Cycling for Everyone: A Regional Cycling Strategy for Metro Vancouver (Canada)
This strategy, developed by the Vancouver based transport provider TransLink, aims to guide regional cycling investment and programming to significantly increase cycling and improve cycling safety. The document, published in July 2011, describes the state of cycling in Metro Vancouver, assesses the potential to increase cycling, articulates a clear vision, sets goals and measurable targets, and outlines a comprehensive package of strategies.
TransLink is Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority. The organisation is responsible for regional public transport, cycling and commuting options as well as AirCare and Intelligent Transportation System programs.
TransLink shares responsibility for the Major Road Network (MRN) and regional cycling with municipalities in Metro Vancouver. TransLink is the first North American transportation authority to be responsible for the planning, financing and managing of all public transportin addition to major regional roads and bridges.
TransLink’s 30-Year Transportation Strategy (Transport 2040) provides high-level policy direction and the 3-Year Financial andTransportation Plan contains budgets and project implementation details.
The Regional Cycling Strategy is one regional strategy nested between Transport 2040 and the 3-Year Plan, which provides more focused regional-level policy direction around a specific mode or subject area. This Strategy will guide TransLink’s approach to cycling into the future.
Since cycling in this region largely occurs on municipal orprovincial roads, many of the critical actions outlined in this Strategy fall under those jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Strategy is not prescriptive but instead aims to provide a unified regional framework from which all partners can draw relevant strategies and actions for incorporation into their own plans and programs.
In October 2012 Streetfilms produced a short documentary about the strategy and the links between cycling infrastructure and public transport in Vancouver.
Four technical reports provided guidance toward the development of this Strategy:
- Setting the Context (2009): This document includes a review of experience elsewhere, highlighting successful initiatives. Italso includes an analysis of conditions in Metro Vancouver, and concludes with an assessment of the “gaps” between currentconditions and the future vision of cycling in the region.
- Cycling and End-of-Trip Facilities (2009): This research explored several aspects of cycling behaviour and motivation as well asattitudes regarding cycling facilities. Specifi cally, the research measured frequency of cycling, barriers to cycling, the use of cyclingwith transit, and the perceived magnitude of bicycle theft. With respect to facilities, the research measured attitudes regarding thecurrent bike locker program as well as reactions to other possible end-of-trip cycling facilities.
- Regional Cycling Network Background Study (2010): This study proposes a strategic approach to expanding and improving thecycling network in Metro Vancouver. The study reviews the existing and planned bicycle networks; recommends the locationand cost of different types of bicycle facilities; identifies the cycling conditions within sub-regions of Metro Vancouver; and identifies the overall investment and funding mechanisms needed to achieve cycling mode share targets.
- Bicycle Program Monitoring Study (2010): The study recommends a systematic, regional program to monitor bicycle usethroughout the region in order to track progress toward the Regional Cycling Strategy.
Cycling for Everyone: A Regional Cycling Strategy for Metro Vancouver | 4.78MB PDF
Links to supporting documents and background studies
www.translink.ca/en/Getting-Around/Cycling.aspx
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