Maple Ridge cyclists keep pressing to make sure they’re not squeezed out as the city builds around them.
HUB Cycling Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, has asked the city to ensure space is left for cycling lanes on Brown Avenue, when the new multi-tower project is built at Dewdney Trunk Road and 224th Street.
Maple Ridge council has just considered a proposal to build four high-rise apartment towers on the west side of 224th Street.
HUB made the same request last year, with regard to another multi-tower project proposed a block to the east, also on Brown Avenue.
“If we do not provide the cycling infrastructure, that will make it very unsafe there,” said Ivan Chow with the local branch of HUB, part of the Metro Vancouver cycling network.
HUB is also concerned about the city’s plans for bike lanes along 227th Street, between Lougheed Highway and Dewdney Trunk Road, which will be squeezed between the traffic lane and parked cars and instead wants the cycling lanes to be “buffered” with a row of parking separating the cyclists from the road.
In addition to trying to create new ways to get around on pedal power, HUB wants to make it safer for pedestrians who share the sidewalks with cyclists, Maple Ridge being one of the few cities that allow cycling on sidewalks. Members of HUB spoke this week to the city’s active transportation advisory committee on the issue.
This week, May 29 to June 4, is Bike to Work Week, which gave cyclists a chance to promote two-wheeled transportation. Earlier, a cycling celebration station was set up on the Pitt River Bridge providing snacks and drinks to cyclists and attracting 54 pedallers.
On Thursday, they did the same thing on the south side of Golden Ears Bridge, in cooperation with the Langley and Surrey branches of HUB.
Spicing up the event this year is the revival of a friendly competition between Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows to decide which city has the most employees cycling to work during Bike To Work Week.
Both cities are vying for the ugly-looking HUB Fork trophy to prove they have the most cyclists participating.
One major improvement could be coming for cyclists on 123rd Avenue between 203rd and Laity streets.
The city had been considering installing traffic circles and sidewalk bulges along the road but that makes it tougher for cyclists so it’s now looking at separated bike lanes on either side. But another open house is planned before a final decision. If completed, 123rd Avenue bike lanes will hook into the new bi-directional bike lane just completed on 203rd Street, north of Dewdney Trunk Road.
“It’s important to make it safe for all ages and abilities, so that kids can bike to school (e.g. Laityview, Westview secondary) without having to bike on the sidewalk,” said Jackie Chow, with HUB Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.