Correspondence: Re: Traffic Safety - West Burnside Rd.

From: Shawn McKean Sent: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 8:35 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Re: Traffic Safety - West Burnside Rd.

Hello again,

I'm writing to thank Mayor and Council for the recent addition of so many signs encouraging motorists to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists. I certainly do appreciate it!

I have one suggestion: The sign on Watkiss Way, west of West Burnside (seen by people driving east towards the intersection) shows a bicycle rider and driver in single file. There is actually fairly decent space and sight lines here and drivers are continuing to pass me on my bike with no special risk to my safety. Meanwhile, the signs on West Burnside on either side of Eagle View School say "share the road" and show a bike and a car side-by-side. This is the place where there is neither space no sight line for a vehicle to safely pass a person on a bike! I am continuing to be passed unsafely at this hill, endangering me and others. I suggest that the signs be swapped. This would allow a bike rider to "take the lane" to pass through the narrow, hilly spot by the school without as much fear of aggression from a driver.

Again, thank you for your efforts to support active transportation in View Royal, and to keep all road users safe!

Shawn McKean

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On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 11:30 AM Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca wrote:

Thank you for contacting the Town of View Royal. Your email has been received and forwarded to Mayor and Council and the Engineering Department.

Best regards,

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL 45 View Royal Avenue | Victoria, BC V9B 1A6 p: 250-479-6800 | f: 250-727-9551 | info@viewroyal.ca

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From: Shawn McKean Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2020 9:09 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca; Mayor mayor@saanich.ca; council@saanich.ca Subject: Traffic Safety - West Burnside Rd.

Dear Mayor and Council of View Royal,

I reside on Prospect Lk. Rd., just North of West Burnside and attempt to do as much as my commuting as possible by bike.

I connect to my home from the Galloping Goose trail via West Burnside Rd. Yesterday I experienced another in a long list of near-misses on West Burnside Rd. beside Eagle View Elementary School. When travelling North beside the school, there is a short but steep hill in the narrow road, meaning that car drivers are not able to clearly see the road ahead. This does not deter them from passing me on this hill, instead of waiting until they can confirm that it is safe to do so. Yesterday this happened once again. The driver passed me on this blind hill. There were several cars heading in the other direction. In order to avoid a head-on crash the driver swerved back towards me, nearly hitting me and nearly causing me to lose control of my bike. A head-on crash with the on-coming vehicles was narrowly missed. The driver was clearly shaken by the close call and pulled into the nearby cul-de-sac to recover, and I was able to stop to talk with her about how dangerous her driving was.

Fortunately, due to lots of braking, swerving, good bike skills and a lot of luck, nobody was hurt or killed yesterday, but near-misses like this one are far too common on this road and at this particular spot, and discourage people like me from opting to use active transportation.

The traffic volumes and speeds on West Burnside Road are inappropriate for the nature of the road. I know that just after the location of this incident the road enters Saanich so I am copying this to them as well. I am asking for something to be done so that residents and all road users are safe on these rural back roads.

Kind regards, Shawn McKean 4017 Prospect Lk. Rd.