If you feel like there isn't enough room for cyclists on the road, you aren't alone.
HUB Cycling, a registered charitable organization dedicated to increasing cycling in communities across Metro Vancouver, has launched a petition calling for temporary walking and cycling space to be installed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization notes that increased space will allow people to more easily practice safe physical distancing, and that a number of roadways are currently underutilized due to the pandemic. They add that many residents have turned to walking and cycling in order to get their daily exercise, and that, "it can be difficult to maintain adequate distance, especially on crowded bicycle facilities or narrow sidewalks."
“We need to ensure people have safe spaces to walk and cycle - away from motor vehicles while also allowing social distancing to occur. Pop up or temporary bicycle facilities are a way to do just that and are recommended by the National Association of City Transportation Officials,” said Evan Hammer, Infrastructure Planning and Policy Manager at HUB Cycling.Earlier this month, HUB Cycling issued a release that included a number of examples around the world where cities are installing temporary facilities for people biking and/or walking. In Canada, they mention how, "Calgary is planning to close roads to vehicle traffic on the weekends to allow people to get outside while maintaining social distancing."
The release added that an increase in the number of bikes on the road can also lead to an uptick in injuries. They cite New York, where cyclist injuries reportedly increased by 43% between March 9 and 15. Further, HUB’s State of Cycling Report, which was released February 2020 in partnership with TransLink, found that areas where the cycling network has grown and improved, the rate of collisions involving people who cycle has dropped, and cycling trips have increased significantly.
“The massive decrease in car traffic during quarantine is going to make cycling and walking more appealing, and much safer. Swift action by local municipalities in creating temporary bike lanes will help deliver a much-needed behaviour change to encourage more people to adopt cycling and walking as their main mode of transportation for their daily commute,” said Navdeep Chhina, Acting Executive Director of HUB Cycling.Now, HUB Cycling is asking locals to sign a petition called "Reallocate Space to Active Transportation" which has 2,194 signatures as of 5 p.m. on Monday, April 27.
Find out more information about the petition here.
