John Luton - GVCC President
Wheel Life column - 13 February, 1999
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

John Luton is a well-rounded cyclist: a road racer, mountain biker, long-distance tourist, bicycle commuter, and now president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC). We recently interviewed John about what he hopes to accomplish during his term of office.

Luton is working with Victoria planners to develop a plan for the Harbour Road path that will link the Galloping Goose trail with the Johnson Street bridge. A design that avoids conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians and local businesses is a top priority.

During the next year Luton hopes to establish a major sport ride as a fund-raiser for the GVCC. Such events are common in other regions, often attracting hundreds or even thousands of participants to ride 50 to 200 kilometre routes. Such an event could attract sport cyclists from the Lower Mainland and Puget Sound areas, providing regional economic development while highlighting the great island bicycling opportunities.

Successful sport rides can raise thousands of dollars, money that would be used to fund GVCC programs. One of John's priorities is to establish a cyclists' legal defense fund to support cyclists who face harassment or inappropriate prosecution, and to advocate more balanced bicycle traffic laws. He particularly hopes to change the current law that requires cyclists to ride as far to the right of the roadway as is "practicable."

Luton sees the need for much better bicycle and greenway planning to create a network of bicycling facilities that meet the needs of all cyclists, from beginners to National Team riders. He considers Saanich to be a regional leader in bicycle planning - with its bicycle committee and regular ongoing investments in bicycle facilities. The City of Victoria is currently doing the least to promote bicycling, which is surprizing since it already has the highest rate of bicycling and the most to gain from increased bicycling of any of the municipalities.

In particular, Luton recommends that Victoria City Council reestablish a bicycle advisory committee, which was disbanded after the last election, and to make regular financial investments in bicycle improvements throughout the city, not just in the Galloping Goose trail.

Where's his favorite place to cycle? Rural Mexico. For local riding Luton likes the Western Communities. Today's recommended route is one of his favorites. However, it's just the short version. Luton prefers to take the highway all of the way out to Jordan River for a good training ride.