Numerous residents urged Maple Ridge city council to modify plans for a proposed multi-use pathway, to reduce user conflicts.
Chris George, a year-round cyclist, thanked council for the West Ridge Greenway greenway, but said he’s concerned about it being a bi-directional multi-use path (mup), with a sidewalk on the other side of the street.
The greenway is planned to run between Lougheed Highway and Dewdney Trunk Road between 203 and 221 Streets. It will run along a variety of routes, including Wicklow Way, and Donovan, Cook, and 119 Avenues.
“I ride our newly constructed mups daily. While they appear good on paper, they present consistent safety challenges for myself, and children, and the people walking on these paths,” said George.
He said hazards he runs into include cars backing out of hidden driveways, large groups of students walking to school, dogs on long leashes criss-crossing the paths, and “the constant sharp rises and dips at every driveway, making the path feel more like the Wild Mouse rollercoaster at the PNE.”
George said he frequently rides on the road to avoid conflicts, and gets yelled at, honked at, and has vehicles pass by too close.
Council held a public hearing on Jan. 20 about the Lougheed Transit Corridor Area Plan, which includes lands around both the highway and Dewdney Trunk Road. The Metro regional government calls it a major transit growth corridor in its long-term plans, and it forms part of the future Langley-Haney Bus Rapid Transit Line proposed by TransLink.
The BRT will have four future stations at 203, 207, Laity and 216 Streets.
The Lougheed Transit Corridor plans significant changes for the area as Maple Ridge grows, including new development, higher densities, the creation of walkable neighbourhoods, with more bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly amenities. The city plan was previously the subject of a survey and open houses, and 69 per cent of people support the overall land use plan, said staff, with concerns about taller buildings, changing neighbourhoods, traffic and other concerns.
“We strongly support many aspects of the Lougheed transit corridor plan,” said Kirk Grayson of the Maple Ridge Climate Hub, such as transit-oriented densification, and that it will encourage travel by bus.
She told council the plan and design guidelines, over 30 years, “will eventually yield an exciting, inviting, highly walkable city core.”
However, she also called for a changed design for the Westridge Greenway.
“A multi-use path on one side of the road will be insufficient, ineffective and unsafe,” she said.
“Just imagine trying to run your errands, either on foot, or by bike, or on scooter, or given our aging population on a mobility scooter, along a crowded multi-use path.”
She noted the city is predicted to add 30,000 people in next decade, and building for the future means having separated single-direction cycling paths, as well as separated sidewalks, on each side of the street.
Grayson noted the city’s Climate Action Plan aims to have 25 per cent of all trips taken by cycling, walking or transit by 2030 – four years from now.
“No decisions have been made,” cautioned Mayor Dan Ruimy, saying the corridor plan is a broad “overall plan.”
“Council is looking forward to having that conversation about the greenway,” he added. “Because we’re all curious to know how that can come about, and what the potential is for that.”