Bridging the Gap Campaign
Wheel Life column - 17 July, 1999
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. there is a "drop-in" sport ride leaving from the Cook Street Village Moka House, at 345 Cook Street. The route changes from week to week, depending on the group's preferences. Usually about a dozen cyclists show up for a 30-50 kilometer ride, and there is often a separate group which takes a shorter, easier ride.

Today's map shows last week's route, which followed the Galloping Goose trail to Colwood, around Esquimalt Lagoon, down Metchosin Road for a lunch stop at My Chosen Café, and then back on the Galloping Goose. It was a splendid ride in every way: perfect weather, great roads for cycling and good company.

The group ranged in age from an enthusiastic 12-year-old girl to spry elders, with a scattering of ages, sizes and abilities in between. Most had bikes "built for comfort, not for speed," so the pace wasn't too fast, especially when climbing hills. Nobody seemed to be in a great hurry, although there were some exciting bursts of speed on the downhills. We took several stops along the way to let slower riders keep up with the rest of the group.

We did encounter a few problem areas along the way that need to be addressed if cycling is to reach its potential in the Western Communities. Such barriers can be unpleasant even for experienced cyclists, and a real hazard to novice riders.

The first is at Colwood Corners, where the Galloping Goose crosses Highway 1A (Sooke Road) near the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC) has a "Bridge the Gap" campaign which asks the BC Ministry of Highways to build a pedestrian/bicycle bridge, similar to the Switch Bridge in Victoria, as part of a major road realignment being planned there.

The city of Colwood is eager to see this bridge built, and a private developer may help pay for it. Additional funding must come from the province. Copies of a petition to Minister of Transportation, Harry Lali, are available at most local bikeshops or from the GVCC website at http://www.gvcc.bc.ca. You can also call the Minister's office at 387-1978.

Another problem area we encountered is where the trail crosses Kelly Road. The intersection is extremely dangerous since it is at a curve in the roadway with high traffic speeds and no crosswalk.

The new Mill Stream Road connector slated for development there could be just as bad. The current plan is for a complicated intersection that would require trail users to cross three roads. The GVCC is negotiating with provincial officials to develop a pedestrian/cycle bridge.

Before anybody starts complaining about the province "wasting" tax money on non-motorized transport facilities, let us point out that a bridge would only add about 3% to the project's overall cost, which is much less than the 5-10% of regional trips made by walking and cycling. If non-motorized transport received its fair share of roadway funding we would get a gold-plated bridge with bikeracks, shower AND hot tub.

We'll keep you informed as these issues progress. If you want to support these campaigns, support the GVCC. For more information or to join, visit their website or call their hotline at 480-5155.