Cycling on the road Spanish Banks - UBC- Success! Sign Removed

Cyclists have the right to use roadways, as long as they as far to the right as is practical. This section of roadway is extremely popular for road cyclists, connecting the beaches to the Marine Dr. bike lane around the perimeter of UBC. The sidewalk is used busy as well with many people walking between UBC and the beaches. Numerous triathlons use this section of roadway as part of their cycling route. I have ridden this roadway many times, and have walked on the path next to it. If cyclists were moved off of the road here onto this crude path that was never intended to be shared by cyclists and pedestrians, it would be very dangerous for all involved.

I just rode up Spanish Banks a few hours ago, and there were a couple of workers from MainRoad Contracting putting up a shiny new sign. So I'm guessing it wasn't the city that took the old one down.

Larry, I'm with you! Why would I comply and put myself and others at risk of serious injury? This so called rule violates city by laws and the Motor Vehicle Act legislation. How are the RCMP permitted to run rogue in our city where we pride ourselves in a healthy lifestyle. Boggles the mind!

I should have looked it up before I posted. There is actually an RCMP detachment at UBC.

Considering the amount of cyclists that use this road, if they really think that it's an issue, the city should look at expanding the sidewalk and moving the barrier over to create an open bike lane. Having said that, they would need to make sure that the bike lane was not itself separated from the road with it's own barrier, otherwise due to the varying speed of cyclists, it would also be unsafe and most people likely wouldn't use it. I've also never heard of any cyclists having issues with cars while riding up the road there. The sidewalk has pedestrians with strollers as well as dog walkers and runners, it's not safe to ride a bike there and I refuse to do so. Even as a runner it can be frustrating running on that sidewalk sometimes.

I just ignore this sign. I dare the cops to stop me.

...which is to say, ahem, that ideally cyclists would not be forced to either contend with more vulnerable pedestrians or less vulnerable vehicles.

Really? You know they're not the same thing, right? You know they have different vulnerabilities, different weaknesses? You can see that, can you? That perhaps those differences should be accounted for, somehow? That death by car is quite a lot more likely than death by bike?

I have already had one Van City Councillor tell me that this is being looked into. This is also a jurisdiction issue involving Metro Vancouver’s Electoral Area A and Pacific Spirit Park.

According to the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure: The One Thing Drivers and Cyclists Need to Know People riding a bicycle have the same rights and responsibilities as those driving a motor vehicle. https://tranbc.ca/2013/01/17/the-one-thing-drivers-and-cyclists-need-to-know/

Excellent exposure by Frances Bula http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/cyclists-on-spanish-banks-road-to-ubc-say-threatened-with-fines-if-ride-on-the-road/

There must be a hidden agenda here. I've been riding through this area since I moved here 20 yrs ago. I took the path once and will NEVER do so again. If a police officer tries to ticket me for riding on the road, he / she will need to pull their sidearm. Infuriating!! Fuck off

While this may be a muddy issue in terms of jurisdiction and enforcement, when it comes to safety the answer is crystal clear. Cyclists, in particular fast moving cyclists like our friend George, should absolutely not be sharing a lane with pedestrians!

Note that HUB (http://bikehub.ca) has sent a letter to MOTI to ask to take down the sign (and fix other issues like the dangerous raised reflectors that got recently installed). MOTI has declined to take any action to improve cycling at this point.

The RCMP, as they explained, were simply enforcing the existing signage. They even encouraged feedback. The real issue is with the roadway and the sign. This falls under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure jurisdiction, and we need to focus on them. They need to remove the existing sign. They need to add a sign that this is a multi-use roadway, consistent with the other signs all along Spanish Banks. They should also fix the ledge on the other side of the barrier so that it is safe for pedestrians.

I've been riding on the Road up Spanish Banks Hill since I came here in 1958 and still do.I once tried riding the path which is a bit of a nightmare when there is Foot Traffic.I have never had a problem with Traffic,in fact we used to have some Bike Races way back then with no Traffic problems,to say there is a danger is absolute ''B.S.'' I think the RCMP should take care of more important issues which I don't need to mention,I've run into some issues with Rookies (RCMP) and often wonder how they got into the Force!...RIDE ON CYCLISTS!

I would like to challenge the RCMP as to why this is a great idea, when it condtradicts the City's desire to have cyclists ride on the road safely, and not on the sidewalks which are (and should remain) reserved for pedestrians, dogs, strollers etc.

This is absurd . I ride up Spanish Banks road regularly and never has there been even a hint of a problem with a motorist !