Major parties pedal plans for cycling city

The Work Less Party of Vancouver wants to encourage people out of their cars and onto their bicycles by creating a network of bike-only streets in the city.

How do the other major municipal parties rack up when it comes to their cycling promises and policies for the city’s cyclist community?

Vision Vancouver promises to integrate bikes into city traffic safely by running two pilot projects: separated bike lanes on major bike routes in Vancouver, and introducing bike lanes on the Burrard Street Bridge. The party hopes to encourage more people to cycle by promising a bike rental program with rental stations across the city. They also propose more cycling services like improved lighting and locks on bike routes.

The Non Partisan Association (NPA) also pledges a bike rental program by partnering with Translink. A feasibility study has already been done. The NPA vow to expand the city’s network of bike routes and lanes with more attention to cyclist safety.

The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) also promise to expand the city’s bike routes and lanes. They want to make funding for them part of Vancouver’s next Capital Plan. They are committed to secure storage, lockers and other unnamed cyclist amenities at SkyTrain stations, bus loops, and transit hubs.

COPE hopes to increase cyclist safety by offering bike safety programs to all children enrolled in Vancouver schools. They will give right-of-way priority to cyclists in bikeways, separate cars and cyclists on neighbourhood bike routes, and erect prominent signs to mark bikeways.