Almost nine years ago, the CRD’s TravelChoices was released. Amongst the many documents released was Working Paper #3, the Bicycle Strategy. Part of that strategy is this little gem:
Key crossings on shared bicycle routes include Haultain Street at Foul Bay Road
(Page 20 of the PDF, TravelChoices Working Paper #3 [PDF])
Even then it was seen a critical link. There is also this little gem:
Within the scope of the Bicycle Strategy it is not possible to identify appropriate crossing treatments for specific locations — selection of crossing treatments will be undertaken at a later date, by the CRD and municipalities, in consultation with cyclists and other stakeholders.
To the best of my knowledge, this has never been undertaken.
In fact, a quick glance through the list of recommended crossing improvements, a few minor improvements have been made to Galloping Goose and Lochside Trail crossings, but the only on-street improvements have been done by the City of Victoria. Specifically both of the two bike boxes recommended have been been built:
- Off Wharf across the Johnson St. Bridge (Google Streetview link)
- Where Government merges into Douglas (Google Streetview link).
Until recently, they were the only bike boxes anywhere in the CRD (a third has recently been installed by the City on Harbour Rd. as people turn eastbound onto Esquimalt Rd, also designed for crossing the Johnson St. Bridge [Google Streetview link, doesn’t yet show the bike box])