From John Rowlandson of Island Pathways:
Will BC Ferries continue its practice of securing public roadbed for motor vehicle traffic without considering cycling and pedestrian access and egress to its terminals? Unfortunately yes. After almost two years of consultation with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), BC Ferries has ignored the solutions presented by local and provincial bodies and opted to do nothing to enhance the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and transit users on Salt Spring.
On May 8th, the local Ferry Advisory Committee heard that BCF would be asking MOTI to transfer its public road resource to the ferry corporation so that BCF can widen its existing holding lane. Although MOTI earlier had indicated that sufficient room was available for a bike land/sidewalk, BCF has ignored this option and will move forward with lane widening.
The Fulford terminal is the busiest minor BC Ferries route on the coast. Last year 640,000 passengers moved through the village. Local NGOs such as Island Pathways and the Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission proposed a multi-modal approach to the terminal enhancement, insisting that all modes of travel including cyclists must be addressed in the upgrade. They are urging MoTI to support bike lanes in the Fulford ferry terminal upgrade project.
Fulford is the launch point for the CRD Regional Trail on Salt Spring which will be confirmed in the soon-to-be-published CRD Regional Pedestrian and Cycling Masterplan. Those concerned with BCFerries actions should contact Hon. Blair Lekstrom - Minister of Transporation and Infrastructure ( blair.lekstrom.mla@leg.bc.ca), Harry Bains - Critic for
Transportation and Infrastructure (harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca)
Salt Spring MLA Murray Coell (Murray.Coell.MLA@leg.bc.ca), Sannich South MLA Lana Popham(lana.popham.mla@leg.bc.ca) and Capital Regional District Director for Salt Spring, Wayne McIntyre (directorssi@crd.bc.ca).
Some good information in http://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/news/149933965.html
