Why are bike lanes important to Fraser Valley Climate Action when we think about taking action?
It’s a part of the solution. It is HYPER LOCAL and it is easily achievable. So, we can influence action in this area and make a difference.
You already know that 75% + of global warming is caused by burning fossil fuels.
In BC 97% of our electricity does not involve burning fossil fuels, so we can think of electricity as basically clean by contrast.
BC’s pollution comes from 4 main places.
- Fossil Fuel powered Transportation
- Space (and water) heating
- Oil and gas extraction transportation and processing
- Industrial processes.
So a significant part of reducing BC’s Greenhouse Gas emissions is about reducing Fossil Fuel Powered Transportation.
Here in British Columbia, a significant amount of the fossil fuel pollution that causes climate change comes from the vehicles that we drive. We have lots of infrastructure that is put in place just to support motor vehicles, from the garages in our homes to the driveways, to the street parking, to the streets, to the connector roads, to the parking lots. Overpasses, underpasses. Traffic lights and more. If a portion of those trips can be switched to active transportation. On a bike. On an E bike. On a scooter. On an E scooter Pushing a stroller. Using a mobility scooter. Using a wheelchair. Then that portion of pollution is prevented. The trip on a bike is significantly cleaner than the trip in a motor vehicle.
If you look around your city. You will see hardly any infrastructure. For active transportation. Not only do most roads. Lack a bike lane., the roads that have a bike lane. Typically, they are very deficient. Those deficient bike lanes might consist only of a painted line. Essentially. The absolute minimum amount of design. And construction has been done to create a safe cycling environment. When people do not feel safe, they tend to avoid an activity.
The cities in our Fraser Valley. Tend to treat. Bike lanes and active transportation infrastructure as an afterthought. Here are some quick examples. To help you understand. What requirements are there for bike racks being provided? At schools, at businesses, at churches. At apartment blocks. There is no requirement at all, so the bike infrastructure does not exist. What bike infrastructure exists? To travel between cities.? Does your city have a bicycle network that connects where people live with where they work, play and shop? Or. Do people have to travel by car to move between these places? Do cycle lanes end unexpectedly causing vulnerable road users to behave like pedestrians or motor vehicles? When you think of the road in front of destinations like businesses or schools. Or apartments. Do you see ramps? From the road or from the bike lane? That can be used by bikes. Or is it the expectation that bikes sometimes behave like pedestrians? Using sidewalks. And sometimes behave like a motor vehicle. Using driveways and roads.?
So we have a huge deficiency.
Active transportation is not something the government understands or cares about (as evidenced by the design of roadways).
We are going to “make their job easy” by helping summarize improvements.
We need your help to summarize safety and usability improvements for Fraser Valley Bike lanes.
- Watch these YouTube videos for several Abbotsford bike lanes
- McKee-Whatcom-Old Yale- Mcmillan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqtn-SRs1mE
- Parkview – Tims – Bevan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SRsiGmD_Nc
- Old Clayburn – Ash – George Fergueson – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3hY1FKlJh8&t=1s
- Speed up the video when its too slow (this is a raw video for reviewing not a polished presentation) 🙂
- Use the YouTube comments to record your observations. Mention the video time signature (or location in the video.
- Pass these links on to people you know who care about bike lanes so they can also comment.
- Consider making a video (with your phone) of a bike lane in your city that we can help you review.