The city wants to brand a popular local bike route as the “Barns to Beaches” route.
Council at its Jan. 23 meeting endorsed a staff recommendation to submit a $150,000 grant application to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport's Destination Development Fund for the 16-km route connecting breweries and farm stands in Ladner with the beaches and cafes in Tsawwassen.
The route currently comprises a series of existing cycling segments along Delta's farm roads and the multi-use pathway along the Boundary Bay dike.
Given the route's popularity, the entire connection would be a branded by the city as the “Barns to Beaches” bike route. The current route starts at River Road near 72nd Street and winds its way to Market Avenue at the Southlands.
It would be marketed by Tourism Delta and other members of the Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Support Team (CRERST).
To help defray costs associated with branding the route and implementing necessary safety, educational and engagement measures, the city will apply for the grant funding.
The city has already allocated $50,000 in its capital budget to establish the route and enhance its safety as part of Delta’s Cycling Master Plan.
“To improve road safety on this well-used cycling connection, staff will be adding cycling traffic signage, street cycling decals and digital speed reader boards. Staff will also develop social media videos and install street/ dike signage to raise awareness about the need to yield to farm vehicles when riding on the dike or a farm road,” a staff report explains.
