Spending $800,000 to repair two trestles on the Lochside Trail might sound pricey, but it鈥檚 a good investment. In fact, the region needs a long-term plan to maintain and upgrade its trail infrastructure. (It also needs a coherent plan for its road network, but that seems to be impossible to achieve given the fragmented responsibilities.)
The Capital Regional District parks committee received a report warning that major structural repairs will be needed to two Lochside Trail trestles at Swan Lake and Brett Road. The wooden trestles date back to the construction of the rail line to Sidney in 1916 by the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway.
The money doesn鈥檛 have to be spent right away 鈥� the trestles are good for five to 15 years. But it鈥檚 encouraging to see the CRD planning ahead.
As it鈥檚 encouraging that immediate improvements to the trestles are also planned, with an asphalt surface replacing the current wood planks next year at a cost of $30,000 to $55,000.
The region鈥檚 trail network is a tremendous asset. But it needs continuous improvements as demand increases and changes.
The Galloping Goose and the Lochside Trail were conceived by visionary planners, advocates and politicians to take advantage of the abandoned rail lines and create what were often called linear parks.
And they have functioned brilliantly. People walk their dogs, jog, take children on tricycles and enjoy the tremendous asset. In 2011, CRD traffic counts found there were almost 2.7 million visits to the Galloping Goose and Lochside Trails.
But they have also turned out to be popular commuting routes, on bicycle and foot. And the original trail design and construction, in many sections, isn鈥檛 adequate for the increased traffic or mix of uses.
The Swan Lake and Brett trestles are an example. The surface is composed of planks running across the trail, with spaces between each. Fine for pedestrians, but a bumpy, difficult ride for cyclists. If people are to be encouraged to commute by bicycle, the trail network needs to be safe and suitable.
There also should be continuous bike lanes on major commuter routes, recognizing that mixed-use trails cannot serve as the sole corridor for cycling commuters.
It鈥檚 not hard to justify the investment. The 2006 census found 5.6 per cent of capital region residents commuted by bicycle. The percentage has likely increased, and cycle counts at the Selkirk Trestle average about 1,000 a day.
Transport sa国际传媒 points to broad community benefits from bicycle commuting, including reduced pollution and greenhouse gases and health benefits.
And it notes economic gains, including reduced household expenditures on transportation and a drop in time lost to traffic congestion. (Yes, drivers benefit, too.)
The trail network is a key component in achieving those benefits. It鈥檚 well worth the investment to maintain and improve its usefulness.
