Cyclists in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are going their separate ways, pedalling down different paths.
Maple Ridge council heard Tuesday that the bicycle advisory committee, which has representatives from both municipalities, will split up over the summer.
A new group will form in Pitt Meadows in the fall, and be called the active transportation committee. It will focus on all human-powered transportation and is one of the recommendations of the bicycle and pedestrian master plan.
Having an active transportation committee will allow coordinated planning of all non-motorized transportation in the area.
“It makes a lot of sense to me. Cyclists and pedestrians have the same needs,” said bike committee chairman Alex Pope.
Maple Ridge will decide whether to have a similar group or keep its bicycle advisory committee, once its transportation plan is finalized.
“Pitt Meadows is quite a bit further ahead [than Maple Ridge], Pope said. “They have quite a bit more separated pathways.”
Pope presented council a list of cycling path projects that are in the works, the first of which will be construction this summer – a multi-use pathway on the north side of Lougheed Highway between Laity and 216th streets.
Pope said bikes paths in Maple Ridge will have to be open to other users, such as pedestrians, because there isn’t the population density to have paths exclusively for cyclists.
“Right now, we’re not seeing the volumes.
“The focus on the future is to be on separate [from the roadway], multi-use pathways. Because that’s what’s going to get people on their bikes.”