HUB Burnaby message: Frances/Union Bikeway survey (Aug 2023)

Hey Everyone,

The deadline for feedback on Frances-Union, Burnaby Mountain Parkway, and Gaglardi Way improvements is August 6th. There's still time to fill out the surveys if you haven't. Here's the link: https://burnaby.civilspace.io/en/projects/vancouver-to-sfu-cycling-connection

We've also created some bullet points to copy and paste into each section's comments. They're listed below:

Frances-Union

• Section between Boundary and Ingleton is steep which results in slow bike traffic eastbound or fast bike traffic westbound. Slow eastbound bike traffic can cause congestion with parked cars and moving motor vehicles. Improved signage and direction to road users would help reduce conflict between these groups. The steepness of the hill going eastbound can make this section uncomfortable to some.
• Intersection of Frances and Gilmore can be difficult to cross due to busy traffic on Gilmore, a full traffic signal would really help improve bicycle traffic flow.
• Diverter/Medians placed at Beta are easily ignored by drivers and too easily bypassed. This defeats the purpose of the diverter and results in increased vehicle traffic.
• The section between Beta and Holdom has lots of through vehicle traffic; more diverters are needed to divert traffic away from Frances and keep it to local traffic only.
• Entire Frances-Union route should be signed 30 km/h and with speed humps where possible. Maybe no speed humps on hills as they could pose a risk to fast cyclists. The existing 50 km/h speed limit is too fast for a local bikeway.
• Existing slow flashing lights at Holdom are easily ignored. Rapid flashing lights may improve the likelihood of motor vehicles stopping. A full traffic signal would be safer.
• The route of the cycle path where Frances meets Fell is poorly marked. Improved signage with bike symbols of where the path continues is needed in both directions. Currently, only a set of bollards exist that imply the path turns northbound when heading east. This signage should also indicate whether the path that runs on/around Burnaby North/Kensington is a multi-use path or a dedicated cycle path.
• The section of Frances between Holdom and Fell is often busy with motor vehicles due to Kensington Park users, please consider calming measures at Holdom and at Hastings.
• Intersection of Union and Duthie needs to have cyclist and pedestrian activated crossing lights. Given the potential high speeds and volumes of motor vehicle traffic (including buses), crossing the street can be difficult and risky for some.
• At the crossing of the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail and Union, consider installing a raised crosswalk to make it more prominent to vehicle traffic on Union.
• Duthie can have higher vehicle volumes and speeds, including buses that are large and that need to pull into curbs frequently for stops. This creates risk of highly dangerous collisions and frequent potential conflict zones with cyclists. This cannot be considered AAA. Protected bike lanes are needed due to speed and traffic volumes on Duthie. Alternatively, bicycle traffic should be moved to an inner street without a formal bus route and where vehicular diverters can be implemented to calm traffic.
• Proposed route change connecting Frances-Union to Burnaby Mountain Parkway is calm, but also adds a climb that will be challenging for some. Constructing a tiered (zig-zag) climb infrastructure will make ascending easier and descending safer.
• The new BC law requires drivers to give 1 meter distance when passing. The City should consider installing protected bike lanes along Frances-Union. There is often oncoming motor vehicle traffic that passes people cycling the other way very closely.

Burnaby Mountain Parkway

• Physically protected bike lanes like concrete barriers or a separated path (more than bollards) are needed due to high speeds of motor vehicles.
• Consider “refuge” rest areas at some points along the hill for people cycling to rest on the uphill and downhill. There are some nice views along the Parkway which would make a nice rest area.

Gaglardi Way

• Physically protected bike lanes like concrete barriers or a separated path (more than bollards) are needed due to high speeds of motor vehicles.
• Consider “refuge” rest areas at some points along the hill for people cycling to rest on the uphill and downhill.
• The intersection of Burnaby Mountain Parkway and Gaglardi Way needs to be improved, the current situation where cars merging from Burnaby Mountain Parkway onto Gaglardi Way isn’t safe.