Message from the Board Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i Advocacy Update

Corey Burger, Board Member

Advocacy at Capital Bike never rests and progress in our region remains quick thanks to our collective efforts.

2021 was another year of big gains and 2022 is shaping up to continue that trend. Regionally, we have both a win and a loss on the speed limit front – while most of the region joined in proposing a 30 km/h pilot project, the effort was stalled when the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MoTI) declined to open the pilot program. Their reason was that municipalities do not need MoTI approval to set blanket speed limits without adding extensive speed limit signs, an interpretation of the Motor Vehicle Act that multiple municipalities have rejected. We will keep pushing on this file, as we know safe speeds are a key part of safe streets. In addition, last year the CRD supported a project to separate and light up the busiest sections of the Lochside and Galloping Goose trails from the Selkirk Trestle to McKenzie Avenue. They also agreed to craft a policy for when to separate and light trails in the future, plus a policy to deal with construction closures. Both projects should see their next steps in 2022.

In Victoria, construction is nearly finished on several major projects: Richardson Street, Haultain Street, and Government Street north, and we are expecting construction to be tendered for Kimta Road along the E&N soon. Last year also saw the approval of the James Bay routes, which we expect to go out for construction this year. North of the border in Saanich, the work on Shelbourne Street finally continues, with Phase 1 nearly done construction and the protected bike lanes in Phase 2, from the Victoria border at North Dairy Road to Pear Street, out for tender right now.

Further west, Saanich, Victoria, and Esquimalt all should be working on improvements to Tillicum Road from Craigflower Road to Tillicum Mall and Gorge Road from Admirals Road to Government Street by the end of the year. Esquimalt’s work comes hard on the heels of the approval of their new Active Transportation Network Plan, which our Esquimalt Local Committee worked hard on the last few years.

Out on the peninsula, both Central and North Saanich completed Active Transportation Plans, a first for both. While it is great to see them working on new plans, sadly neither municipality is building All Ages and Abilities bikeways; at best there will be new trails but just having new plans is a big win. This year, Sidney will be working on their new Active Transportation Plan, as well as a possible bike lane on Resthaven Drive.

Lastly, out on the West Shore we have a mixed bag of work. Colwood is moving the fastest with a new Active Transportation Network Plan which means they are likely to start building protected bike lanes as default, and in April they had a huge win of a grant to build a bridge on the Galloping Goose over the Island Highway at Colwood Corners. Less progress was made elsewhere, with a few smaller bike lanes built but little progress towards AAA.

As always, we need people to help us. Our Esquimalt Local Committee is well established and our Saanich and Regional Trails committees will get moving this year too. Contact us if you would like to help out.

Photos: Ongoing cycing infrastructure projects. By Michele Sealey and City of Victoria.