POSAC contemplates cycling safety on Village Way Path

Rachelle Stein-Wotten

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

Is the Village Way Path meant for cyclists? At its May 13 meeting, the Electoral Area B parks and open spaces advisory committee contemplated what modes of active transportation are appropriate for the Regional District of Nanaimo-managed path along North Road.

Area B Director Vanessa Craig opened the discussion commenting on the usage of the path by adult cyclists, particularly those using e-bikes, and whether it was appropriate given the speed of such a travel mode.

“It’s a reasonable question, what is this path meant for.

“The path was created to protect the most vulnerable people, which was pedestrians, kids, kids on bikes … people on mobility devices. From the very beginning I’ve had conversations with cyclists and I recognize that this is not optimal for cyclists. The right of way in that area of road is very narrow…. All of the commercial properties were built right up to the edge of the right of way, so that was as far as we could go.”

POSAC members who are cyclists noted the lack of space between the road’s fog line and the curb leaves no room for error when on the road and some choose to travel on the path in off-peak times.

“I’ll use it if nobody’s on it,” said member Alyssa Semczyszyn. “I don’t feel comfortable travelling on it because it’s too narrow to be compatible with pedestrians.”

“We can’t put a barrier up and compromise the accessibility of the path, which leaves us at signage, and I would have to run things by [Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure]; I’m not entirely sure what we’d be allowed to put up,” RDN parks planner Jordan Vander Klok, commented. “Ultimately it comes down to behaviours and enforcement. It would be pretty much impossible for us to enforce certain infractions.”

Craig said she suspected use of the path by cyclists was possibly in part due to confusion about what is permissible on the path.

Amy Gore, RDN superintendent of parks planning, research & development, suggested signage could detail appropriate mixed use of the path, such as reducing speed and yielding to pedestrians. No specific language was proposed by the committee at the meeting.