Burlington Lakeshore - Left Turn or Bike Lanes?

"This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it."

CONTACT INFO FOR BURLINGTON COUNCIL: http://cms.burlington.ca/Page110.aspx

LITTLE: Lakeshore bike lane pilot both costly and frustrating

Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 20/12

A pilot project would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side of Lakeshore Road, writes columnist Joan Little.

Any Burlington driver who ever uses Lakeshore Road will be left gasping in amazement at the latest hare-brained scheme for it.

There’s already frustration about its unnecessary narrowing at Brant Street, and resultant congestion, but wait till you hear about a “pilot project” from late summer to early fall in conjunction with the 2013 regional water main replacement from Torrance Street to Guelph Line. The pilot would eliminate the centre turning lane and add a bike lane on each side. The cost for painting lines on the new configuration is $35,000.

Councillor Jack Dennison wants the pilot extended easterly to Walkers Line. That would add $45,000 and be all summer — spring to fall. Tourist season. More bike lanes? Great! But bike lanes that totally disrupt traffic flow?

Fortunately, thanks to Councillor John Taylor, there’s a reprieve. This was to be dealt with Dec. 3, but is deferred at least until January, coinciding with a public information centre on the sewer and road work. It also provides time for people who knew nothing about this to call their councillors. Staff contacted the Burlington Cycling Committee, which supports it.

[NOTE: Ward 2 Councillor opposes the pilot project]
[Mayor asks for comments on bike lanes at his blog]

A bit of background: Burlington approved a cycling master plan in 2009. It directed staff to investigate widening Lakeshore Road to Burloak, “maintaining two narrowed travel lanes and a narrowed two-way left-turn lane,” and to begin design work. [I couldn't find any reference to this in the plan; see below for the actual recommendations in the cycling plan - rk]

plains plans

Functional Design Analysis of Plains RoadThe City of Burlington is currently studying how Plains Road should be re-designed in the next ten years.  For more information about this important project click on link and visit the Plains Road Corridor Functional Design and Implementation Strategy web page. Tell Burlington what changes you would like to see along Plains Road.  To participate, complete the online survey or fill out the Comment Form (Word document).

cycling update: Burlington

Burlington Councillor Rick Craven reports that delayed improvements to Northshore Blvd will be completed in the spring 2011:

View Northshore Paved Shoulders in a larger map

North Shore Boulevard Improvements

The plan to improve shoulders on North Shore between Eagle and Glenwood has been delayed. The work, aimed at improving pedestrian and cycling safety, was scheduled for the fall. The delay results from an opportunity to add federal/provincial infrastructure dollars to the pot allowing the city to completely resurface the road at the same time we do the shoulder work. Unfortunately, we still have not received word from Ottawa about these additional funds. Now, it’s too late to do the shoulder work this fall, but it will be done in the spring regardless of whether we receive the additional money.

catching christmas ride?

Burlington transit riders beware - the city does not offer transit on Christmas Day...

Burlington: The Dutch Connection

John Rennison, the Hamilton Spectator

Dutch cycling expert rolls into Burlington TheSpec.com - Local - Dutch cycling expert rolls into Burlington

Rob Faulkner, The Hamilton Spectator

BURLINGTON (Oct 16, 2008)

In the shadow of Burlington City Hall, the tall, lanky Dutchman Wim Mulder looks down at the bike helmet as if he doesn't often wear one or hasn't even seen one before.

Yet, the traffic engineer visiting from Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, is here to help Burlington build its cycling infrastructure. He rides. In fact, his job is all about growing his hometown's cycling network.

"We have a policy that we want to make the roads safe enough that it's not necessary," Mulder says of his bike helmet, loaned to him before a group ride to see how Burlington measures up on cycling terms.

Mulder was in Burlington as part of an official delegation this week from Apeldoorn, which signed a twinning agreement with Burlington in 2005. That has led to several exchanges of citizens and staff.

Mulder shared his bike-planning expertise with city staff, consultants helping with the city's new cycling master plan, the Burlington Cycling Committee and others.

Apeldoorn is a city of 155,000 people -- similar to Burlington -- about 100 km east of Amsterdam, a flat area with a tourist trade.

Mulder said that, like most of Holland, cycling caught on in the 1970s as an antidote to car-dominated land use planning. It was cheap, healthy, eco-friendly and is now part of the Dutch identity.

After his visit to Apeldoorn last year, Burlington Cycling Committee's Gary Murphy came away with an overwhelming impression: "We have a lot of work to do, but they have been working at it for 50 years. We are in our infancy."

Mulder's arrival came at a time when Burlington is considering everything from bike-only traffic signals to bylaws requiring bike parking in a new cycling master plan. The focus is on connectivity, and safety, around areas like the QEW and 403 interchanges.

Census information suggests just 0.8 per cent of Burlingtonians commute by bike to work; 79.7 per cent drive a car; more than half of all commutes are less than 10 kilometres.

In Apeldoorn, the split for trips of less than 8 kilometres is: 44 per cent by car, 6 per cent by bus, and a staggering 50 per cent by bicycle. Mulder says it didn't come easily, and still involves fights to get money for new bike lanes, lights and paths.

On the bike tour, Mulder's mood was upbeat if flabbergasted: the painted-on bike lanes on Maple were so skinny, the asphalt bike laneways near Optimist Park unsigned, the crossing to the Burlington GO station disconnected from what should be the easiest, straight line to the trains.

"You don't charge for parking!" he exclaimed, amid the sea of cars parked by all-day commuters at the GO station.

In Apeldoorn's train station it's $10 a day for parking. It also has 5,000 bike parking spaces.

"Potential" was a word Mulder used often. Think about the extra space North American roads already have, compared to Europe. Or how Burlington's grid layout is an easy navigation tool.

Norma Moores, of urban development consulting firm IBI Group, said that working on the City of Burlington's cycling master plan raised concerns and possibilities.

Burlington may put some roads on a "diet," devoting space to bikes at the expense of cars; it has to deal with the risk of freeway crossings; the waterfront needs links to other areas.

Even in Apeldoorn, cycling didn't happen by accident. Dutch laws allow cyclists a right of way in many situations, and in an accident the motorist is assumed to be at fault, unless proven otherwise.

Learn more: http://fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=en

rfaulkner@thespec.com

905-526-2468

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/451201

bordering burlington

The neighbouring City of Burlington ON is undertaking a Cycling Master Plan process, and you can help shape the cycling network by reviewing the display from a June 3, 2008 open house, and making comments. A follow-up public meeting will occur in October 2008 in Burlington, but get your ideas and comments on the table first by using this online form (ignore the June 20 comment deadline)

A tale of two cities?

Hi Randy,

Yes, there will be a bike lane through the underpass.

Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: randy opirg [mailto:randy@opirg.org]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 10:12 AM
To: Craven, Rick
Cc: D'Amelio, Carol; Dennison, Jack; Fitzpatrick, Rosemary; Jackson, Cam; Taylor, John; Thoem, Peter; Rudy, Jo-Anne; g-tlc@mcmaster.ca
Subject: King Road

Dear Rick,

When work proceeds for the rail underpass on King Road, are there plans to include a safe cycling passage? I have used that route before to get between the North Service Road bicycle lanes and the bicycle route on Plains (and the excellent bike lanes on King Road south of there). King Road would make a great connecting link for cyclists on what is now a fairly dangerous stretch. Bicycle lanes would be a welcome enhancement.

I encourage Burlington to continue the good work you have embarked upon supporting sustainable transportation.

Any news about plans for a safe cycling link along King Road would be much appreciated,

Thanks for your time,

Randy Kay

cc council

city cycling committee

transportation for liveable communities

Why does it seem to be so much easier to get cycling infrastructure in Burlington, compared to Hamilton? NOTE: Rick Craven is the ward councillor in Burlington, Ontario.