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Scooters, wheelchairs may get run of Victoria bike lanes under proposed pilot

Cyclists could be sharing Victoria’s new separated bike lanes with people on mobility scooters and in electric wheelchairs.
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Victoria's separated bike lanes on Pandora Avenue opened in 2017.

 

Cyclists could be sharing Victoria’s new separated bike lanes with people on mobility scooters and in electric wheelchairs.

City staff say the city should check with the province to get its take on a recommendation from the active transportation advisory committee that the city pilot a program to allow mobility scooters and wheelchairs in the protected bike lanes.

It’s an idea that makes sense, says Edward Pullman, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition.

“This is essentially just combining like modes of transportation.”

Pullman points out that it would also be a natural extension of the city allowing skateboarders to use bike lanes.

“It gets them off the sidewalk and if we’re dealing with the three-metre-wide bike lanes, like we currently have on Pandora and are soon to have on Fort Street, that’s more than enough space for people to adequately use that lane and have enough space to pass safely,” he added.

Ben Isitt, a council liaison to the advisory committee, supports the trial. “I think it’s an idea worth pursuing as a pilot,” he said.

As the city’s population ages, the use of electric scooters and wheelchairs is increasing, says the city staff report, to be considered by councillors Thursday.

Use of the bike lanes might allow electric scooters to reach speeds not possible on sidewalks, staff say.

Allowing them to use the dedicated bike lanes “may potentially provide improved travel options for users, as the paved road surface in bike lanes would have less undulations than sidewalks, and would allow for faster travel speeds than would be acceptable on sidewalks,” the report says.

Users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters are designated as pedestrians by the Motor Vehicle Act, which would have to be changed to legally allow them on designated sections of the all-ages and abilities cycling network.

bcleverley@timescolonist.com