I’ve been wanting to revisit the issue of some of Richmond’s most dangerous areas for road cyclists.
It’s been six months since I brought this to the attention of city hall and, today, something happened that compelled me to do this now.
I was riding my bike west down Westminster Highway on the right hand side between No. 8 and No. 6 roads when a truck pulled up along side of me.
When I looked over, the passenger window went down and the driver of the truck said, “There’s a bike path on the other side of the road.”
Since I was riding at 40 km/h, this wasn’t the best time to chat, but I told him that city hall is aware of the safety issues with that path. I’ve had too many close calls there so I’m good here. I told him I appreciated his concern, he waved and drove off.
In the Nov. 18, 2016 edition of the Richmond News, my open letter to city hall was printed and I listed the pathway along Westminster Highway as one of the five, most dangerous places in Richmond for road cyclists to ride.
It included driveways with tall hedges butting up right against the pathway, so cars coming out need to edge out into the middle of the pathway to even see if there is a bike coming.
Also, as the path is shared with pedestrians and others — is it wise to have road cyclists who ride at considerable speed on that path?
No, it’s not. I ride this stretch almost every day and I’ll say now what I said then: “This stretch of road is wide enough to support cycling shoulders with just a little effort as these lanes are wider than Gilbert Road, where cyclists are encouraged to ride.
So, what about the worst offender on the list of dangerous places?
The railroad tracks at Westminster Highway, just by No. 9 Road. Six months. Nothing.
Ted Townsend, speaking on behalf of city hall in the Nov 18, 2016 Richmond News, said that the city was waiting for CN to upgrade their crossing.
Still to this day, cyclists and pedestrians must cross a small, bumpy piece of blacktop with vehicles, mostly 18-wheelers. What’s the speed limit there?
Well, there is a sign posted not 20 feet from that crossing, telling all traffic the limit is 60 km/h.
Could the city not put up signs on the road leading to the choke point telling traffic that people and bikes have to cross with them and to slow down or yield at that crossing?
I bet if I was in charge of a piece of land in Richmond and it was unsafe to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians the city would pay me a visit telling me to fix that area.
Could I put it off for six months, knowing that every day, I am endangering the lives of people on that land?
I don’t think city hall would allow that. So then why can city council and Mayor Brodie get away with endangering peoples’ lives every day at that location?
City hall needs stop waiting for CN and step up before another cyclist is injured or killed in Richmond.
Geordie McGillivray is an avid Richmond cyclist. His Saddle Up column appears regularly in the Richmond News.
