The City of Delta has rolled out its plan for a two-block, multi-use pathway that will connect Sixth Avenue to a brand new recreation and aquatic centre in Winskill Park.
But the Delta committee of the HUB Cycling group still wants a path that will take those on non-motorized wheels from deep in Tsawwassen to the South Delta Recreation Centre, just north of 16th Avenue.
There’s room for some optimism however.
Neil Pope, Delta committee co-chair, said the city has taken a preliminary look at the roadway from 12th to 16th avenues and found there’s enough room for separated bike lanes and sidewalks, while keeping the same number of traffic lanes on 56th Street.
“There is adequate space on 56th Street to do that,” he said, although noting there’s nothing planned and nothing has been funded.
“The goal is to have good, safe active transportation along 56th Street,” he said.
As the population density increases, “it’s crucial that we just don’t go down the path of only relying on vehicles for getting around and that active transportation be thought of and planned.
“If we don’t do it during the upcoming development, it’s impossible and or very expensive to do it later on.”
"One way or another, these e-bikes and e-everythings are coming and we've got to think ahead of it. Right now, they're on the sidewalk," he said.
The city’s cycling master plan shows cycling lanes from Sixth to 16th Avenue as an identified need, Pope added.
Committee co-chair Roel Schootman said the bike lanes should be continuous.
“I think it should be done properly. Carry it consistently, all the way through,” he said.
The cycling group raised the same concerns last year pointing out there’s little cycling infrastructure along 56th Street.
The city is holding an open house Sept. 25 to gather feedback on its plans for a northbound 3.5m-wide multi-use pathway from Sixth Avenue to Winskill Park, at 8A Avenue, on the east side of 56th Street.
The pathway will have LED street lights, a grassed boulevard and new signs.
Pope though pointed out there is nothing for cyclists southbound on 56th Street, from 12th to Sixth Avenue.
A City of Delta email said that the city's cycling master plan envisions protected cycling facilities along 56th Street, between Hwy.17 and the U.S. border, and the current project is to extend the multi-use pathway between Sixth Avenue and 8A Avenue, connecting Southlands to Winskill Park.
Other bicycle lanes for 56th Street, will be considered by council in future capital plans.
