There are always a lot of topics about Vancouver transportation, such as whether there are not enough overhead cranes, whether UBC overhead cranes will be built; For example, when will Highway 1 in Langley be widened to avoid endless traffic jams; Another example is whether there will be more pedestrian blocks......
There is one type of transport that you should not forget: bicycles, bike lanes. Although there are not many Chinese who have the habit of riding bicycles regularly in Vancouver, after all, many Chinese who immigrated to Vancouver for a long time have more or less ridden bicycles in China when they were young, and some people rely on bicycles to commute to work and go to school year after year.
Is Vancouver a good city to ride in? On major websites and forums, heated debates have sparked again recently. The reason for the debate is not the bike itself, but the bike lanes:
Cyclists will think that Vancouver has too few bike lanes and too little safety for cyclists to put them in danger. Therefore, it is necessary to add bicycle lanes, especially in important scenic areas, such as the bicycle path in Stanley Park, which should not be closed;
People who don't like cycling, or don't think Vancouver should enhance its bike lanes, feel like it's a waste of money and unnecessary. What are the views of those who support Vancouver as a "cycling paradise" and those who believe that Vancouver is a "cycling hell"? Here are a few for your reference.
Square:
As the population grows, cycling can become the mainstay
This is the most common view among those who support that Vancouver is bike-friendly and should have more bike lanes: Vancouver has a growing population and roads are already overwhelmed and congested from morning to night. Although public transportation is developing, it is difficult to cover it for a while, and the best way to do this is to encourage cycling.
Compared to cars, cycling can not only exercise but also improve the environment, and bicycles are much cheaper than cars. Can't ride it, or feel like the bike is too slow? Don't forget the e-bikes! In some congested sections, cycling is even faster than driving in the morning and evening rush hours.
Anti-direction:
Vancouver's climate and geography make it not suitable for cycling
This is the most common view among those who consider Vancouver to be a "cycling hell." They believe that Vancouver's climate and geography make it definitely not a good city to ride in:
There are more than 180 rainy days a year, especially from November to March, there is no day and night of rain, the roads are slippery, the visibility is poor, and it has to rain for a long time. In addition, Vancouver is a mountainous town with many steep slopes, and cyclists are often tired and half dead. Only plain cities are suitable for cycling.
Square:
Is there a better environment for cycling than Vancouver?
Vancouver's climate and terrain are not suitable for cycling, but cyclists will say: Vancouver is a great environment for cycling! For example, the temperature is not high in summer, and there will be no hidden danger of heat stroke when cycling; For example, the coastline and forests are beautiful, and cycling is the supreme visual enjoyment.
Even in the rainy season, it is usually a light rain instead of a downpour, so you can enjoy cycling with a regular raincoat. In addition, the bicycle theft rate in Vancouver has dropped significantly in recent years, so there is no need to worry about bicycle theft. All in all, Vancouver is too good for cycling.
Anti-direction:
The quality of cyclists is worrying, and they do not follow the traffic rules
I agree with this point of view, because I am a first-hand witness: a large percentage of cyclists ignore the Stop Sign and the 4 Way Stop Sign, and rely on the bike to let themselves whizz by. Also, when going downhill, the cyclist will speed down as if he were flying, without worrying about the oncoming car from the side.
There are not many news of cyclists being hit by cars in Vancouver, but some cyclists are still of very low quality, turning a deaf ear to them, believing that they are the masters of the road and enjoy all the priority rights, which makes car drivers nervous, helpless and angry. What's more, even pedestrians are not allowed.
Square:
For those who can't afford to buy a car, cycling is an "affordable life"
This point of view points to the pain points of Vancouver - the price of goods is so high, the price of housing is so high, and the price of oil is so high. Many cyclists don't like cycling itself, but they really can't drive or refuel. Since Vancouver advocates both green living and affordable living, it should be more considered by cyclists.
Building more bike lanes will make more people willing to try this affordable way of getting around. As for road congestion? When motorists feel more congested, they may switch to cycling, and Seon will not know if he is lost.
Anti-direction:
Affordable living? Build bike lanes and pay you out?
The opposing side scoffs at the idea that cycling is an affordable life: "Building more bike lanes means a lot of road improvements; A long bicycle lane can easily cost three to five million, and you will pay for it? Doesn't the government pay for you to pay more taxes? ”
In addition, bike lanes make regular car lanes more congested, commuting longer, and more fuel-guzzling, so is the cyclist paying for the loss? The idea that the government cares about cyclists is radical and selfish.
Is Vancouver good for cycling? The government doesn't know either
Some netizens directly moved out of the article by the official media CBC at the end of November last year, titled "The Vancouver City Government is not clear about whether Stanley Park is going to reconfigure the bicycle lane" - which can be extended to: Is Vancouver suitable for cycling? The government doesn't know either.
When talking about the problem of bicycle lanes, Vancouver Mayor Shen Guanjian admitted: "The solution is very complicated, in the limited road space, should we prefer cars or bicycles? It is difficult to guarantee that the decision is correct, so we can only put it on hold for the time being. ”
This is different from building a house, because of the same large land, if you want to live for more people, it is nothing more than spending more money to build a high point and increase the floor area ratio; But the road is a flat rather than a three-dimensional shape, and it is impossible to make the bike lane wider and the lane not narrower, and at the same time not remove things on both sides of the road.
Just like the pros and cons debated by netizens, Vancouver does have many reasons to ride a bike, and there are many reasons why it is not suitable for cycling. What are the reasons to prevail? It's a hard question to find......