If you haven’t heard already, cycling is the fastest growing mode of transportation in Metro Vancouver. According to the latest numbers from TransLink cycling mode share has grown 26 percent between 2008 and 2011, and now represents 1.9 percent of all trips in the region. Not surprisingly, Vancouver has the highest cycling mode share at 4.1 percent while the South of Fraser and Northeast Sector have the lowest mode share at 0.7 percent. There is something to be said about build it and they will come as Vancouver’s investment in cycling infrastructure over the last few years has paid dividends causing cycling mode share to grow 35 percent since 2008. Surrey on the other hand has just started to beef up their cycling infrastructure program and in Langley cycling is still seen as a second-class citizen to driving. The following map from TransLink shows the breakdown of cycling mode share in the region.
It’s not all bad news in the Township of Langley though. I received an email that said that the municipality may be programming some of its traffic signals to automatically detect bikes to trigger a change. This will certainly be more convenient than having to push a “walk” button. I only hope that the Township publicizes this fact.
Cycling is one of the most cost effective forms of transportation, both to use and to build infrastructure for. I can only hope that other municipalities in Metro Vancouver start to embrace cycling as a first-class form of transportation like the City of Vancouver has.
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