Vancouver rolls out plans for 10th Avenue bike lanes

After months of consultation, the City of Vancouver is laying out the details of plans for separated bike lanes and other changes along 10th Avenue.

The bike lane was first proposed in April but last month seniors raised concerns that eliminating parking on the route would make it difficult for them to access the hospital and other healthcare facilities along 10th Avenue.

The latest proposal would see changes to three stretches of the avenue Oak Street to Willow Street, Quebec Street to Guelph Street, and Commercial Drive to Victoria Drive.

Tenth Avenue is already designated as a bike route for those wishing to avoid the busy Broadway corridor between Commercial Drive and Trafalgar Street.

Under the new plan the zones centred around Commercial and Kingsway would be turned into a one-way street, with separated bike lanes.

But thestretch sure to cause the most discussion isthe so-called "health precinct" between Oak to Willow streets, which passes by Vancouver General Hospital.

"We've heard a lot of concern around access to the health facilities. The proposals try to address that and actually propose some significant improvements to the pedestrian realm and safety in that area," saidLon LaClaire, the city's transportation director.

• Vancouver asks for input on 10th Avenue bike lane
• Bike lane upgrade threatens healthcare access, say seniors

For drivers, a new parking lot could go on the corner of 10th Avenue and Ash Street, on an undeveloped plot of land owned by Vancouver Coastal Health.

For cyclists, separated bike lanes would go in place on each side of 10th a welcome idea to many who live in the neighbourhood.

"I think bike lanes are always good, especially with a city that always relies on that. Infrastructure is really important to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe," said Elenore Quintal, who lives on Oak Street and West 12th Avenue.

"Because there's so many hospitals around here, I guess that's why it's congested. I think that we should walk where we can, use bikes, use public transit. So yeah, I'm all for making it pedestrianized," said Rena Heathcote, who lives on Heather Street and West 12th Avenue.

The full designs, which can be found here, will now be shown at open houses and stakeholder meetings, before being presented to council early next year.

• Nov. 22, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre,4-7 p.m.
• Nov. 23, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral,4-7 p.m.
• Nov. 26, BlussonSpinal Cord Centre, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Nov. 29, Croatian Cultural Centre, 4-7 p.m.

With files from Tanya Fletcher