I am sure we can all think of numerous examples; let me illustrate with one that I experienced personally.
In 2020, North Cowichan completed the Chemainus Road Corridor Upgrade project, implemented as part of the MTP (Master Transportation Plan). It was touted as an example of the “new way forward” to tackle the “Climate Crisis” most of us believed in. As a lifelong cyclist, I personally eagerly looked forward to the improvements.
The challenges of riding a bicycle on the narrow shoulder of most BC roads are not for the faint of heart and can be outright terrifying to the inexperienced cyclist. I considered myself more than equipped to handle the rigours of the challenge, having spent five years living in Japan, where I cycled an average of 40 km a day, often on far more treacherous roads. Having cycled Hwy 1 between Shizuoka and Shimizu on a regular basis in the 1990s, where there was no accommodation for bicycles and traffic thundered past mere inches from you, I felt confident that the bicycle commute in Chemainus would be a piece of cake.
It is now five years since this project was completed, and I can sadly report that this is not the case. In fact, I avoid using the bike lanes unless I have no alternative. Why? Because they are too dangerous, and twice now I have had incidents that were serious enough to not only dampen my enthusiasm but eventually to put me off completely.
I come from an environmental activist background; I was part of incorporating an Eco Village, and I attempted to build my own electric car 20 years ago (a story for the pub). I am a keen supporter of renewables (as a concept); I drive an electric car. I have always been passionate about saving the environment. As such, after a lifetime of challenges and saving (more stories for the pub), I was finally able to buy a house, which of course I looked for, and after three years of searching, I found one that I could commute to work in Chemainus from.
What Changed Things for Me?
The first incident was about two years ago. Keen to be “part of the solution,” I was supportive of the concept of “Active Transportation.” My experience as a young cyclist in Japan was pleasant, so I dutifully purchased a baby seat and a “Ride-Along” so I could go to the supermarket with my two young boys “the right way” and leave the car (albeit an electric one) at home.
For anyone unclear, a “Ride-Along” is like a bike with no front wheel, where the wheel would instead be an extension of the frame mounted to the back of another bicycle. (See page 78 of North Cowichan’s 2024 North Cowichan Master Transportation Plan.) Kids who can’t yet ride by themselves can pedal along and contribute to the propulsion effort. Needless to say, this rig altogether is not exactly light, and it can be difficult to stop rapidly.
So here I am heading north towards the supermarket in the bike lane. Now there is a small buffer that is designed to protect cyclists and car users alike from this particular hazard, but this buffer is merely painted “on the road,” and people are fallible sometimes; more often than I am comfortable with, to be honest, they do not respect that one and park partially on it. Maybe because getting out of a car parked there is not easy and can itself be a harrowing experience.
Sure enough, as I was biking one day, an elderly gentleman did what Allan Greeves refers to as “dooring” and opened his truck door just as I was approaching. Now I was not going fast on this rig I was riding, but being essentially the bicycle version of a semi-trailer, it is hard to stop. I managed, with heart pounding, to do so without striking the gentleman in question, but only barely and literally by inches. I am not sure who was more frightened, me or him. The kids were delightfully oblivious, but for me, it was a sobering experience. I do not relish the idea of crashing with a 3- and 5-year-old on board. This made me more cautious, but I was still determined to be the example I wish to see and use Active Transport whenever possible. My next experience, however, was to change that commitment.
The second event happened on the next stretch of bike path, between River Rd. and Victoria St., where the Chemainus Theatre is. This time I was alone. Still wishing to be part of the solution, and in my 50s with a titanium hip and another one on the way, I broke down and found myself an E-Bike. Again, I was “doored,” but this time the door was opened without time for me to stop. I was faced with a choice: bail or hit the lady who was exiting her car. I chose the former and crashed, narrowly missing her. To say she was shocked would be an understatement, but she was unharmed and very apologetic. Myself and my e-bike were unfortunately not so lucky. I hurt my ankle and wrist, and it was exacerbated by my already painful right hip. The E-Bike stopped working and, to this day, still does not work.
Councillor Istace
Councillor Istace, I assert that the design of the Chemainus Road Corridor Upgrade project is outright dangerous; there is potentially a simple, cost-effective solution, and your response to citizen concerns is nothing short of contemptuous. I call on you to make a formal statement on why even discussing a fix is “not going to happen.”
With deep anger and resentment,
Paul from Chemainus
