First ride in shorts along pathways, trails and through some cushions
We had a few warm days last week, but things got in the way of riding my bike. So with temperatures of 18 degree in the forecast, the shorts were on for a ride through north Burnaby, North Vancouver and back via Vancouver, taking in some old projects and relevant bits of infrastructure along the way… It never got close to 18 degrees…
We start with the decent down Burnaby Mountain... It’s always a decision to brave the cold on the way down versus being too hot later, or bringing many layers with you. With promises of higher temperatures, I braved the cold on the way down… I mean not Edmonton cold, but chilly… Turns out the shorts were a mistake as it never got above 11 degrees and it was much colder by the water… The concept design phase of our ISL project on Burnaby Mountain parkway wrapped up last year and will see changes to better reflect the high speeds, high speed differentials between active modes and different abilities and devices…
As we get down the bottom of the Mountain, it’s busy with people out on bikes.
I think if you’ve biked in Burnaby, you’ve all had to make the call that those people in the far background are about to make, whether to go left or right when exiting the Trans Canada trail at Hastings… a little MUP downhill to Kensington and along to Union would make it more intuitive, nobody wants to go backward…
The Trans Canada Trail through north Burnaby is a welcome escape from traffic… Not all ages and abilities, surface sometimes impacted by weather, no lighting, but a good option if you’re able…
It runs behind homes and through McGill Park…
A different perspective of people cycling on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge…
And a more conventional shot on the bridge…
Turning into North Van, this was a pretty neat silhouette shot under Highway 1…
And this one caught my eye as a recent pathway addition through to Orwell Street by Phibbs Exchange, guidance these days says avoid bollards unless absolutely necessary, and I could see it being the case here. Guidance also suggests using geometry on approach to reduce the likelihood of striking the bollard…
Spirit Trail heading west…
A quick one on our ISL complete street project on Esplande…
And on our ISL quick build project on 1st Street…
A busy crosswalk with advance walk signal and turn restrictions on red to improve safety… Busy on approach too…
This local street bikeway up on 15th Street originates from an old ISL planning study that recommended speed cushions amongst other things including two-way stop reversal and 30 km/h posted speeds… Speed cushions are always my preferred way of adding vertical deflection on bike routes. They are unavoidable by cars, while removing the discomfort of the speed hump for people cycling. In doing this, it reduces the speed differential between people cycling and driving and reduces the need to pass also…
Spirit Trail approaching Lions Gate Bridge…
Taking the fast lane on the Lions Gate Bridge heading into Downtown Vancouver…
The lighthouse at Prospect Point is a constrained area that was the subject of a recent ISL concept design project, and just a long shot along the seawall…
And finally a few more speed cushions on Comox Street in Downtown Vancouver, and the same thing again, slowing cars while reducing discomfort for people cycling, exactly what we should be doing on a street intended to prioritize people cycling…