BikeMaps Blog

A new report from the Pembina Institute found that cycling in Vancouver is quite safe when compared to other Canadian cities. It highlighted that while we have separated cycling facilities in the downtown core, a majority of the bike routes are “actually just signed routes on residential streets that are shared with cars”.

Yet any cyclist in Vancouver knows that some of these local street bikeways feel safer than others. One of the busiest local street bikeways is 10th Avenue, with over 500,000 cyclists each year. In the summer over 2,500 cyclists a day pass Clark along 10th Avenue. But 10th Avenue has a high number of cycling collisions relative to other corridors in the city, based on the City of Vancouver’s 2015 Cycling Safety Report.

Mapping cycling safety data can identify where improvements are most needed. Our BikeMaps.org team looked at 128 ICBC-reported cyclist collisions (2009-2013) to identify the top trouble spots along the corridor and also BikeMaps.org data to understand the types of incidents that are happening. Conflicts with cars certainly stand out along the corridor – both moving cars and parked cars.

Luckily, the City of Vancouver has 10th Avenue as a priority route for upgrades to be more safe, convenient, comfortable and fun for people of all ages and abilities. Some changes have already happened, such as green paint to mark the intersection at 10th and Clark. If you want to know more about the City’s plans, their public consultation materials are here. You can also give the City feedback by writing to 10thAvenue@vancouver.ca. We will watch for their design plans in early 2016 and look forward to safer cycling!

About BikeMaps.org: This global online mapping tool was launched in Fall 2014 with the goal of capturing more data on cycling safety. It was developed by Dr. Trisalyn Nelson and the Spatial Pattern Analysis and Research (SPAR) Lab in UVic’s Geography Department. The BikeMaps.org Team includes Dr. Meghan Winters, a population health researcher from SFU. The MetroVan BikeMaps.org Team has received funding from the Bullitt Foundation to promote mapping across the Lower Mainland. With more locations pinned across Metro Vancouver, researchers will be able to document areas with cycling safety issues in the region. These results can be used by advocates and municipalities to identify priorities for infrastructure investments, resulting in streets safer for cycling.

Logging an incident is anonymous and only takes a minute or two. You can also receive alerts of any incidents on your route by creating an account. Both android and iOS mobile apps are available for citizen mappers to use BikeMaps on their mobile devices.

We welcome all feedback and interest in the project. Get in touch by email info@bikemaps.org, on Twitter, or through Facebook. Share a cycling photo on Instagram by tagging @BikeMapsMetroVan.

We are studying cycling safety along the Galloping Goose and Lochside Regional Trails. Data submitted to BikeMaps.org has highlighted trouble spots for people riding regional trails in and around Victoria. Ben Jestico (Geography MSc Student leading the study) has been working with volunteers to survey these and other regional trail road crossings. Students are collecting intersection design characteristics, as well as cycling and vehicle volumes. We will analyze data to provide recommendations for the safest designs.

Ben, who was surveying at Harriet Road this week, said, "That intersection count gave me high blood pressure! There were lots of cars turning off and onto the highway that just didn't see people cycling." Ten incidents have been reported to BikeMaps.org where the Galloping Goose crosses Harriet Road.

If you have had an incident while cycling on a regional trail, please add your data to BikeMaps.org and include your experience in our study!

The regional trail project is funded by Bunt and Associates and NSERC.

Would you like to see more mapping on BikeMaps.org in your city or area? We have found that having a local BikeMaps “champion” on the ground really helps drive interest in the project. Here are some ideas to assist in spreading the word:

• Follow@BikeMapsTeam on Twitter link and retweet any tweets that pertain to issues, events, or ideas for your area. Tag local cycling advocacy groups or other possibly interested twitter followers when you retweet.

• Like us on Facebook and share or like our posts. link

• Print off BikeMaps flyers to put up in local businesses, such as bike stores and coffee shops. Flyers can also be placed in public spaces such as libraries, recreation centres, and on university/college bulletin boards. Contact us for flyers: info@bikemaps.org

• Ask local cycling groups if you can post a short article about BikeMaps.org on their website. (We have one available.)

• Do you have a connection in the local media? Give them a “tip” about BikeMaps.org and put them in touch with us.

• Hand out BikeMaps.org swag at community events or among friends and colleagues that bike. We are more than happy to send you a “care package”.

• Help us improve BikeMaps.org for your location by obtaining digital maps of cycling infrastructure (bike lanes, pathways, etc.). These are usually available from the municipality.

• Encourage interested people or groups to get in touch, particularly if they have any questions: info@bikemaps.org

• Let us know about any specific bike issues in your area that might benefit from more BikeMaps.org data.

• Suggestions for local funding sources are always welcome and could lead to increased promotion and research projects specific to your area.

We are always interested in feedback. What worked well and what fell flat in your promotion efforts? How can we further improve BikeMaps.org?

We are very happy to announce that the iOS App for BikeMaps.org is now available. To download the free app, go to the App Store and search "BikeMaps.org". Thanks for your continued support, BikeMappers. We are gathering loads of useful data, now in many different municipalities.