The Editor,
Re: Port Moody councillors delay approving Guildford bikeway plan over concerns about traffic delays (tricitynews.com, Nov. 21, 2024)
I think Port Moody councillors prioritize motorist convenience over cyclist and pedestrian safety.
You may think this is an inflammatory statement, but hear me out.
As an avid amateur cyclist and advocate for all ages and abilities cycling infrastructure improvements, I was disappointed to hear about the delay to the Port Moody section of the Guildford separated bike lane.
However, after actually reading the traffic analysis report, it made me angry.
The Ioco/Guildford intersection has seen 201 accidents, of which 81 resulting in injury, from 2016 to 2022. Of these, the majority involved motorists and cyclists or pedestrians and mostly when motorists have been turning left.
The proposed changes were put forward as a part of the bike lane plan and to make Port Moody's second most dangerous intersection safer.
Yes, motorists might be delayed a little, but guess what, it's only the people turning left.
All of the significant increases in wait times at the intersection (and we're still talking less than 60 seconds) are to those turning left, the same people most likely to hit a cyclist or pedestrian.
Is that not reasonable?
In my view these changes should be made, without delay, regardless of the bike lane itself.
However, back to the bike lane, the decision to delay the project is:
- Completely at odds with Port Moody's Master Transportation Plan goals.
- Incredibly short sighted. The science is in, bike lanes reduce congestion.
- Dangerous. City engineers have already recognized that a simple painted bike lane is not up to guideline standards for the speed and volume of traffic along Guildford.
Port Moody councillors, if you delay this project by 12 months, that's another 34 accidents and 14 injuries that are on you.
And before you tell me that the cyclists on that crash map were probably doing something they shouldn't, the map is covered in pedestrians as well.
Did they deserve it, too?
-Bill Jones, Port Coquitlam
Organizer of the Tri-City Bikes and Brews
The Editor,
The fact that councillors think an 82-second traffic delay is "crazy" while casually glossing over 201 crashes (81 with injuries) at that same intersection is something else.
Coun. Callan Morrison saying “60 to 80 seconds increase in time is crazy to me" while apparently being totally fine with it being the second-most dangerous intersection in the city really tells you everything you need to know about council priorities.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam has already built its portion and won an award for it. But heaven forbid Port Moody drivers might have to wait an extra minute in their cars or, gasp, consider other transportation options.
Thanks for covering this. It really highlights the backwards thinking we're dealing with here.
-Mike Despault, Coquitlam
