Encouraging bike lanes is a fine ideal, but poorly designed bike lanes in the wrong location invite chaos.
Let’s recognize that proposed bike lanes don’t include many other forms of active transportation. So why are bikes allocated precious road space to the exclusion of others, and tax monies that are desperately needed elsewhere?
Bike lane plans respond to the needs of a few at a cost to many. Unfortunately, the proposed Monterey bike lanes are designed after other municipalities' mistakes rather than addressing Oak Bay’s unique circumstances and real needs. Think how Richardson Street, which was once a main thoroughfare, now causes overloading on Fairfield Road. Nice idea, but for another time and another place.
The 11.4% property tax increase demands that nice-to-have ideas must be deferred for more affluent times. Council must focus and prioritize real “needs” so monies are directed to priorities: infrastructure, sewers, streets, storm drains, sidewalks, police and fire hall needs. With the backlog of essential infrastructure projects, why start on discretionary, nice-to-have bike lanes?
It’s basic management: food before dessert; shelter before holidays; sewers before bike lanes.
Bike lane plans give no thought to the 25% of elderly Oak Bay citizens and many more families with children who need to park near the Avenue for their shopping needs. Obviously, businesses need parking for patrons. Property owners who bought near the village to “age-in-place” or are handicapped without driveways will be stuck at home, having nowhere near their homes to park. This is unacceptable.
Contemplate the additional chaos in the egress-access area on Monterey near Oak Bay Avenue caused by inserting bike lanes. The area is already congested with hourly buses, multiple delivery trucks, and patrons coming and going. Bike lanes will simply make matters worse.
If council removes street parking, village patrons will go elsewhere, merchants will suffer, the village will decay. What would council offer to property owners and businesses in return for prioritizing bike lanes over parking?
Everyone has experienced poorly designed lanes elsewhere in the CRD – our meagre finances and multiple users of our streets demand a higher standard – a complete overhaul of the proposed bike route concept.
First and foremost, taxpayers expect basic municipal services. Think about all mobility needs. Let’s broaden our vision and keep our thoughts grounded in practicality – that’s what we expect of our community leaders.
There are options: Place bike lanes on side routes that have no fire engines or police racing to emergencies. Avoid main thoroughfares and busy routes to maintain already-restricted traffic flow. Avoid bus routes. Be business and patron-friendly to support our villages. Utilize our many laneways and park perimeters for bike routes. None of these ideas would prevent bikes or other forms of mobility from our thoroughfares, but it could increase harmony on our streets.
There is no honour lost in rethinking this bike lane plan to be inclusive for everyone and accommodating less mobile residents. Surely the district’s many planners can demonstrate innovation, independence and flexibility for all Oak Bay citizens.
Rick Lee
Oak Bay
