Why people like to live in the Comox Valley.

1. Why people like to live in the Comox Valley.

2. Clean Air Clean Water Natural Beauty Abundance of Outdoor Activities Friendly People Relaxed and quiet Life style But we can’t take it for granted!

3. Successes Challenges Vision

4. Successes – Chip Seal Still negotiating over acceptable surfaces for cycling, but it was promised that there will be no more grade B chip seal used.

5. Successes 2009 Technical Road Maintenance Potholes – Sweeping - Signage

6. Road Maintenance Sweeping of roads and repainting of lines was done more frequently and earlier in the season than in the past. A fair number of new cycling signs were installed in 2009 and it was promised by Comox, Courtenay and the MOTI that we will have the cyclist symbol painted on the pavement of shared roadways in 2010. We still have a long way to go, but are moving in the right direction.

7. Getting more of these signs painted on cycling routes, especially on shared roadways, would help to make drivers aware that cyclists have a right to be on the road. (Not necessarily with the arrow)

8. CYCLISTS STOP AND DISMOUNT OLD NEW NEW After years of pleading by many cyclists we have finally been promised that the signage on 5th Street Bridge will be changed.

9. Plans by Courtenay and Comox for significant improvements of cycling infrastructure in 2010

10. Successes 2009 Forming of the Comox Valley Cycling Public Advisory Committee by the CV Cycling Task Force gives us more direct access to the planners and engineers of the different jurisdictions. Established good working relationship with the local MOTI office, which will help with getting things done in the future.

11. Successful 2009Special Events Christmas Parade

12. Special Events – Comox Nautical Parade

13. Bike to the playground event. Part of BtWWeek – 42 kids participated . Kids love cycling

14. Success from 2009 Education Instructors’ Courses Bike tour with Huband School

15. Education Safe Cycling Rodeo Huband School 200 kids in 2 days. Also courses to public.

16. Success from 2009Social Reconnaissance Rides Tour de Hornby We need more events like these

17. Mothers’ day ride

18. Upcoming Challenges We need safe crossings for cyclists across the Courtenay River

19. We need to educate cyclists and motorists to share the roads Our coalition intends to continue teaching safe and responsible cycling to schools as well as to the general public. We have to get the provincial government to educate drivers in how to behave around cyclists. We need changes in the Motor Vehicle Act to give cyclists more protection.

20. Thank you very much Happy and safe cycling

21. Presentation to the Committee of the Whole of the Regional DistrictFeb. 16, 2010

22. Our beautiful Comox Valley

23. Best place on Earth facing serious challenges 1986 to 2007 Population more than doubled in the last 30 years. Average increase of about 1650 people and 1000 more cars every year!

24. More cars More traffic More idling More pollution Population Growth =

25. Downtown Courtenay Buildings Buildings Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Roads Roads Do we have room for more roads and parking for cars?

26. Cancycling be part of the solution? Parking space needed for 50 people traveling by Bus Bicycle Car About half a tennis court The best part of a football field The size of the bus

27. It has been proven in many cycling friendly cities all over the world that the humble bicycle can help reduce traffic congestion, make our air cleaner and our population healthier.

28. In some of these cities as many as 43% of all trips are done by bicycle.Most, if not all of these cities have found that investment into cycling gives the highest return on the transportation dollar.

29. What do we want our valley to look like 20 years from now? Likethis………....or……..this

30. Some good things have been done for cycling in the CV over the last few years.

31. But to decrease the number of cars in the valley we have to take bolder steps and do more to encourage people to walk or cycle for transportation.

32. In a recent survey taken by the CV Cycling Coalition, more than 70% of the 653 respondents said that they found conditions for cycling in the valley too dangerous. Almost all of them said they would ride their bikes more often if improvements were made. We need safer bikeways!

33. VISION If we start now to make cycling a higher priority, we can reach a cycling mode share of 20% by the year 2020 This would start to actually reduce the number of cars on our roads

34. Cycling facilities designed to get more people out of their cars.

35. Eugene, OR Getting just one these built across the Courtenay Riverwould give cycling in the CV a tremendous boost

36. Most kids love cycling. If we create Safe Routes to Schools Parents would allow them to ride more

37. Bold steps taken elsewhere to create cycling friendly cities. Thisproves that it is OK to take space and investment from the automobile and use it for cycling.

38. Car lanes are converted to bicycle lanes in Copenhagen

39. New York City Car lanes on Park Avenueare converted into cycling lanes!

40. Esplanade in Portland, OR – built over the river

41. Paris, Francehas made some giant leaps for safe cycling lately

42. Closer to home:Burrard St. bridge Vancouver Councilor Geoff Meggs: “Unqualified Success”

43. BUT CAN WE AFFORD IT? With the ever increasing population in our valley we will have to invest in transportation. The decision we have to make is: Do we want people to do more trips by car or by bicycle? Cycling infrastructure is much cheaper to build and maintain than that for cars. Cycling is better for our environment and healthier for our population. Cycling routes and parking take much less space than roads and parking for cars.

44. PORTLAND BICYCLE PLAN FOR 2030 The VISION “Our intentions are to be as sustainable a city as possible. That means socially, that means environmentally and that means economically. The bike is great on all three of those factors. You just can’t get a better transportation return on your investment than you get with promoting bicycling.” Sam Adams – Mayor of Portland

45. We have to change our Prioritieswhich over the last 50 years were all for the automobile THE NEW PRIORITIES

46. Not Us against Them More people on bikes will leave more space on the roads for the ones who have to drive. Win – Win

47. This is not just about cycling, is about keeping our population healthy, our air clean and our towns livable for our children and grandchildren

48. Kids at Huband would love to have the chance to ride our bikes to school to save our planet. Many of us are not allowed to ride because it is too dangerous. SO PLEASE BUILD SAFFER BIKE LANES

49. YOU CAN HELP! • By letting local politicians know that you are in favor of clean and healthy transportation. • By joining the CV Cycling Coalition. The more members we have, the more our voice will be heard. • By participating in upcoming rallies and other events promoting sustainable transportation. • By making an effort to walk or cycle more often for short trips without a load. • By spreading the word about all of the above to others. THANK YOU