Mid-Island cycling groups are calling for safety improvements to a 5-kilometre stretch of highway between Lantzville and Nanoose Bay. “Probably one of the most dangerous sections on the whole Island,” says Peter Vivian of the Slowspokes Riding Group. Vivian says there is no other safe alternative for cyclists travelling to the Oceanside area and beyond, a popular destination for riders. The stretch is also popular with beachgoers and clam diggers, who often park on the highway shoulder, leaving very little room for cyclists to manoeuvre between parked vehicles and traffic travelling at highway speeds. “I just don’t want to see somebody badly hurt,” says Vivian. The Slowspokes Riding Group, along with the Mid-Island Velo Association, brought their concerns to the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) during a Committee of the Whole meeting last week. The RDN says it recognizes there is a safety risk for cyclists along that section of highway, particularly when vehicles are parked on the shoulder. “If somebody opened a door and you swerved out, you’d be right in the middle of the highway, and it’s extremely dangerous,” says Ben Geselbracht, an RDN director. The cycling community is proposing a recreational pathway along the E&N Rail corridor, which runs parallel to that section of highway. The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), which manages the railway, says recreational pathways alongside the rail line have been successful in other areas, including Nanaimo. “I think we can really start to dig into it with the community stakeholders and get back to first principles,” says Thomas Bevan, CEO of the ICF. “I think we could do something quickly if there’s motivation.” Any safety improvements along that section of highway would require support from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit. The ministry told CTV News it is aware of concerns about cycling safety between Lantzville and Nanoose Bay. Local ministry staff have met with representatives from the Mid-Island Velo Association to discuss those concerns, and a follow-up meeting is planned for late fall. The ministry also noted that representatives recently met with the Regional District of Nanaimo to discuss active transportation connections in the area. Ministry staff say they are committed to working collaboratively with the Mid-Island Velo Association, residents and the Regional District of Nanaimo to explore and discuss potential improvements where feasible.
