Comox Valley Cycling Coalition
Monthly Meeting: Thursday April 29th 2010
CV Rec Centre - Vanier Road
Agenda
1. Previous Meeting Minutes
2. Committee Reports
3. Cliffe Ave Discussion and Strategy
4. Potential Future Meeting Locations
5. Non Paying Membership Options
6. Other/New Business
Minutes from the previous meeting are located in the files section.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Call to the Coalition - Council Meeting 12 Apr 4pm
As you may be aware, the City of Courtenay, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure intends to widen Cliffe Ave. between 17th and 21st St. It has come to the attention of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition that this project has moved ahead to the final design and the acquisition of adjacent private property. We are informed that a joint decision has been taken by MOTI and the City (i.e. the City Engineer) NOT to include cycling lanes in this section of reconstruction. Neither the City Council, nor any member of the Comox Valley Cycling Task Force or the Cycling Public Advisory Committee has been consulted before this decision was taken.
This project has moved ahead despite the fact that members of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition as well as the Cycling Public Advisory Committee had repeatedly requested to be involved in the early planning stages of major road improvements; we specifically mentioned Cliffe Ave widening as a project we were interested in.
We are told it is too costly, and anyway, it's only 4 blocks, and the rest of Cliffe Ave does not have any cycling lanes either and that there is the Riverway and Fitzgerald Avenue which are more bike friendly. Etc. etc.
Our concerns:
* Cliffe Ave is a designated bicycle route in the 2007 Comox Valley Cycling Plan. It is the most important north-south artery through the City and it is important that every opportunity be taken to upgrade this corridor to safely accommodate ALL road users, including cyclists.
* Cycling lanes are proposed for Fitzgerald Ave from 26th to 8th St. This is a welcome improvement, but in no way represents a substitution for the Cliffe Ave Corridor. We need to make it absolutely clear that all users, including cyclists need to be safely accommodated on all major access corridors into the city.
* The Task Force process is ineffective, if a member of the engineering staff can make a critical decision in contravention of the Cycling Plan without Council involvement.
We have not been provided with the design plans, but we are aware of some technical details:
* Land purchase/expansion will be taking place on the east side of Cliffe only (the water side). As cyclists we can attest to needing only a minimal amount of space (1 meter). This was deemed too costly during the land purchasing process.
* A meridian between the street and sidewalk is included in the design, this is the continuation of the "Mile of Flowers" along the other side of the sidewalk.
* We think the required space IS available but is inefficiently allocated to the various uses.
As any good bike mechanic will tell you; Buy well, buy once. Buy poorly, buy often.
There is no doubt that Cliffe Ave. will one day safely accommodate cyclists. We are not only the present, but the future of transportation. The question is, will we pressure our local governments to make the right decisions today, or wait until the slow, dragging political process catches up with reality and has to scramble more taxpayers dollars to make up for the mistakes of the past.
There has been a lack of action since the drafting of the 2007 Comox Valley Cycling Plan (or, even further back, the 1995 Cycling Strategy).
If you want to see the changes actually happen, not anticipate their possibility in 15 years… Join us at City Hall Council Chambers, 4pm , Monday April 12th and together we’ll let the City know we’re serious about safe cycling routes and clean transportation. We will be asking the City to scrap the current proposed budget until such time that plans to widen Cliffe include cyclists.
Thank you for your support!
This project has moved ahead despite the fact that members of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition as well as the Cycling Public Advisory Committee had repeatedly requested to be involved in the early planning stages of major road improvements; we specifically mentioned Cliffe Ave widening as a project we were interested in.
We are told it is too costly, and anyway, it's only 4 blocks, and the rest of Cliffe Ave does not have any cycling lanes either and that there is the Riverway and Fitzgerald Avenue which are more bike friendly. Etc. etc.
Our concerns:
* Cliffe Ave is a designated bicycle route in the 2007 Comox Valley Cycling Plan. It is the most important north-south artery through the City and it is important that every opportunity be taken to upgrade this corridor to safely accommodate ALL road users, including cyclists.
* Cycling lanes are proposed for Fitzgerald Ave from 26th to 8th St. This is a welcome improvement, but in no way represents a substitution for the Cliffe Ave Corridor. We need to make it absolutely clear that all users, including cyclists need to be safely accommodated on all major access corridors into the city.
* The Task Force process is ineffective, if a member of the engineering staff can make a critical decision in contravention of the Cycling Plan without Council involvement.
We have not been provided with the design plans, but we are aware of some technical details:
* Land purchase/expansion will be taking place on the east side of Cliffe only (the water side). As cyclists we can attest to needing only a minimal amount of space (1 meter). This was deemed too costly during the land purchasing process.
* A meridian between the street and sidewalk is included in the design, this is the continuation of the "Mile of Flowers" along the other side of the sidewalk.
* We think the required space IS available but is inefficiently allocated to the various uses.
As any good bike mechanic will tell you; Buy well, buy once. Buy poorly, buy often.
There is no doubt that Cliffe Ave. will one day safely accommodate cyclists. We are not only the present, but the future of transportation. The question is, will we pressure our local governments to make the right decisions today, or wait until the slow, dragging political process catches up with reality and has to scramble more taxpayers dollars to make up for the mistakes of the past.
There has been a lack of action since the drafting of the 2007 Comox Valley Cycling Plan (or, even further back, the 1995 Cycling Strategy).
If you want to see the changes actually happen, not anticipate their possibility in 15 years… Join us at City Hall Council Chambers, 4pm , Monday April 12th and together we’ll let the City know we’re serious about safe cycling routes and clean transportation. We will be asking the City to scrap the current proposed budget until such time that plans to widen Cliffe include cyclists.
Thank you for your support!
Friday, March 12, 2010
BC Randonneurs
Ken Bonner with the BC Randonneurs is looking for some help with a 1200k event being held on Vancouver Island.
Ken says that no technical knowledge is required and all volunteers will have t-shirts and medals and be paid for any out of pocket expenses.
Take a look at www.randonneurs.bc.ca/VanIsle1200
Specifically
Campbell River (July 21-24) – Campbell River Lodge – drop-bag control – riders access their bags 3 times – control room with bags, plus room for volunteers to sleep; provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Gold River (July 21-22) – Gold River Chalet – sign riders in-out; control room, plus room for volunteers to sleep + provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Woss (July 21-24) – Rugged Mountain Motel -- – sign riders in-out; control room, plus room for volunteers to sleep; provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Any more info ... contact Ken Bonner at kenbonner@telus.net
Ken says that no technical knowledge is required and all volunteers will have t-shirts and medals and be paid for any out of pocket expenses.
Take a look at www.randonneurs.bc.ca/VanIsle1200
Specifically
Campbell River (July 21-24) – Campbell River Lodge – drop-bag control – riders access their bags 3 times – control room with bags, plus room for volunteers to sleep; provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Gold River (July 21-22) – Gold River Chalet – sign riders in-out; control room, plus room for volunteers to sleep + provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Woss (July 21-24) – Rugged Mountain Motel -- – sign riders in-out; control room, plus room for volunteers to sleep; provide Gatorade powder and water, plus some munchies
Any more info ... contact Ken Bonner at kenbonner@telus.net
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Upcoming Events
Tuesday March 9, 2010 3pm
CV Cycling Task Force Meeting - Regional District Board Room - Comox Road - Courtenay
Come and show that you care about safe cycling and are watching what is being done.
Sunday March 14, 2010 9am - 3pm
Safe Cycling Course
Free for anyone interested in assisting with cycling rodeos in schools
Contact Ed Schum if you are interested in attending.
Monday Mar 15, 2010 - 10:30 AM - Simms Park
HST Rally
The Coalition will ride up 5th street to MLA Don McRae's office to present him with the signatures we have collected for the "NO HST ON BICYCLES" petition. It is a working day for many of us, but we hope that everyone who can take part will participate in this short ride and encourage other cyclists to join us. A good turn out at this rally will show that we are not happy with this tax being added to a clean mode of transportation while motor fuels will be exempt.
CV Cycling Task Force Meeting - Regional District Board Room - Comox Road - Courtenay
Come and show that you care about safe cycling and are watching what is being done.
Sunday March 14, 2010 9am - 3pm
Safe Cycling Course
Free for anyone interested in assisting with cycling rodeos in schools
Contact Ed Schum if you are interested in attending.
Monday Mar 15, 2010 - 10:30 AM - Simms Park
HST Rally
The Coalition will ride up 5th street to MLA Don McRae's office to present him with the signatures we have collected for the "NO HST ON BICYCLES" petition. It is a working day for many of us, but we hope that everyone who can take part will participate in this short ride and encourage other cyclists to join us. A good turn out at this rally will show that we are not happy with this tax being added to a clean mode of transportation while motor fuels will be exempt.
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