that expensive, new train infrastructure may not be the best at serving our transportation needs and it is worth to examine how our <b>existing bus lines can be utilized more efficiently</b>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPAnUxbmNKEa4MfcL-TseqDEaQv7Kbv57NFQNpapHY5gdqjmmjxNsuChcdYrGWELGivyycQqHwyR2s9h8M64xDvzoBEuWlvJBxLCBAH5k9Imkq6i13n7-Zt1OEsuiBmlk_rUTKYYp8Y/s1600/incompatible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPPAnUxbmNKEa4MfcL-TseqDEaQv7Kbv57NFQNpapHY5gdqjmmjxNsuChcdYrGWELGivyycQqHwyR2s9h8M64xDvzoBEuWlvJBxLCBAH5k9Imkq6i13n7-Zt1OEsuiBmlk_rUTKYYp8Y/s320/incompatible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Among the obvious solutions to help transit buses negotiate city traffic is to<b> ban bicycles from bus routes</b>.<br />
At the same time the City should <b>expand the network of bicycle routes on residential streets</b>.<br />
<br />
Currently a single cyclist moving slower than 15 km/h is slowing down more than 50 commuters on a bus capable of traveling three times faster.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-13496754343472094262011-06-08T08:37:00.000-07:002011-06-29T16:39:14.184-07:00Electric Shock - electric bikes as expensive to “fill up” as a compact car<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:city></st1:place> <b>commuters are stuck in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/vancouvercommuter?feature=mhsn#p/u/12/-9CX7Pm8d1g">traffic jams</a> created by the cycling visionaries at City Hall</b> who have carved up major streets to install virtually <b>empty bicycle lanes</b>, they might be tempted to get on a bike and head downtown. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, <b>downtown is out of cycling range for an average <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:city></st1:place> commuter</b>. BC Cycling Coalition reports (on page 15) that an <b><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByQMKWR68FmeMGNiNDBmODEtYzEzNS00MjI5LWE4Y2QtYjYxNWU0MmMwYjJj&hl=en_US">average cycling trip is 3.2 km</a></b>, the distance from <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Robson Square</st1:address></st1:street> to the <st1:placename w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City Hall</st1:placetype>, while the majority of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:city></st1:place> commuters live further away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If good old fashioned pedal power is too onerous, a plausible alternative might seem to be the electric bike. Lured by the promise of zero emissions and no operating costs, a commuter may be tempted to hand over more than two thousand dollars for the chance to laugh at the suckers in their Honda Civics that pay 7 cents a kilometer in fuel costs (according to Yahoo Autos).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, in reading the fine print one may suffer an electric shock. Electric bike batteries last less than 15,000 km and cost a thousand dollars to replace. Simple math tells one that a<b> dollar for every 15 kilometers travelled on your electric bike, or 6.7 cents per kilometer, is virtually the same amount as the fuel cost to commuters in their Honda Civics</b>. Even ignoring the fact that Civic commuters can accomodate 5 passengers, easily reach destinations more than 20 kilometers away and refuel their vehicles in minutes rather than the 4 hours every day needed to recharge an electric bike, it is obvious that there is no such thing as a free ride.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike <a href="http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/mayorrobertson.htm">Mayor Robertson</a> and the bobbing heads in his chamber that are blowing millions on bike lanes by removing funding from libraries, parks and essential services, a sensible person examines the costs involved.</span></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-75739569607504375212011-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:002011-06-08T09:02:52.792-07:00Tokyo commuters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/_ajEe4Ky-iM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ajEe4Ky-iM&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ajEe4Ky-iM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707959393027829811.post-91129259221719430022010-10-29T18:04:00.000-07:002011-06-29T18:11:21.714-07:00CAUTION - Burrard and Pacific intersection is more dangerous<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As Vancouverites woke up to the cheerful rumble of planters being placed on Hornby street to fulfill the dream of a segregated bike lane in the name of safety, <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BySsJ_gid4SFMzA2ZWVmOTItMjFmZS00MmY4LTljZDQtY2I5NzQ5NDA2N2Q2&hl=en">ICBC data </a>shows a chilling reality - that the <b>number of accidents on the north end of the Burrard Street Bridge actually skyrocketed </b>after the separated bike lane was installed on the bridge.<o:p></o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last summer, right <b>after the lanes were installed</b>, was horrific. There was <b>one <span style="background-color: white; color: black;">accident</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>per day</b>, compared to one a week in the summer of 2008. The rest of the year continued to be bleak. Ahead of the holiday season, there were 33 per cent more accidents as families went shopping, attended holiday events and had to navigate their way through crowded bus and car lanes as the separated bike lanes stood largely empty. The second half of last year saw 130 accidents -- nearly twice the rate as in previous years. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the first half of this year we still had a <b>38-per-cent increase in accidents </b>compared to the previous year, with the winter months being the worst.<b> Bus, car commuters and commercial-vehicle drivers, </b>who <b>are 95 per cent of the <span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Burrard</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Bridge users</b>, face more accidents on its north end while the number of cyclists crossing the bridge remains at five per cent. The dream of safety for a few has turned into a nightmare for many. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/crashes+Burrard+Bridge/3650169/story.html"> http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/crashes+Burrard+Bridge/3650169/story.html</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVGmQnJfzYiDoyyqowEP9AhiSDldev1FqnIDI6j0F-tlU4cTcuBMl9D63R4qgkcEAEtaS8gGdxImgHmROfa-wfPtss8nqGDDvRWzg8D0BSBjw_GrfROEYYefsB75oyuT2wzzPVW0ACKg/s1600/B+brg+crashes+Province.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVGmQnJfzYiDoyyqowEP9AhiSDldev1FqnIDI6j0F-tlU4cTcuBMl9D63R4qgkcEAEtaS8gGdxImgHmROfa-wfPtss8nqGDDvRWzg8D0BSBjw_GrfROEYYefsB75oyuT2wzzPVW0ACKg/s320/B+brg+crashes+Province.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div></div>604http://www.blogger.com/profile/00150311461151213387noreply@blogger.com