The City of Victoria wants to update its cycling master plan, which was written in 1995 and is overdue for revision. Councillors approved a task force to take on the project that will begin public consultation in January.
It鈥檚 a safe bet that the task force will get an earful. Few things are as contentious as bicycles and cars in Greater Victoria.
To be effective, however, any review will have to pay particular attention to one 鈥渋ndicator of success鈥� listed in the task force鈥檚 charter: 鈥淚ntegration with other regional plans.鈥�
Cycling is one area where Greater Victoria municipalities have to talk to each other.
The Capital Regional District鈥檚 Pedestrian and Cycling Masterplan says 3.2 per cent of people in Greater Victoria ride bikes, but the figure reaches nine per cent in some areas. It hopes to bring the proportion up to 15 per cent, and to 25 per cent in densely populated areas.
One way to boost those numbers is to make sure that riders who commute have safe and convenient ways to get to work or school 鈥� often across municipal boundaries.
Those pedalling in from the Peninsula or West Shore know they either have to take a roundabout route from the Lochside or Galloping Goose trails, or they have to take their lives in their hands on some main arteries that are less than bicycle-friendly.
Victoria has some bicycle issues 鈥� which usually means car-bicycle issues 鈥� to resolve on its streets, but its solutions have to look beyond its borders.
All our municipalities must work together on cycling policy.
