What makes for good cycling?

Few or slow cars, easy crossings, good way finding, and a developed network

What discourages cycling?

Too many or fast cars, difficult crossings, poor paving, too much to carry, and stop signs

Top Safety Concerns

Afraid of getting hit by a car, too many cars, speeding cars, potholes and gravel, and falling (non-cyclists).

Many things effect the network, from topography, to density and quality of bikeways, to access to destinations.

Information from the Portland bike survey

Cycling is good for the economy. A Portland Office of Transportation survey discovered that the cycling industry in that city brings in $63 million of economic activity.

Bicycling is an often overlooked form of transportation. In a world where a solution to congestion is transportation choice, it is imperative for municipalities such as Surrey to have not only moving roadways, accessible transit, and walkable centres, but also vast bicycling networks.

There are four types of cyclists, as outlined by the Portland Office of Transportation.

The “Strong & Fearless” are those who will ride no matter what the conditions. Cycling is part of their identity.

The “Enthused & Confident” are those who have been attracted to cycling due to better infrastructure. They are comfortable sharing the roadway, but prefer their own facilities.

The “Interested but Concerned” are those who like biking, but get nervous about speeding cars or right of ways at intersections. This group would ride more if they felt safer on the roads.

The “No way, no how” group is not at all interested in cycling due to topography, inability, or simply a lack of interest.

Surrey, with it’s current complete lack of network, attracts only the “Strong and Fearless”. This website presents a plan designed to make cycling friendly for the two other groups, “Enthused and Confident” and “Interested but Concerned”.

In addition, cycling may be the “best buy” for a city. Only 0.7% of the Portland Department of Transportation’s capital budget is spent on cycling initiatives, while cycling already has a 6% modal share of the city’s commute trips. Compared to the cost of transit or road expansion, funding cycling initiatives is nearly negligible.

For example, the City of Vancouver spent only $183,000 in 1998 to install and upgrade cycling signage throughout it’s network.

Or, take the Central Valley Greenway, a new 25+ km stretch of bikepath running from Vancouver, through Burnaby, and to New Westminster. This beautiful new separated bike path cost a total of $17 million, compared to the recent roadway investments, such as the widening of Fraser Highway ($45 million), the 204 St Overpass ($18 million), or the improvements along the North Fraser Perimeter Road ($60 million). In addition, consider that more than 23% of the Metro Vancouver population lives within 1.5km from the Central Valley Greenway.