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