March 6 - City bike lanes may become a little busier

Good morning !

The city is looking into allowing more modes of transportation onto its bike lanes. If it happens, it will have to figure out how to keep all the riders moving—and safe.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Victoria plans for busier bike lanes

The lanes will become more crowded if there’s an affirmative answer from three potential upcoming votes. The separate motions—two at city hall, the other at the CRD—each relate to allowing more modes of transportation on the city’s bike lanes, which would mix faster-moving e-scooters with more measured mobility scooters and micro-mobility devices, in addition to bicycles.

Tomorrow, Victoria’s city council is expected to vote on a staff proposal to join a provincewide pilot project to determine the benefits and effects of allowing e-scooters on bike lanes. Next Thursday, the CRD will decide whether it should request the province consider allowing mobility scooters and micro-mobility devices—something the city council also will debate on March 14.

“It’s a human rights issue frankly, for folks in mobility scooters who have accessibility challenges,” Coun. Jeremy Caradonna tells Capital Daily.

“They should be able to access our all-ages and abilities cycling facilities,” he said. “There's really no reason why they should not be able to.” Caradonna calls the current situation on our streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes something out of the “Wild West” with no standards, signage or even ticketing. “And that does create the potential for dangers and for accidents and collisions. So you know, at the end of the day, we want safety.”

As Mark Brennae tells us here, the lanes may not be wide enough to safely accommodate the additional traffic and could set in motion changes to the design of some of the city’s bike-lane network.

Read the full story at Capital Daily.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Get measles vax before travel, officials urge. [CP / Vancouver Sun]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

3 Langford councillors say new bill a bust for budgetary behaviour

Three Langford councillors are worried about the potential negative impacts of Bill 46, the Housing Statutes (Development Financing Amendment Act), in a commentary published in the Times Colonist. 

Couns. Kimberley Guiry, Colby Harder, and Keith Yacucha caution against relying excessively on development to bolster Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) and General Amenity Contributions (GACs) instead of raising property taxes. Bill 46 tightens regulations on the collection and allocation of these development funds, limiting the fiscal flexibility of municipal decision-makers.

The legislation expands the scope of allowable expenditures for development cost charges while removing the ability to allocate funds for affordable housing through CACs. It shifts the determination of amenity charges from negotiated agreements to a standardized approach outlined in the bill, raising concerns about equitable distribution of benefits and fiscal sustainability. 

The councillors say the legislation could strain municipal budgets and compromise service delivery as the city faces rapid growth and eventual development saturation. They’re also concerned about the long-term consequences of using development funds to subsidize operational costs, highlighting the risk of financial instability should development opportunities slow down. 

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🌼 Greater Victoria Flower Count starts today.

📣 Free parking at The Bay Centre is back! Free 3-hrs parking on weekends & after 4pm on weekdays. Plan your visit today.*

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🗞️ In Other News

Wind phone installed in Saanich to help grief-stricken
The disconnected telephone at Royal Oak Burial Park allows people to have a one-way conversation with a deceased loved one. According to an online map, there are now hundreds around the world. Based on a trend that began in Japan, grief experts say the phones can help people process a loss. [CHEK]

​​Fourth crane accident this year in Vancouver
WorkSafeBC says crane accidents have become a “huge concern” in Vancouver after another accident occurred on Monday. No one was injured, but it follows the Feb. crane incident that killed a woman, and two collapsed cranes at separate sites in Jan. [Times Colonist]

Sidney council approves backyard hens
The town was the only municipality in the CRD not to permit the backyard birds. The bylaw narrowly passed last week, with four councillors for and three against. [Peninsula News Review]

BC government takes 5 Victoria condo owners to court 
Under a housing affordability agreement, people who bought units at the Vivid at the Yates on Johnson had to pledge their annual household income to be less than $150K and to live in the condo for two years to qualify for a below-market price. BC’s Housing ministry says not everyone followed those requirements. [CTV]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎭 Afroquatics: A Call and Response Below the Surface: a projected video/interactive, augmented reality installation by Victoria Artist in Residence Kemi Craig. Drury Gallery. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Runs through May 26. [Info]

💎 Bayot Heer: See the jeweller’s dazzling work at Avenue Gallery, opening today and running until March 13. [Info]

🎤 Grant Lawrence and Friends: Enjoy this evening of stories and songs at the Charlie White Theatre, featuring work by Canadian writer Grant Lawrence. Tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎨 International Women’s Day Tote Painting Night: Get together with other women and paint your personalized tote bag at UVic’s David Strong Building. Tomorrow. 6pm. [Info]

🤍 Speaking of Death: Karla Kerr and Daralynn Wei will facilitate a light learning experience for those curious about what is involved in end-of-life planning. Caffe Fantastico. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: New Island Health cancer treatment; Man hit by car while helping crash victim; Man accused of selling vape products near, at Vic schools. [March 5]

UN kudos for a project protecting Island estuaries. [Capital Daily/ LJI]

Vic firefighting efforts delayed by a tampered water system.

Kenyan refugee at Vic shelter training for Vancouver Marathon. [CHEK]

Gulls ‘flock’ to Island waters for spawning herring. [Photo]

Close encounter: A free diver swims near orca. [CTV]

That’s it!

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