Cyclists call for separated Stanley Park bike lane

Cycling advocates are calling on the B.C. government to create a separated bike lane along the Stanley Park Causeway following the death of 61-year-old womanSaturday evening.

Police say the woman may have been avoiding pedestrians on the shared sidewalk when she fell off the raised pathway into the road, and into the path of a West Vancouver bus.

• Read more about the accident
• BC ALMANAC: A discussion on cyclist safety

Erin O'Melinn, executive director of the cycling advocacy groupHUB, says it's not safe to have cyclists and pedestrians share such a narrow pathway.

But she says the Ministry of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the causeway and the Lions Gate Bridge, has been reluctant to address the issue.

"Our work with the city has been really positive and they're engaging all sorts of stakeholders to make sure that we have a future where we can all get around and have mobility options. When we talk to the province, we don't get much response at all," she said.

Richard Campbell, president of the B.C Cycling Coalition, says if cyclists are approaching from behind, they should yield from behind, but factors like traffic noise often drown out bells or even verbal warnings that a bicycle is approaching.

"There's very little room for error," he said.

The Ministry of Transportation says it won't comment on the calls for new infrastructure until police finish investigating this weekend's accident.

Meanwhile Vancouver police arestill calling for witnesses to the fatal accident to come forward, and are offering counselling for anyone who may have been affected.

"There are people that may have witnessed it that may be having trouble coping with what they saw," said Const. Brian Montague.