City Receives Cycling Funding

February 21, 2001

The City of Richmond will receive $200,000 from the province's cycling
network program to help build bike lanes along Westminster Highway from
Garden City to No. 6 Road and a separate bike path from No. 6 Road to No. 7
Road.

The City will match the funding. The new bike lanes and path will add to the
City's existing 26-kilometre cycling network. In addition to the Westminster
improvements, the City has also received funding from TransLink to help
create designated bicycle routes in both directions on Gilbert Road between
Granville Avenue and Dinsmore Bridge.

"These new lanes have been a long-standing goal of the City," said Larry
Pamer, chair of the Richmond Citizens Cycling Committee. "They will be a
good extension of the existing cycling network."

The Richmond Citizens Cycling Committee is a volunteer group, formed in
1993, which offers input and advice to the City on the planning and
implementation of cycling improvements in Richmond. The committee also works
to promote cycling education and awareness and recently was recognized by
City Council for its efforts in improving local cycling opportunities.

"The City has been very supportive of cycling," noted Pamer. "The citizens
committee has been a very effective way of creating dialogue about cycling
issues between the community and City staff."

Including the grant for the new Westminster Highway bike lanes and path, the
City will have received more than $1 million in provincial funding since
1995 for Richmond's cycling network.

"Partnerships with local governments makes more funds available for cycling
infrastructure," said Helmut Giesbrecht, minister responsible for the BC
Transportation Financing Authority. "People want to have cycling as a viable
transportation choice so they can cycle to school, work or shopping, rather
than driving. Providing an environmentally friendly option also relieves
traffic congestion."

02.22.01 09:36

SOURCE: http://www.city.richmond.bc.ca/webnews/city/0221_cycling.htm