.... and 1 step back

Bike lane ends, where does a cyclist go?  Does he turn into the
IKEA plaza or chose no bike lane Plains Rd.

Most agree a bike lane, even an edge line, is better than nothing.  No where is this more apparent than on Plains Road, west of the QEW underpass.  The bike lane disappears and the cyclist is left to fend for himself in heavy traffic.

Once off the underpass bike lane, the cyclist - and motorist are confronted with a dilemma.  Will the cyclist hug the curb lane which is a turn only lane into the IKEA complex or will the cyclist veer left into the 2nd lane of straight through traffic?  The cyclist, even an enthused and confident cyclist, feels angst in this conflict zone.

The majority of people do not cycle regularly because they fear sharing the roadway with cars.  Cyclists can be grouped into 4 categories (2009 Cycling Master Plan page 16).

While the QEW Fairview underpass improvements are fantastic, they will be under utilized because west of the underpass there are no bike lanes in either the westbound or eastbound lanes.  There is no safe and comfortable way for the cyclist to bike from the QEW to Francis Road.  City engineers must take into consideration the bike lanes they are adding, should be designed for the 60% of Interested but Concerned Burlingtonians who will cycle when its safe and comfortable.

In 2012, the city plans to resurface and widen Plains Road from King to Francis adding bike lanes but there is nothing slated for Plains between the underpass and Francis.

Road width measurements indicate there is room for bike lanes between the QEW and Francis Road.  Grinding and painting is all that's needed.  This is not expensive work.  It's not difficult to do.  It does take foresight and attention.  This could have and should have been done in conjunction with the underpass road work!

Steps forward ....

Using data from MTO and statistics from the City of Burlington, the Burlington Road Safety Committee determined that cyclists are 33 times more likely to be involved in a collision on the highway overpasses.  At the QEW / Fairview underpass, 2 fatalities and several serious injuries occurred over a 4 year period to cyclists and pedestrians crossing the roadway in the designated area.

MTO and the City of Burlington are closer to completing additional measures to make this intersection safer.  These include: blue bike lanes, narrower vehicle lanes which slow down vehicles, street-scaping, an alternative sidewalk crossing for less adventurous cyclists and a reduction in the speed limit.  All positive steps.  Thank you!!

Motorists beware!  It's a high enforcement area.