Abbotsford News: Easing into bike lanes

The second of three bicycle lane projects planned for Abbotsford is expected to be complete by September. Surveyors from the city started chalking out bike lanes on Old Clayburn Road earlier this week. Contractors will soon start painting the lanes, said Elvis Riou, manager of the city’s engineering services, adding he is not too worried about the lane work coinciding with the start of the school year.

“We’re not too worried about school. We’ll have to work around that, but we’re confident it shouldn’t cause much disruption,” he said.

The project, which will provide bike links to Straiton Road and Immel Street, costs $100,000. The province is funding half.

City councillor Lynne Harris heeded the positive feedback about the bike lanes on Peardonville Road and Bevan Avenue and hopes the Old Clayburn project will illicit the same reaction.

“I believe, and those who live and drive there, they [the bike lanes] have had a traffic calming effect, which is a good thing,” said Harris.

“The majority [of people] have been very supportive and that’s encouraging. We’re hoping the same thing occurs on Old Clayburn.”

The project was controversial, with some residents upset about losing on-street parking.

Harris noted some residents were “very much opposed,” but city staff worked hard did to accommodate the requests and retain as much parking as possible. Harris said a significantly high percentage of on-street parking has been retained.

“We’re always sorry if we negatively impact residents, but sometimes when it is for the common good of the city we have to make a few changes.”

Harris hopes once people get used to the lanes, residents will turn to two wheels instead of four.

“Hopefully children will be and feel safer on the roadways when there is a designated road for them,” she said. “It’s a positive thing.”

Reaction, however, about the bike lanes was mixed from some Old Clayburn Road residents who spoke with the Abbotsford News.

“There’s just too much traffic and with school getting out and the shopping centre at the intersection, things will be very confusing,” said Randolph Christie.

However, he conceded once people get used to the bike lanes, it might slow down drivers.

“It will be a good thing. Old Clayburn is a race track right now,” he said.

Dorothy Hornung is concerned about the volume of traffic on the lower end of Old Clayburn Road by Margaret Stenersen Elementary School, where the lanes are positioned. The parking lane outside the school juts out onto the road, alongside a bike lane, which worries Hornung. She is afraid a cyclist could get hit by an opening door parked at the school.

“I think it will be confusing for people and I’ll be surprised if people use them,” she said.

Abbotsford cyclist Colin King is delighted with the new lanes.

“It’s a good start and I think the city council did a good job to begin with,” he said, eager to see more lanes in the future.

“Most homes have at least one bike and if you provide safe facilities to ride them, people might use them, especially given the health age we are in,” said King, who has been cycling for more than 50 years.

“The city should be encouraged to build more of them. Go for it. Keep going for it.”

The third bike lane project is slated for Blueridge Drive. It is scheduled to begin once the Old Clayburn project is complete and costs $45,000, half of which is funded by the province. The bike lanes will stretch from Mount Lehman Road to Clearbrook Road.