Cyclists call for separated route along Marine Way
Posted April 5, 2013 10:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS1130) – The area south of Marine Way in Burnaby has gone through major changes in recent years, with the arrival of new big box stores and business headquarters.
Some cyclists believe the time is right to improve bike access there.
Right now, only the bravest and most seasoned cyclists tackle Marine’s small shoulders and hectic traffic.
Andrew Feltham with the cycling group HUB says a separated lane could encourage more commuters to consider biking.
“In Big Bend, there’s a lot of new employment. It’s a light industrial area, plus there’s retail. This new route wouldn’t just be recreational, but would provide another way for people to get to their jobs in the area,” he explains.
“Transit isn’t very good,” he adds. “We hear a lot of complaints about transit in that area. But the Bend is about a ten minute ride from the 22nd Street SkyTrain station. You could jump on your bike and you’re at work in ten minutes.”
He’d like the route to connect to the Queensborough Bridge, which is already equipped with bike lanes.
What Feltham is proposing is a wider shoulder on one side of Marine, lined with a concrete barrier. The separated route would be used by both cyclists and pedestrians, moving in both directions.
He admits he doesn’t know what the project would cost.
The idea has been submitted to both the City of Burnaby and the Ministry of Transportation.
