Like it or not, cyclists are getting a pair of dedicated bike lanes north of Mountain Highway on Lynn Valley Road.
On Monday (March 7), District of North Vancouver council approved the first phase of infrastructure changes along the busy corridor, designed to make the roadway safer for bike riders and pedestrians.
But despite nearly four years of discussions and delays, the motion only narrowly passed, with a 4-3 vote.
Councillors in favour bemoaned the drawn-out process, underscoring improvements to safety and well-being, while Mayor Mike Little and those opposed argued that residents would express disdain similar to when another roadway update along East 29th Street went ahead in 2019.
The motion passed with Couns. Jim Hanson, Jordan Back, Megan Curren and Mathew Bond in favour. Little and Couns. Betty Forbes and Lisa Muri were opposed.
The current project begins at Mountain Highway, and extends around 830 metres northeast along Lynn Valley Road to Peters Road, which is the turnoff to the popular Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and connecting trails.
The newly dedicated bike lanes will be distinguished by painted lines, with small concrete barriers at select sections. The lanes will also be shared with buses at points along the route.
District staff said more barriers couldn’t be added due to solid-waste collection and the number of driveways that line the street.
But the cycling infrastructure accounts for less than 10 per cent of the Lynn Valley improvement project's cost. Most of the estimated $1.4-million budget goes toward adding four-way traffic lights at Allan Road, along with other improvements at intersections.
The plan includes two parking pockets: one designed to fit five cars southbound near Upton Road, and another for seven cars northbound near Allan Road.
Overall, 74 parking spots are being lost with the construction. Staff said just 20 to 25 per cent of those are currently used.
Originally planned for 2019, the Lynn Valley Road Active Transportation Improvement Project was postponed to incorporate a broader scope of improvements for walking, cycling and transit infrastructure.
Despite getting a $500,000 boost from the province in 2020, construction slated for 2021 was delayed.
With Monday’s approval, work is expected to start this summer.
Referring to the significant loss in parking spaces, Little said the project would be a tough pill for residents to swallow.
“I think that this is going to be very similar to 29th [Street],” he said. “I think that people are going to be very ticked off with this project unnecessarily because we’ve added the downhill side, which people don’t have difficulty keeping up with traffic in that area.”
During council’s discussion, he asked staff for statistics on the number of injuries in the area.
Transportation manager Steven Carney explained some of the safety rationale behind the plan.
“To the best of my knowledge, the most recent cyclist fatality on the North Shore was the result of a cyclist getting doored, and falling in front of a dump truck on Esplanade,” Carney said.
“One of the reasons we don’t like to combine on-street parking with designated cycling routes is the risk of dooring. This is one of the top-five corridors in the district based on cycling volumes.”
He said the route sees somewhere in the order of 300 cyclists per day.
Forbes, who also dissented, said the project mainly meets the needs of a small group of commuter bikers, instead of a stated objective to account for all ages and abilities.
“I don’t think anybody would take a young child on 29th [street],” she said. “I don’t think anybody would take them on Lynn Valley Road.”
Bond, supportive of the motion, replied that there are families that walk and bike along the corridor every day.
“They bike to Ross Road school. They bike to Lynn Valley school. They bike to local preschools,” he said. “They walk. They cross that intersection at Allan Road to get to school, which because of the skew and speed of cars travelling on Lynn Valley Road is a frightening experience.”
Following the discussion, council voted in favour of moving Phase 2 of the project — from Peters Road north to Dempsey Road — to a consultation stage, which would begin in May. Only Forbes was opposed.
