Cyclist Nick Nilsen commutes to work at Vernon City Hall daily and now enjoys using brand new cycle tracks that provide a buffer from the road.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - You might have noticed that Vernon has some spiffy new cycling infrastructure — but do you know how to use it?

The city is finally starting to reap the benefits of a transportation plan put into motion back in 2008 to improve its cycling infrastructure. The plan involved adding bike lanes and multi-use pathways so you can cycle, skateboard or walk around parts of the city without having to go on the road, transportation manager Amanda Watson says.

Some of the newest features include bike resting posts, two-way cycle tracks and multi-use paths that are brand new to Vernon and its citizens.

So how do they work?

THE TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK

Cycle track

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

This track is for cyclists only. It’s separated from the pedestrian sidewalk by trees, benches and other features and allows cyclists to travel in either direction. The best part? It also features a physical barrier between it and the road so cyclists can relax and enjoy their ride.

THE MULTI-USE PATH

Multi-use path

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

These paths are meant to be shared by pedestrians, cyclists, skateboards and other small-wheeled transportation. You'll find this beauty on Kalamalka Lake Road (the multi-use path is almost as wide as the road itself!)

THE ELEPHANT CROSSWALK

Elephant feet crosswalk

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

Yes, cyclists can use these without dismounting and walking their bikes across!

They look like regular crosswalks, but with extra dotted lines on either side. The exterior painted lines are where cyclists are supposed to cross. Cyclists and pedestrians are reminded that while vehicles are expected to yield to them, it’s important to look both ways and not dart out in front of a car before it can reasonably stop. Cyclists must obey all the rules of the road and only cross when permitted and safe to do so.

SIDEWALK

This one should be a no-brainer, but there are some changes on the way. Formerly used by pedestrians only, Vernon is tweaking its traffic bylaw to allow small-wheeled transportation — including children’s scooters and skateboards — to use sidewalks (as well as bike lanes).

THE RESTING POST

Bike resting post

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

This feature is found at intersections and allows cyclists — particularly those with clipped in pedals — to stop without having to dismount. The posts are positioned so that the cyclist is detected by a sensor, which triggers the signal to cross.

WHO HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY?

Generally speaking, there is a basic hierarchy to follow, Watson says.

“If you’re on a scooter or a skateboard, you yield to pedestrians. If you’re on a bike you yield to pedestrians. If you’re in a car, you yield to cyclists and pedestrians. So there’s a bit of a hierarchy, but basically we want everybody to think of each other.”

Watson admits there will be a bit of a learning curve for Vernonites, but she hopes the new features will encourage more people to leave their cars at home. That’s important, she says, because roads are only expected to get busier in the years ahead.

“If we encouraged 20 per cent of trips to be made by walking, cycling or taking transit, in 20 to 25 years we won’t see that level of congestion,” she says. “This is all planned to keep the entire network functioning into the future in the most cost effective way.”

Cyclist and city communications officer Nick Nilsen is already taking advantage of the new cycling corridor on his way to work.
“It’s so much more convenient,” he says. “I can make it door to desk in ten minutes and that’s faster than I can do it by car.”

He says the ride is one of the highlights of his day, charging him up in the morning, and giving him a chance to wind down at the end of the day. Having the designated bike paths means he can clip in and go without a second thought.

“It gives everybody more peace of mind, traffic, cars and bikes alike,” he says.

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