Image above: Protected bike lane built in 1967, from Getting around Davis, cited in Ashland News.
Victoria is among the leading North American cities in building protected bike-and-roll lanes and routes. And we call ourselves the cycling capital of Canada.
However we are far from alone in making our public rights of way safer for vulnerable road users.
Our neighbours Saanich and Esquimalt have quickly built new protected lanes and routes. Others are planning their systems.
And across North America, cities are moving forward with these safer facilities, which “reduce fatalities for all road users… Roads are safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in cities with robust bike facilities.”
This is taking place in coastal and interior areas, in climates hot, dry, wet and cold, including in blue provinces and red states.
Here’s an incomplete list of cities moving forward, with links to read more:
Saanich https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Engineering/Cycling-%20Network.pdf
Esquimalt https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/docs/municipal-services/engineering/roads-transportation/WATT_Esquimalt_ATNP_Plan_Summary_Mar18-22_FINAL.pdf
Vancouver https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/cycling-routes-maps-and-trip-planner.aspx
Calgary https://www.calgary.ca/roads/safety/bike-lanes.html
Edmonton https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/cycling_walking/bike-maps-and-routes
Regina https://www.regina.ca/transportation-roads-parking/walking-cycling/cycling/
Winnipeg https://www.winnipeg.ca/services-programs/transportation-roads/walking-biking
Toronto https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/
Ottawa https://ottawa.ca/en/parking-roads-and-travel/active-transportation/cycling
Montréal https://montreal.ca/en/topics/cycling-and-bike-paths
Québec City https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/deplacements/deplacements-actifs/corridors_velo.aspx
Halifax https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/cycling-walking
United States
❤️ Minneapolis MN ❤️ https://go.minneapolismn.gov/final-plan/bicycling/all-ages-and-abilities-network
Chicago IL https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/complete-streets-chicago/home/bike-program/existing-bike-network.html
Cambridge MA https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Transportation/gettingaroundcambridge/bikesincambridge/newbikeprojects
Seattle WA https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bike-program/better-bike-lanes
St Paul MN https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/transportation-and-transit/bike-saint-paul/bicycle-maps
Austin TX https://www.austintexas.gov/page/protected-bike-lanes
San Antonio TX https://sanantonioreport.org/avenue-b-and-north-alamo-street-bike-lanes-completed-san-antonio/
Tampa FL https://www.tampa.gov/mobility/transportation/bikeroutes
Nashville TN https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/GROOVE_Bikeways-Map2024.pdf
New York City NY https://www.nyc.gov/content/visionzero/pages/safe-cycling
Boston MA https://www.boston.gov/departments/boston-bikes/better-bike-lanes-bike-lane-types
Boulder CO https://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/core-arterial-network
Ann Arbor MI https://www.a2dda.org/getting-around/bike/#