Courtenay Councilor Murray Presley didn’t support the idea of bike lanes on Cliffe Avenue, saying the road was too busy with traffic, such as large trucks, for safe cycling, but he believes the debate over the issue has still delivered benefits.

“It’s good that they (cycling advocates) are unhappy, because we hear about it and it brings the concerns forward and makes us more aware. It wasn’t always on our radar before.”

Local bike shop owner (The Broken Spoke) Tomiko Collins, while disappointed by the decision, is trying to be pragmatic. The debate over the Cliffe Avenue bike lane issue highlighted two alternative routes for cyclists, the aforementioned Riverway and nearby Fitzgerald Avenue, a route parallel to Cliffe, two blocks to the west.

“I guess it’s sort of a philosophical divide. Some cyclists want every road to be an appropriate road for cycling and that’s definitely the position being taken by the cycling coalition. For me as a business owner and a pragmatic thinker, I think maybe the way we should be going is looking for ways that get you where you want to go,” such as alternate routes for cyclists.

Cliffe Avenue is just one area where the Coalition has been advocating for cyclists in the Comox Valley. They are also seeking road and signage improvements to make Courtenay’s two major bridges and their approaches safer for cyclists.

“The most critical points in the region’s transportation network are two bridges across the Courtenay River,” said Dreher. “Neither of these bridges is safe for cyclists. The 5th Street Bridge is narrow and does not accommodate the safe passing of cyclists by motor vehicles. We have been advocating the placement of signs advising cyclists to ‘take the lane’. The City has promised such signs, but after more than a year, we are still waiting. The 17th Street Bridge is more difficult. It is a major four-lane drawbridge over navigable water; the lifting portion consists of a metal grate, which is very hazardous to cyclists, particularly in wet conditions. MOTI (BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) has promised to do something about it … but again, after more than a year, nothing has happened yet.”

For Dreher the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition’s advocacy work is paying dividends, but the return on investment may not be cause for celebration.

“As a result of a flurry of protests in the local media over the Cliffe Avenue widening project, Courtenay City Council created a multi-departmental staff group for the purpose of meeting with CPAC (Cycling Public Advisory Committee) to discuss issues of concern to cyclists. From the very first meeting with the Task Force over a year ago, we had requested such a process. We have finally made progress. The only sad thing is that it took a painful experience with possible long-term negative implications to get to this point.”

Comox Valley Cycling Coalition:

cyclecv.squarespace.com