We've launched a new webpage!

We are very proud to announce that the BC Cycling Coalition has launched a new webpage. We are excited to be able to highlight our ongoing projects, and campaigns. Starting today, all of our content and blog posts will be hosted on bccc.bc.ca.

Please visit bccc.bc.ca for the latest comments and news. 

We Need Your Help! Send us your photographs!

A few weeks from now the BC Cycling Coalition is set to launch a brand new website but we need your help! We are still looking for photographs of British Columbians riding their bikes all over the province. We would love photographs of people from across the province in both rural and urban communities: families riding bikes together, cyclists of all ages, cycle commuters, cycle tourists, and more.

If you are interested, please email photographs to kevin.chan@bccc.bc.ca. Please include how you would like to be credited.

By emailing us a photograph, you acknowledge that you are allowing us to use your images on our website, in reports, budget submissions, and other publications for non-commercial purposes. Your photographs will be credited to you through the use of a watermark in the lower right corner.

Ironworkers Memorial Bridge - Wider Sidewalk Design Proceeding

Some good progress to report. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is proceeding with the detailed design to widen Ironworkers Memorial Bridge (IWMB) sidewalks to 2.5 metres and add suicide prevention barriers. The design and engineering is scheduled to be complete in the spring of this year. Stay tuned for information on the public consultation. Never hurts to email the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and your MLA. See below.

While there has been no official announce regarding the sidewalk widening, this is definitely a good sign. We won't know what the exact cost will be until after the design is complete. There is some chance that it could prove more costly than expected making the decision to proceed more difficult.

Over the past few months we have heard several accounts both directly from individuals and through the media regarding incidents on the bridge and concerns people have about the substandard cycling and pedestrian facilities. These issues further reinforce the need for improvements:

• A woman riding the IWMB for the first time during Bike to Work Week, focused on an on-coming cyclist and didn’t see a piece of debris in the middle of the path. She fell and suffered broken bones. Needless to say, she never went across the bridge again. 
• A female cyclist suffered a broken hand in a collision with an on-coming cyclist. 
• A senior cycling over the bridge broke her wrist when her handle grip got caught on one of the railing support brackets, which are at the same height as most bike handlebars. 
• As reported in the local media, a man from Langley was viciously assaulted after he was required to stop his bicycle to let his assailant pass. While substandard facilities do not excuse such behavior, if the cyclist did not have to stop due to the narrow sidewalks, the assault quite likely would not have occurred. Cyclists in motion are more difficult to attack due to their forward momentum. 
• Similarly, some women have expressed personal security concerns regarding access routes including the switchbacks on the secluded path to Bridgeway St. on the south side of the IWMB. Some travel a significant distance out of their way, using the east sidewalk to avoid the switchbacks. 
• One woman refuses to cycle over the IWMB and instead goes many kilometres out of her way to use the Lions Gate Bridge instead. 
• A cyclist was unable to avoid debris on sidewalk. When it became tangled in his drive train, he was forced to stop and remove it. The narrow sidewalks made this rather uncomfortable with other cyclists riding by. 

The Ironworkers Memorial Bridge (IWMB) is a critical route for an increasing number of cyclists and pedestrians in the region. Currently, it presents considerable safety and access challenges to people who cycle and walk over the Bridge. Municipalities on both sides of the bridge are continuing to improve bicycle routes near the Bridge including the Spirit Trail in the District of North Vancouver and the Portside Greenway in the City of Vancouver. Such improvements will most likely increase the number of people cycling over the bridge, thereby increasing the need for improvements to the bridge.

Questions or Comments

If you have any questions or comments about the improvements, please contact Brian Atkins of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at Brian.Atkins@gov.bc.ca

Media Coverage
http://www.news1130.com/2013/01/23/more-space-for-cyclists-on-ironworkers-memorial-bridge/

Thanks
It has been great working with the members of HUB's Ironworkers Memorial Bridge Committee who have done a great job advocating for improvements to the Bridge!

Improving and Enhancing Cycling & Pedestrian Services on BC Ferries

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Ferries Corporation (BCFC) are asking ferry users to provide feedback on how to make the service relevant, affordable and sustainable in the years to come. After years of building ferries suited to automotive traffic, BCFC is considering how cyclists, pedestrians and transit will fit in its modal mix. BCCC has submitted a Position Paper on Improving and Enhancing Cycling and Pedestrian Services (.pdf) (or see below).

Take Action
You can communicate your support for these changes by completing the BCFC on-line survey: https://surveys.givingopinions.ca/s/coastalferries/. If you prefer to only comment on cycling & pedestrian access you can go directly to section 3 and complete question (e).

You can also write Hon. Mary Polak - Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca and cc Harry Bains - Transportation Critic harry.bains.mla@leg.bc.ca and your MLA http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm

Here is the BCCC's submission:

Improving and Enhancing Cycling & Pedestrian Services on BC Ferries

BCCC members use public transit, municipal road and cycling facilities, MOTI bridges and roadbed and BCFC facilities and vessels to travel to and from coastal communities. They observe that BCFC wayfinding, marketing, terminals, and vessels neither encourage cyclist traffic, nor meet cycling standards and requirements.
BCCC welcomes this opportunity to participate in the BC Coastal Ferries Consultation and Engagement process and submit this Position Paper for your consideration and feedback.


Assumptions

1. The case is often made that BC Ferry Corporation (BCFC) is a component of the public system of highways, BCCC wishes to reinforce BCFC’s complementary and critical role within the public transit system.
   
2. The motor vehicle orientation that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and BCFC share represents a significant blind spot in its vision for delivering an affordable, accountable and sustainable service.
   

Position
BCCC is pleased that MOTI and BCFC are considering how cycling and pedestrian traffic can be better accommodated within its service model. On a per capita basis, the Cascadia region (British Columbia, Washington and Oregon) is home to the largest concentration of commuting and recreational cyclists in North America. Our temperate climate, active lifestyle, wellness orientation and increasingly expensive and congested roadways situate cycling as both a viable and intelligent transportation choice within a multi-­‐modal world.
Accordingly, BCCC urges MOTI and BCFC to incorporate cycling requirements in its capital and operational plans and adapt to the needs of cyclists and pedestrians who use its facilities and vessels. Within the context of the coastal engagement process BCCC supports...

• (3e) improving major route linkages between ferry terminals and communities with better cycling connections and better public transit service.
  
• (3a) the use of smaller footprint vessels oriented to pedestrian and cyclist traffic. 
  

BCCC considers these changes to be a formative step towards expanding and enhancing ferry services for cyclists and pedestrians. Specifically, BCCC encourages BCFC to go further. We recommend that...

• MOTI provide ongoing funds to BCFC’s terminal upgrade master planning process to construct amenities for bicycle commuters (storage) and ensure safe cycling and pedestrian access to BCFC terminals (e.g. bike lanes, sharrows, advisory lanes and signage).
  
• BCFC reduce the travel burden for cyclists using its major terminals such as Tsawwassen, Horse Shoe Bay, and Swartz Bay, and establish bike share/rental facilities at its terminals or on its Spirit and Coastal Class vessels (e.g., http://www.nshispeed.nl/en/to-­‐and-­‐from-­‐the-­‐station/rent-­‐a-­‐bike)
  
• BCFC include cycle tourists within its marketing mix and on-­‐line wayfinding materials, e.g. http://www.nywaterway.com/BikeOnEastRiverFerry.aspx
  
• BCFC engage its major transit partners (Translink and BCTransit) to coordinate rapid, integrated and diverse transit options to and from major BCFC terminals
  
• BCFC investigate new terminal sites for pedestrian and bicycle ferries in proximity to major population centres, rapid transit and rail. Examples of such locations include Bridgeport Station, Marine Drive Station, Waterfront Station, and downtown Victoria and Naniamo.
  
• BCFC implement a cycle storage standard on its vessels
  
• MOTI devise and implement a long-­‐term and scalable method for cyclists to
  safely cross at the Massey Tunnel.
  Conclusion
  BCFC operates one of the largest integrated marine transportation networks in the world. It also owns and operates some of the largest parking facilities in the province. BCCC encourages the Ministry and its ferry service to take the opportunity afforded by this engagement process to shift its primary mission from providing a passenger vehicle transport service to establishing a critical link in a world class system of public transit. 

BCCC's Annual Conference and AGM

It is my pleasure to be able to invite you to the BCCC's first Annual Conference to be held in conjunction with our Annual General Meeting (AGM).

By its very nature, ours is a movement in constant motion. The Annual Conference provides an opportunity to come together, reflect on our accomplishments, and take a bold step forward for cycling advocacy in our province. There is a recognized need for an annual forum to build Provincial cycling advocacy capacity, provide educational opportunities, and share best practices, in order to move our collective goals forward.

     

Taking place October 19th-21st, in beautiful Victoria, BC, the Annual Conference provides a regular structured opportunity to develop the capacity of organized cycling advocacy in BC. This conference is about "learning," but is also about "doing." This is our annual opportunity to come together, develop plans and priorities, and increase our understanding of province-wide issues.

We are very excited to be able to welcome Sue Hallat, Regional Planner for the Capital Regional District, as our keynote speaker. The program will use the Capital Regional District's Cycling Master Plan as a case study to discuss the challenges that regional and municipal governing bodies across the province face in developing and implementing such plans. It will also touch on the unique role that advocates can play in assisting and pushing for the development of master plans, the standards being adopted, and implementation issues.

We are encouraging chapter and member organizations to both submit and facilitate workshops on major themes or specific issues facing your organization. For members who are unable to attend the event in person we will be live streaming our keynote presentation, AGM, and select concurrent sessions at no cost in order to allow for maximum participation.

I would also like to take the opportunity to extend our thanks to Accent Inns who has made this event possible with their support.

Registration

For more information, or to register please visit http://bccc.eventbrite.ca
The fee for the Conference covers food and beverages.

Conference Agenda

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Sunday, October 21

12:30-2:00pm

Accent Inns Victoria

3233 Maple St
Victoria, BC

The AGM is free for all BCCC members to attend.

More information at:

http://bccyclingcoalition.blogspot.ca/2012/09/bccc-annual-general-meeting-agm.html

BCCC Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Please join us for our Annual General Meeting.

12:30-2:00pm
Sunday, October 21
Accent Inns Victoria
3233 Maple St
Victoria, BC

If you are interested in joining our board of directors, there is more information here.

Our First Annual Conference will be held before the AGM all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Please join us setting organizational priorities and planning for the coming year.

Thanks to Accent Inns for their generous donation of the venue.

Call for Directors - Help Move Cycling Forward in BC

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition (BCCC) is seeking individuals to stand for nomination to our board of directors at the Annual General Meeting on October 21, 2012. With the provincial election next year, this is an exciting time to be involved in cycling. With your help, the BCCC will be able to leverage this great opportunity to move cycling forward in the province. 

About the BCCC

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition (BCCC) is a registered Non-Profit Society whose members are individuals and cycling organization throughout the province.

Specifically, the BCCC:

-  Advocates for improved cycling funding, policies, laws and education at the provincial level

-  Supports local cycling coalitions and chapters throughout British Columbia

The organization is currently volunteer run with the majority of work being performed by members of the board of directors. The current board recognizes that the growth and effectiveness of the organization is limited under this model. The intent is to transition to a model where day-to-day operations are managed by staff and volunteers while the board provides organizational and advocacy leadership and governance. This transition, however, will likely consume a significant amount of board time over the next two years.

A Great Opportunity

The change in political leadership in BC presents an idea opportunity to increase support for cycling including:

-  Increase in funding for cycling infrastructure, education and promotion

- Policies ensuring good cycling facilities on new and existing roads and bridges

- Updates to the Motor Vehicle Act to improve cycling safety and encourage more people to cycle

Experience and Skills

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about cycling with experience in one or more of the following areas.

Fundraising 

· Foundation and corporate grants, donations and memberships
· Individual memberships and donations

Organizational Development
· Development strategies
· Reorganization and measures needed to support staff
· Support for chapters and coalitions
· Assist in the creation of new chapters and cycling groups in communities around BC
· Support for advocacy efforts
· Volunteer coordination

Membership Development
· The development of a membership strategy
· Corporate and individual membership recruitment

Communications
· Redesign of website based on a content management system
· On-line donations and membership payment
· Forums, wikis and other information sharing mechanisms
· Integration of social media
· Electronic newsletter

Advocacy
· Government relations
· Organizing and coordinating grassroots campaigns

Networking
· Contacts in governments and bicycle industry
· Ability to quickly make new contacts and connections

Insurance
· Negotiating with insurance providers

Time Requirements

Board business - Basic board business will require an average of one hour per week and consist mainly of responding to email messages on organizational business.

Additional Responsibilities - In addition, we encourage board members to undertake further organizational responsibilities as detailed above that may require up to an additional five hours per week.

Board Meetings – Monthly electronic meetings using Skype. Three to four meetings including the AGM per year on weekends in communities around BC.

Annual General Meeting  (AGM)

Board nominees are encouraged but not required to attend the AGM and our First Annual Conference.

Contact

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact:

Richard Campbell

Chair

Board Recruitment Committee

604-733-1764

Email