Council Report: Proposed Amendment to Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 609, 2005

Council Report

TO: Council
DATE: July 09, 2019
FROM: S. Jones, Corporate Officer
MEETING DATE: July 16, 2019
M. Gill, Development and Asset Technologist

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO STREETS AND TRAFFIC REGULATION BYLAW NO. 609, 2005

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the July 9, 2019 report from the Corporate Officer and Development and Asset Technologist entitled “Proposed Amendment to Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 609, 2005” be received.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To introduce a provision that will facilitate regional trail cyclists remaining on their bicycles while crossing the road at a trail/road intersection.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:

Currently Section 130 (2) (a) of the Town’s Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 609, 2005 states the following:

“A person operating a cycle

(a) must not, for the purpose of crossing a highway, ride on a crosswalk unless authorized to do so by a Bylaw or unless otherwise directed by a sign;”

Resultantly, cyclists on regional trails – such as the Galloping Goose Trail, the E & N Rail Trail, or any other trail that is physically separated from the roadway and intended for pedestrians, cycles and non-motorized use – are required to dismount when crossing a roadway in the municipality. These trail/road intersection locations in the Town are as follows:

1. Atkins Road (near Parsons Road)
2. Burnside/Island Highway @ Colwood interchange
3. Adams Place
4. Burnett Road
5. Hallowell Road
6. Burnside Road/Watkiss Way
7. Talcott Road
8. Camden Avenue

In a recent discussion with the CRD Parks Operations Supervisor, it was confirmed that only the locations on the E & N Rail Trail (not the Galloping Goose) have been signed for this “Dismount & Walk” requirement.

Currently several other municipalities in the region (for example, the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich) do not require that trail cyclists dismount at intersections with roadways. It is appropriate to bring about consistency and convenience for cyclists and accordingly, the proposed bylaw (see Attachment “A”) removes the required dismount from the Town’s Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 609, 2005.

Specifically, the amending provision to replace the aforementioned prohibition is as follows:

“A person operating a cycle

(a) may ride a cycle in any crosswalk which forms a direct and immediate link between adjacent portions of the Galloping Goose Trail, the E & N Rail Trail, or any other trail that is physically separated from the roadway and intended for pedestrians, cycles and non-motorized use;”

While the draft Streets Bylaw No. 980 includes this proposed revision, the Committee of the Whole, at its July 9, 2019 meeting, requested that this bylaw amendment be made as soon as possible to facilitate the envisioned change for the riding community.

As mentioned above, staff have discussed this proposed bylaw amendment with CRD Parks, and that agency will remove the “Dismount & Walk” signage upon the Town’s request.

It should be noted that if this bylaw amendment is adopted, cyclists will still be required to adhere to other traffic control devices such as stop or yield signs and traffic signals.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the July 9, 2019 report from the Corporate Officer and Development and Asset Technologist entitled “Proposed Amendment to Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 609, 2005” be received.

SUBMITTED BY:
S. Jones, Corporate Officer

SUBMITTED BY:
M. Gill, Development and Asset Technologist

REVIEWED BY:
K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer