Twenty communities throughout British Columbia will receive more than $3.69 million in BikeBC funding this year to expand and build cycling lanes, trails and paths for B.C. families.

BikeBC is the Province’s cost-sharing program that helps local governments build cycling projects that attract and support commuter, recreational and tourism cyclists and pedestrians. This year’s investment will generate more than $7.38 million in cycling infrastructure. Since 2001, the B.C. government has committed almost $155 million for cycling infrastructure, creating new bicycle lanes and trails in over 100 communities in the province.

Cycling contributes to increased physical activity and helps reduce greenhouse gases, and this year’s 22 projects cover a wide range, including bike lanes and multi-use trails, as well as improvements to roads and highways, to allow better shared use for cyclists.

During consultations for the new 10-year transportation plan, BC on the Move, the ministry heard that enhanced cycling infrastructure and improved transportation choices are important to British Columbians. Many local governments and community organizations indicated that increased participation in cycling and walking programs and improvements to cycling and pedestrian trails and networks are among their highest priorities.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone -

“The importance of cycling infrastructure in our communities is a common theme we hear when talking to British Columbians about their transportation priorities. Our BikeBC program supports those priorities and this year’s funding will be used for projects across the province, from Sooke to Williams Lake to Prince George.”

Quick Facts:

• Cycling 10 kilometres to and from work every day would reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 kilograms a year.
• Cycling eight kilometres is equal to 30 minutes of moderate exercise.

Learn More:

For more information about Bike BC, visit: www.th.gov.bc.ca/BikeBC

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 413-7941

BACKGROUNDER

Twenty-two projects receive BikeBC funding

• Central Kootenay (Regional District): Great Northern Rail Trail, multi-use trail between Falls Street and Svoboda Trailhead at Davies Street - $70,375.
• Chilliwack: Bike lanes between Adams Road and #6905 Sumas Prairie Road - $52,499.
• Coquitlam: Crosstown Bike Route (Phase 3), separated bike path between Dewdney Trunk Road and Johnson Street at Glen Drive - $343,510.
• Duncan: Government Street Cycling Project, bike lanes from Gibbons Road to the Cowichan Lake Road roundabout and then to Boundary Road - $50,534.
• Kelowna: UBC Okanagan Rails with Trails (Phase 2); installation of signage to guide trails users to and from the facility - $100,000.
• Kelowna: Lakeshore Avenue Active Transportation Corridor, separated bike path/bike lanes between DeHart Road and McClure Road - $360,000.
• Langley: 216 Street Connector, a combination of buffered bike lanes and shared roadway - $47,285.
• Nanaimo: Boundary Transportation Improvement Project, a combination of buffered bike lanes and separated cycle track between Northfield Road and Bowen Road - $120,000.
• North Saanich: West Saanich Road bike lanes between Ardmore Drive and the Institute of Ocean Sciences - $225,983.
• North Vancouver (City): North Shore Spirit Trail separated multi-use trail between the Squamish Nation Waterfront Greenway and the Bewicke section of the Spirit Trail - $400,000.
• North Vancouver (District): Lynn Valley Road bike lanes between William Avenue and Mollie Nye Way - $201,874.
• Oak Bay: Foul Bay and Lansdowne intersection bike lanes and bike loop detectors - $52,828.
• Powell River: Duncan and Mason Streets bike lanes - $73,500.
• Prince George: North Nechako Road bike lanes between Foothills Blvd. and Rosia Road - $290,880.
• Qualicum Beach: Downtown to Waterfront Connector separated bike path along Memorial Avenue - $101,500.
• Rossland: Pinewood Connectors separated multi-use trails between downtown and subdivision - $24,537.
• Sechelt: Active Transportation Corridor, bike lane and shared roadway combination between Reff Road and Trail Avenue, and Lighthouse Avenue and Ripple Way - $100,000.
• Sooke: Galloping Goose Sooke Connector Trail - separated bike path and shared roadway between the Galloping Goose Trail at Kirby Road and Sooke River Road at Sooke Road - $75,352.
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District: Friendship Commuter Trail - separated multi-use path between Village of Pemberton and Ull'us Centre in Mount Currie - $71,343.
• Surrey: Fraser Heights Greenway - shared multi-use path on 108 Avenue and a separated multi-use path on the former 154 Street - $577,419
• Surrey: Cycling improvements, bike lanes and bike boxes along 105A Avenue - $214,328.
• Williams Lake: Highway 97 / Toop Road and Carson Drive, separated bike path and shared roadway - $142,498.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 413-7941