Whatever happened to the Oak Bay COMPLETE STREETS POLICY?

In early 2012, Oak Bay Council appointed the Alternative Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) to make recommendations on improving infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized road users.

ATAC presented its initial recommendation in June, 2012:  the adoption of a Complete Streets policy, which was enthusiastically and unanimously approved by Council.

Complete Streets are designed for all road users. This is a departure from early urban models post-1950s that considered the main function of roads to serve motor vehicles. But streets are transportation routes for everyone, paid for by everyone, and infrastructure tax dollars should accommodate all modes of travel.

Implementation of the Oak Bay policy was expected to be in phases, i.e. where all anticipated road and sidewalk upgrades would be planned and developed through a Complete Streets lens, in accordance with the new policy.

Which brings us to today, fully 16 months later. So far, there has been zero compliance with policy. Two recent examples:

1. The Engineering staff report (August 2013) on the Oak Bay High School Traffic Study focussed only on the impact for motor vehicles. The staff report cited LOS (see Level of Service, a traffic engineering evaluation rating). The report also cited potential loss of some parking spots on Cadboro Bay Road if cycle lanes were added. No consideration was given to pedestrians or cyclists. The report addressed moving vehicles and potentially losing parking along the road, rather than focussing on enhancing pedestrian or cyclist safety through improved sidewalks, bike lanes and other measures. Remember, this is a high school for children, as well as a neighbourhood learning centre, community theatre, and is the site of north-south and east-west cycling thoroughfares. 
2. A sidewalk upgrade project along Musgrave Avenue immediately adjacent to Willows Elementary School (children again), has replaced an old narrow sidewalk with......... a new narrow sidewalk.  This section of Musgrave is a chronic speeding zone and so an opportunity to slow traffic, and assist with children arriving and departing the elementary school site has been lost for the next half century. 

These are examples of work undertaken without reference to the Complete Streets policy.

Why are projects brought forward that do not comply with policy?

What is required to ensure compliance with the wishes and directions of the Mayor and Council?

Why does Oak Bay Council permit projects to proceed that contravene municipal policy?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

There are many quiet lanes and streets situated in Oak Bay for a very pleasant walking adventure.  Most of these are located on residential streets.  But when it comes to commercial areas -- destinations where people walk -- the Village, the heart of the community,  with shops, cafes and other services to conduct business, socialize, linger and people-watch -- or places with oceanside scenic beauty -- well, that's another matter.  Some of the best and worst examples are encountered in these latter locations.  Here are a few examples.

The Good: Oak Bay Avenue, east of Foul Bay Rd. to approximately Mitchell Street, both sides of road.

Outside the Red Art Gallery

  Pedestrians enjoy a broad sidewalk, with plenty of space to pass others, space for small cafe tables, and space for just browsing the shops.  An ideal promenade.

More Good:  Oak Bay Avenue, east of Monterey Avenue, south sidewalk.

The condominium complex fronting the south side of Oak Bay Avenue enjoys a wide and inviting sidewalk. Part of the roadway has been reassigned as sidewalk during the last 20 years.   The history of how this came about isn't known, but the result is very pedestrian-friendly, especially for those with mobility devices.  If anybody knows how this expanded sidewalk came about, comments are welcome.  We'd love more of this, please!

Space....the final frontier

The Bad: Elgin Road.

On first glance, this looks like a road not worthy of close examination.  Elgin is a dead-end road leading into the municipal public works yard and recycling centre.   The traffic lights at Oak Bay Avenue tell the real story.   It's also a main north-south arterial route for cyclists and pedestrians, who continue past the gates of the municipal yard, along a sidewalk that links to the Oak Bay High School and Recreation Centre properties, and further north to the Henderson Trail leading to the University of Victoria and Camosun College.

The path is also used by elderly residents, as it forms a shortcut to and from  the main Oak Bay  Village area and to the Safeway/BC Liquor Store/medical building complex at Fort and Foul Bay Roads.   The nearby seniors residences include Shannon Oakes, Marion Village, Elgin Gardens, Carlton House and other apartments/condos. The photo below illustrates how a wide sidewalk (about 2.5 metres) has been cut in half because of overgrown shrubbery and utility poles that now obstruct the way.

Elgin Street, southbound

Proceeding north,  the sidewalk disappears entirely, continuing as a well-used rutted path that provides an obvious clue that people need to walk here regularly.

Disappearing sidewalk northbound

More Bad:  Oak Bay Avenue, from Carlton House to Wilmot Street (and opposite south  sidewalk)

This narrow north sidewalk poses challenges to able-bodied pedestrians, but more acutely for users of mobility devices, wheelchairs, scooters, baby strollers,etc.  The width of the sidewalk, coupled with obstructing poles, makes passing difficult and near impossible for some pedestrians.  One pedestrian is often forced on to the roadway, but even this is often blocked by parked cars.

Could a sidewalk be narrower and more difficult to navigate?  I can't think of one.  Then add utility poles, bus shelters, compact curbs, and all the pedestrians who use this stretch.  Particularly difficult is the corner of Elgin and Oak Bay Avenue.  Stand at this corner for less than 5 minutes and witness the way that older folk struggle to move along this narrow channel.   Considering the visitations to the Avenue, this is surely Oak Bay's biggest embarrassment.  Do we really need hours of community and stakeholder consultation, months of visioning and hand-wringing just to have a sidewalk of decent width on the busiest road in Oak Bay?  Municipal employees in adjacent communities say that widening sidewalks is normal engineering maintenance and upgrade practice.  The job just gets done.  Why not here?  

A perfect pedestrian storm:  pram-pushers, mobility device-users, sign poles on the Avenue.  All struggle to claim the narrow sidewalk.  Meanwhile, the paved roadway is of excessive width (note cars in distance).

Walking with a mobility device on the south side of Oak Bay Ave., near Elgin.  No room for her companion to walk side-by-side.  Only single file permitted on this part of  the narrow sidewalk.

A walker with mobility device struggles on the north Avenue sidewalk proceeding towards Elgin.  Note the obstructive placement of the light standard with hanging flower basket. 

A walker with mobility device meets able-bodied pedestrian with dog on the north Avenue sidewalk, approaching Elgin.   

The Ugly: Staircase at the north end of Esplanade.

Notice to those pushing an infant stroller, or using a cane, wheelchair, or other mobility device:   This route is not for you. 

The Willows Beach/Uplands/Cattle Point park corridor is one of the best public seaside places in all of Greater Victoria.  But despite the fact that a staircase extends the Willows Esplanade up to Uplands Park and Cattle Point, only able-bodied persons need apply to enjoy this beautiful place. 

A track worn alongside the stairs is steep, and muddy three seasons each year.  Imagine trying to move  a baby stroller down these stairs, or down the track.  Attempting to get a bike up or down it is treacherous.  Carrying a bike on the staircase is also difficult, so cyclists need not apply here either.

Northbound up the Esplanade staircase

Daunting for those pushing strollers, using mobility aids, or cycling

When is a bike lane not a bike lane?

ANSWER:

When vehicle parking is allowed in the bike lanes for the majority of the week:  Mon to Fri,  7pm - 7am,  and Sat & Sun 24 hrs, a total of 108 hours, 64% of the time.  This is the permitted use on north Henderson Road, the main gateway to the University of Victoria to the north and Camosun College to the south.

Bicycles have exclusive use of the bike lanes for just 36% of the week (Mon-Fri: 7 am - 7 pm), a total of 60 hours.

What if vehicle traffic was subjected to similar limitations?  Would we consider placing large obstacles in the vehicle travel lanes for the majority of the week, forcing them to awkwardly navigate around, posing collusion risks as they swerved in and out of oncoming traffic?  Would that be deemed an  acceptable level of public safety?

The Oak Bay Active Transportation Study (2011), commissioned and adopted by Oak Bay municipality, contained, among its many recommendations, only one that was underlined for emphasis.

"Henderson Road bike lanes are currently reserved for cyclists 7am-7pm Monday through Friday, otherwise they are available for on-street parking. It is recommended that the time restriction is eliminated and lanes made available to cyclists at all times. It is suggested that adjacent properties have sufficient off-street parking and additional parking is available on side streets as needed." 

- Boulevard Transportation Group

These time-limited bike lanes are found only in Oak Bay.
Only in Oak Bay, you say?
Pity.

Getting to the Goose!

Regional connectivity is a cycling concern for those living in the east end of Greater Victoria, and getting to the Goose and Lochside Trails by bike can pose challenges.  Cycling north-west from Oak Bay is daunting if the goal is to avoid travelling on busy arterial roads.

Here's one of my favourite ways to get to the Goose.  Use the University of Victoria campus as the starting point.  You probably have a favourite cycling route to the campus depending on where you live in Oak Bay.  As the Saanich and Oak Bay municipal borders bisect the campus, let's start at the edge of the Oak Bay border of the campus.


Cycle west along the pathway leading from the Commons beside the Hickman Building.

Continue across Ring Road along the pathway



Cross Gordon Head Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signalled crosswalk at Midgard Street.   Proceed along Midgard, then turn right at Ansell Road, then left at Mortimer Street.



Cross Shelbourne Street, using the cyclist-activated traffic light,  (Thank you Saanich for this amenity! Cyclists need a similar treatment on the Haultain Connector to cross Foul Bay Rd.)



Continue on Mortimer to Cedar Hill Road.  Turn right on Cedar Hill, proceed about 35 metres, then turn left on to Gregory Place, leading in to Cedar Hill Middle School.



Turn right in front of school, cycling with the building on your left, and follow the path.

Continue along the school path to Garnet Road.



Turn left, leaving school property at the Garnet cul-de-sac.  A paved, winding pathway leads up to Shorncliffe Road.  Turn right on Shorncliffe,  continue along about 100 metres, then turn right on Wende Road.  Follow Wende  as it winds to the left and changes its name to Harrop Road



Cycle along Harrop to Braefoot Road, then turn right (north) on Braefoot.



Cycling north on Braefoot, cross McKenzie Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signal on the west side of the intersection.  As there is no crosswalk or signal on the east side of the intersection, and as McKenzie is a very busy road, it's problematic to cross by bike unless the west crosswalk is used.



Proceed along Braefoot to Mount Douglas Cross Road, then turn left (west) on to the cycle path.  Watch for pedestrians and cyclists on the trail before turning!



Cycle west on the trail, then cross Blenkinsop Road at the pedestrian/cyclist-activated traffic signal.  You are now on the Blenkinsop Greenway multi-use trail that intersects directly with the Lochside Trail.



Time for a rest at the trail intersection of Blenkinsop Greenway and the Lochside Trail.  Turning right (north) on the Lochside Trail leads to Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, and Swartz Bay.
Turning left (south) leads to downtown Victoria and the Galloping Goose Trail intersection.   The Goose multi-use trail extends west of Victoria.

Enjoy your ride to the Goose.  If you have a good route you'd like to share, please comment.

Welcome to I Ped!

Welcome to this new blog about pedestrian and pedalling life in Oak Bay and beyond.  Use this site to connect on issues and share  ideas on how to improve the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in our community.  Stay tuned!  There's much, much more to come!