1. Our beautiful Comox Valley

2. The best place on Earth facing serious challenges. Population growth = More cars = more traffic congestion = more cars sitting idling at intersections = more pollution and deterioration of our life style

3. Lots of talk but very little action. We have all heard politicians from all levels of government making speeches on how much they are doing to promote cycling as a mode of transportation and how this will help to make our air cleaner and our population healthier, but very little is actually done on our roads. We have all heard politicians from all levels of government making speeches on how much they are doing to promote cycling as a mode of transportation and how this will help to make our air cleaner and our population healthier, but very little is actually done on our roads.BUT…

4. While our premier makes a speech on TV after opening 800 meters of new cycling path in Vancouver, the MOT resurfaces some of our popular rural cycling roads with the roughest chip seal we have ever seen. While our premier makes a speech on TV after opening 800 meters of new cycling path in Vancouver, the MOT resurfaces some of our popular rural cycling roads with the roughest chip seal we have ever seen. Campbell’s Promise Falcon’s Delivery

5. We have to make the choice. With the growing population and increase in traffic, we have to choose – EITHER With the growing population and increase in traffic, we have to choose – EITHER More roads and parking for cars and increase in pollution. OR More roads and parking for cars and increase in pollution. OR More public transport and improved infrastructure for walking and cycling, which will help to make our population healthier, our air cleaner and our communities more livable. More public transport and improved infrastructure for walking and cycling, which will help to make our population healthier, our air cleaner and our communities more livable.

6. The amount of parking space needed for 45 people travelling by.. BicycleCar Bus This shows that the bus is most efficient as long as there are 45 people going to the same place. 45 bicycles take less than half a tennis court for parking, cars, at 1.2 ppc, the best part of a football field.

7. There are several approaches that can be taken to get more people to use bicycles for transportation.

8. THE THREE WAVES OF CYCLISTS 1. The ‘no matter whats’ 2. The ‘yes, buts’ 3. The ‘never evers’

9. 1. Continue in the same trend with roads and intersections designed for cars only and only the ‘NO MATTER WHATS’ will regularly ride their bikes on. with roads and intersections designed for cars only and only the ‘NO MATTER WHATS’ will regularly ride their bikes on. Peak at 1 to 2% cycling mode share Traffic congestion and air quality will continue to get worse Traffic congestion and air quality will continue to get worse A considerable amount of land will be required to build more roads and parking in trying to keep up with increase in traffic. A considerable amount of land will be required to build more roads and parking in trying to keep up with increase in traffic.

10. The amount of parking space needed for 45 people travelling by.. BicycleCar Bus This shows that the bus is most efficient as long as there are 45 people going to the same place. 45 bicycles take less than half a tennis court for parking, cars, at 1.2 ppc, the best part of a football field.

11. Typical roads designed with no or very little consideration for cycling. Only the bravest and most experienced (craziest?) cyclists will dare to ride on these roads.

12. 2. Move gradually towards the Second Wave of Cyclists Infrastructure Infrastructure (peak at 3 to 5% of cycling mode share ) (peak at 3 to 5% of cycling mode share ) Gradually and selectively implement cycling specific improvements to roadways, bridges and intersections to entice the ‘YES, BUTS’ to use their bikes more frequently. THIS IS A BREAK EVEN SITUATION AT BEST. It may be necessary to combine with improvements in public transit just to keep up with population growth and avoid increase in use of cars.

13. Typical infrastructure for the Second Wave of Cyclists- or- the YES, BUTS. It would take minor to moderate improvements to get to this point in the CV.

14. 3.Make the leap to the mobility of the future and build cycling infrastructure that will entice even the NEVER EVERS to get on a bike. (potential of increasing cycling mode share to the 10% to 30% plus range) Cycling infrastructure designed to reduce demand for more road and parking space. Cycling infrastructure designed to reduce demand for more road and parking space. More land available for higher density development. More land available for higher density development. Cycling infrastructure to allow children to ride safely to school, workers to work, seniors to go shopping, ect. Cycling infrastructure to allow children to ride safely to school, workers to work, seniors to go shopping, ect. In time our population will become healthier and our air cleaner. In time our population will become healthier and our air cleaner. Use of cars will steadily decrease. Use of cars will steadily decrease.

15. Cycling infrastructure designed to get even people who once said or thought that they would NEVER EVER ride a bike to change their minds. Vancouver, presently considered second wave, is planning to reach third wave status by 2012 and aims to reach a cycling mode share of 20 to 30 percent by 2020.

16. What does Third Wave cycling infrastructure look like? Valencia - SpainInnsbruck - Austria Even the ‘NEVER EVERS’ would dare to cycle here.

17. Left turn priority for cyclists – Freiburg, Germany

18. Third wave cyclists on the Danube Trail in Austria.

19. If you build it (WELL) they will use it. Freiburg, Germany Walensee, Switzerland

20. It has been very successful in many European cities Cycling Mode Share - Cities with low priority on cycling infrastr. London (in the process of major improvements) 2.60% Vienna 4.50% Cycling Mode Share - Cities with medium priority on cycling I Berlin10.00% Zurich11.00% Graz14.00% Munich13.00% Hanover16.00% Cycling Mode Share –Cities with high priority on cycling infrastr. Freiburg20.00% Copenhagen36.00% Amsterdam34.00% Cycling Mode Share –Cities with very high priority on C.I. Delft43.00% Munster43.00%

21. But also in some North American cities Davis – California17 % Davis – California17 % Portland – Oregon…considered most cycling friendly large city in the U.S Portland – Oregon…considered most cycling friendly large city in the U.S New York City…has recently started a very aggressive program for cycling and doubled its cycling mode share in a short time New York City…has recently started a very aggressive program for cycling and doubled its cycling mode share in a short time City of Vancouver 4.10%

22. Bridges for first, and third waves of cyclists Slovenija

23. Cycle path tunnel in Switzerland Great cycling/pedestrian path, suspended under the main bridge for autos.

24. Cycling integrated with Public Transport This picture shows only about 20% of the bicycles parked at the railway station in the small city of Zug - Switzerland. Most trains in Europe have cars for bicycles

25. Good signage is essential. Bozen, Northern Italy Danube Trail near Vienna

26. What do we presently have here? The few cycling lanes we do have are short and inconsistent – Cycling lanes have been eliminated instead of improved when new industrial sites were developed.

27. The best and the not-so-good of cycling infrastructure in the Comox Valley Riverway multi use trail. Not quite perfect, but a good start. Great for kids learning to ride a bike. 5 th Street Bridge – only the bravest dare to tackle it

28. We have great cycling on most of our quiet rural roads in the Comox Valley, as long as we don’t let the MOT wreck them with the extremely rough chip-sealing they did on Headquarters and Coleman roads last summer.

29. The other thing we do have, is the Comox Valley Cycling Plan. Completed in 2007 it is waiting for individual projects to be prioritized and implemented. Something our Coalition will be eager to participate in with the Local Cycling Task Force and the town planners.

30. How can we get things improved in the Comox Valley?

31. First of all, cyclists have to unite and speak with a common voice. This is why this Coalition has been formed. Our level of success will largely depend on us being able to convince governments that we represent more than just a few crazy cyclists. All of you coming to this meeting tonight is a good start. Join the CVCCo and help to work for safe cycling in our valley.

32. Comox Valley Cycling Coalition Our Vision: To create a safe environment for cycling in the Comox Valley and encourage cycling as an effective, economical, healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation

33. Just the fact that an open house with this title was organised by the City shows that our leaders want to move toward more invironmentally friedly transportation.

34. I don’t think we will ever be totally car free, but if we invest 20% of the transportation budget plus any available grants in cycling, we can reach 15 to 20% of cycling mode share by the year 2020. This would enable us to gradually reclaim our downtown streets from the claws of the automobile, make our air cleaner and our population healthier.

35. We will work with the Comox Valley Cycling Task Force and the BC Cycling Coalition for better conditions for cycling. We need to convince local governments that it is worth investing some serious money to improve conditions for cycling and walking. We need to convince local governments that this is not just about cycling, but about cleaner air and a healthier and sustainable lifestyle for our children and grandchildren – something not just cyclists but the majority of valley residents are in favor of.

36. Survey taken across the U.S. 81 % of Americans support “allocation of tax dollars toward the expansion of public transportation, sidewalks and bike paths in their communities”. Recommended allocation: Public Transport………………………41% Roads…………………………………….37% Cycling/Walking………………………22% Actual allocation: Public Transport………………………20% Roads…………………………………….79% Cycling/Walking……………………… 1%

37. Democracy at Work? Not really! Just the typical ‘you get what you pay for’ story. With the 1% of the transportation budget going to cycling, the US has, on average less than 1% of cycling mode share. Very simple and basic Logic: If you invest 79% of funds to improve conditions for driving and 1% for cycling you will get more, and more and more people driving. The more you invest in improving conditions for cycling, the more people will ride their bikes.

38. The reasons people like to live in the Comox Valley.

39. For a healthier lifestyle for our children and grandchildren