As 2022 draws to a close, we’re looking back at the top 10 New Westminster news stories of the year.
Yesterday, we brought you details about safety issues raised at New Westminster Secondary School through the year.
The journey through the year’s biggest headlines continues today with number 7: bike lanes.
City moves forward with big plans for cycling infrastructure
A brouhaha about bike lanes breaks out in many cities when new cycling infrastructure is introduced — and New Westminster is no different.
Construction of the NWSS Cycling Connector and plans for a All Ages and Abilities Active Transportation Network Plan generated considerable discussions in the community — among those for and against the plans.
In January, city council endorsed the preferred options for the permanent Rotary Crosstown Greenway upgrade (between Fifth and Eighth streets) that includes construction of protected bicycle lanes and streetscape enhancements such as street trees and landscaping. That plan called for parking to be retained on only one side of the street, with some loading zones possibly preserved on both sides of the street for improved accessibility.
In February, the city embarked on a second round of public engagement about the Uptown Active Transportation Improvement projects, with input being used to help refine the designs as the project moves towards construction in the summer and fall of 2022. The recommended designs were based on public input received in the fall 2021 engagement process and comprehensive technical analysis.
Included in that plan was construction of the NWSS connector on Sixth Street, between Seventh Avenue and the crosswalk at the entrance to NWSS. That project proposed bicycle lanes that are physically protected from vehicles, new bus stop designs, changes to intersections, curb extensions and additional safety measures.
In April, the Uptown Business Association appeared before city council to voice concerns about the plan to create a separate bike lane in the 700 block of Sixth Street. It expressed concern that the removal of on-street parking would negatively impact small, local convenience businesses that rely on on-street parking.
“They are highly, highly dependent on that quick in and out for their customers to reach them,” Bart Slotman, president of the Uptown BIA, told council. “Removing these parking stalls will negatively affect those retailers, and that’s at a time when everybody is struggling to regain their business in a post-COVID world, staying above the water line with regard to higher staffing costs and rental costs and taxation. This is not an easy time to be a retailer.”
Concerns really ramped up in August, when construction began on the block-and-a-half NWSS Cycling Corridor — and businesses and residents could physically see the changes to the street.
Critics took to many social media platforms to citizens the project — the removal of on-street parking, safety concerns related to the narrowing of vehicle lanes and changes to bus stops on Sixth Street. It was also raised as an issue at some of the all-candidates meetings held in the lead-up to the Oct. 15 civic election.
The Record was flooded with letters to the editor from folks opposing the project — but it also received some heartfelt letter from cyclists saying local bike lanes are well used and expressing gratitude for the city’s plans to create cycling infrastructure.
Active transportation advocates, including moms and kids wearing cycling helmets and representatives from HUB Cycling New Westminster, appeared before council on several occasions during the year to advocate for safe cycling infrastructure. That included the city’s plan for an All Ages and Abilities Active Transportation Network.
"There are people transporting our families around town by bike, and it's important to let them have safe places to get around,” Laura Cornish told council.
On Oct. 3, council has adopted an All Ages and Abilities Active Transportation Network Plan, which aims to develop a core active transportation network and to connect neighbourhoods and schools. The city has identified 26 corridors for the $36-million network, with the intention to implement them within a five-year period. (Budgets for these initiatives still have to be approved before projects proceed.)
In late November, the owner of Beach House Tanning told council that the bike lanes are killing her business. Following her plea for assistance, council directed staff to reach out to businesses along the Sixth Street corridor to see if they've been impacted by the bike lanes.
When staff reported back to council about concerns voiced by businesses, council directed staff to consider potential measures to mitigate business and public concerns about the bike lanes and to report back with recommendations for its consideration.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone said the issue of safe routes to school is something the city has been supporting for years through its active transportation planning. He said it’s something that’s been requested by the school district and community members.
“This is not a willy-nilly decision to build a bike lane,” he said. “This one was driven by city policy and it was driven by people coming to this council chamber, and coming to our youth advisory committee, to our active transportation committee; youth coming from the high school and asking us to provide this safe cycling infrastructure.”
As 2022 came to a close, the city had yet to determine what — if any — mitigation measures to address concerns about the Sixth Street bike lanes. Stay tuned for more on that issue in 2023.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email [email protected]
