The City of Vancouver is making good on its plans to upgrade several downtown bike lanes and add a couple more.
Work on upgrading the Beatty Street bike lane is already complete, with a curb now separating cyclists from traffic and parked cars. Previously, just a painted line marked the borders of the bike lane and cyclists were vulnerable to getting “doored.”
A separated, protected bike lane has also been added on Cambie Street from Dunsmuir all the way to the steam clock at the corner of Water Street and Cambie Street.
But the biggest change likely noticed by downtown cyclists and commuters is the two new protected bike lanes on both Smithe and Nelson streets, running from the Cambie Street Bridge, west to Richards Street.
Both of these new bike lanes replaced a previously well-used lane of traffic — which, while great for cyclists — is undoubtedly raising the blood pressure of some drivers, especially during rush hour.
All of these upgrades come ahead of the city’s launch of its first bike share program later this month. The bike share is called Mobi.
Take a look at the new bike lane on Nelson Street in Yaletown, now nearly complete:
