New lanes that separate bikes from cars a first for Burlington
Published November 2, 2023 at 11:22 am
Burlington cyclists and motorists will no longer have to compete for space along a busy stretch of road.
The protected bikeway on Plains Rd. W. is now open and with it comes the chance to see how transportation routes may look in other parts of the city will look in the future.
Stretching from Spring Gardens Rd. to Waterdown Rd., the Plains bikeway is the first in Burlington to physically separate bikes from motor vehicle traffic and was designed to make for safer travels for all who use the roadways.
As part of the redesign, intersections have also been changed to improve sightlines and reduce the likelihood of high-speed vehicle turns which are often the cause of car/bike collisions.
Other changes on the road include upgraded transit stops to reduce conflict points between cyclists and buses.
As well, road resurfacing and curb and sidewalk replacement are expected to improve water drainage along the bike lanes and street lights have been added to improve visibility.
Initial reaction to the redesign has been positive.
“It looks good, I feel safer using it knowing that I don’t have to compete with cars and trucks,” said Bernie Wasz who was out on his bike testing the road this past weekend. “Hopefully we can see more of this.”
That’s the plan.
The Plains Rd. W. project was designed to be part of a network of connected cycling routes across Burlington meant to provide more protection for cyclists and is intended to be used for cyclists of all ages and abilities. It also provides the opportunity to lower the carbon footprint by making biking a viable option for transportation.
“Enhancing our cycling network by removing key barriers is necessary to shift to how we travel,” said Janine Yaromich, Burligton’s manager of Design and Construction at the beginning of the construction phase. “The proposed active transportation facilities included in this project will reduce points of conflict between different modes of transportation and encourage more cycling along Plains Rd. W.”
