Active Transportation Network Plan Project
The Draft Active Transportation Plan was presented to Council on November 14, 2023. Read the staff report and plan.
Council referred the plan to a joint Committee of the Whole with Council and the following committees:
- Transportation Advisory Committee
- Finance Advisory Committee
- Environment and Climate Action Committee
Survey
Following the first round of engagement, BIM has created a second survey to further understand community priorities and to identify improvements. To help us learn more about your thoughts on, and experience using Bowen Island’s active transportation network, please complete this short survey.
The survey closed August 29, 2023.
Questions? Please contact Drew Bakken, Island Community Planner, by email at dbakken@bimbc.ca or by calling 604-947-4255 ext 233.
Project Overview
Bowen Island Municipality (BIM) is developing their first ever Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) to further improve the island’s existing active transportation network and identify priority areas for future investment. The ATNP will supplement the Transportation Plan and help establish the planning and design of new active transportation infrastructure by emphasizing greener and human-powered modes of transportation. Once complete, the ATNP will serve as a mechanism to guide BIM towards promoting cleaner transportation methods for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians of all ages and abilities.
Background
BIM received funding for this project from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program in 2021 and is grateful for their support in helping us achieve our active transportation goals. In addition to supporting the Province of B.C.’s Active Transportation Strategy, Move. Commute. Connect., the ATNP will promote more travel options, increase physical activity, reduce chronic disease, and help mitigate climate change. The ATNP also has the potential to benefit tourism across island and serve as a driver of social equity!
What is Active Transportation?
Active transportation, as defined in the BC Active Transportation Design Guide, includes any form of human-powered transportation, including walking, cycling, or rolling, using a skateboard, skates, wheelchair or other wheel-based forms of human-powered transportation.
What is an Active Transportation Network Plan?
An ATNP is a strategic document that helps guide Bowen Island’s vision and objectives for enhancing active transportation. The primary purpose of the ATNP will be to identify gaps in the current pedestrian and cycling networks and identify priority areas for future investment in active transportation infrastructure. The ATNP will also provide a roadmap for high priority improvements over the short-term (5-years), medium-term (10-years), and long-term (10+years), and will aim to increase the share of trips completed by active modes of transportation.
Project Goal
To address critical active transportation issues and help manage transportation and demographic changes while improving quality of life, safety, and mobility for Bowen Island residents and visitors.
BIM’s Current Island Transportation Active Networks
Currently, the only dedicated active transportation infrastructure on island is the approximate 1.3km of the newly constructed cross-island Multi Use Path (MUP) that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians. This path is part of the North Shore Spirit Trail!
Project Timeline:
The ATNP project process will be initiated and implemented over six phases.
Public Engagement
Public engagement is a key component to identify proposed priority routes and increase our understanding of the barriers facing Bowen Island residents who currently use or would like to use the active transportation networks.
Why are we creating an ATNP?
As a Recipient of the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, BIM received a conditional grant agreement for the development of an ATNP. Under the province’s considerations, the ATNP would establish a long-term vision for active transportation, with the aim of increasing the percentage of residents using human powered transportation year-round. For example, an ATNP may identify future cycling routes with a focus on providing facilities that are comfortable for people of all ages and abilities and strive to meet the recommendations of the B.C. Active Transportation Design Guide. The ATNP application questions prompt important considerations, such as connectivity to key trip generators, community engagement, environmental benefits, and economic benefits.
Connection to Other Projects
Transportation Plan
There are many islanders who often rely on walking or cycling and often encounter accessibility issues. Engagement and data collection for the Transportation Plan identified that one of the greatest transportation gaps for the island is lack of safe and efficient active transportation infrastructure, along with need for more options to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ANTP will aim to incorporate and reflect the following plan elements of the Transportation Plan:
| A1 – Active Transportation Design Guidelines | Develop and adopt active transportation design guidelines |
| A2 – Road Standards | Update Subdivision & Development Servicing Bylaw to have road standards that accommodate pedestrians and cyclists |
| A3 – Multi-Use Path | Design and construct a cross-island multi-use path that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. This path is part of the North Shore Trail |
| Networks should also be developed specifically for pedestrians and cyclists, including proper wayfinding and end-of-trip facilities like bike parking | |
| A3 – Pedestrian Network | Construct and improve critical footpaths to connect neighbourhoods to important destinations |
| A4 – Cycling Network | Designate cycling routes and install bike facilities at strategic locations to better enable cycling across island |
| B9 – Bike & Scooter Parking | Design and install dedicated bike and scooter parking with shelter |
| Reliable annual funding should be established to enable the construction and maintenance of the above infrastructure | |
| A6 – Major Road Network | Apply to TransLink for inclusion in the Major Road Network, which provides municipalities with annual funding for operation and rehabilitation of roads |
| In addition to dedicated networks, safety is essential for active transportation to be a viable option | |
| A8 – Speed Reduction | Develop and implement program to effectively establish and regulate traffic speeds |
| A9 – Cardena Pedestrian Safety | Include pedestrian safety improvements in the redevelopment of Cardena Dr. |
| B4 – Footpath Lighting | Develop and implement program, compliant with Night Sky Bylaw, to improve lighting for pedestrian network |
| Lastly, education and awareness will further improve safety and encourage more people to walk and cycle | |
| A12 – Alternative Ferries | Work with BC Ferries to shift focus from vehicles to passengers |
| B3 – Regional Partnerships | Advocate and foster regional transportation planning partnerships to help identify best practices, opportunities for collaboration and potential funding |
| B5 – Cycling Promotion | Develop ongoing cycling promotion strategy to include events, education and awareness |
| B11 – School Active Transportation Plan | Partner with BICS to develop a School Active Transportation Plan |
Active Design Guidelines
BIM’s Active Design Guidelines are intended to be used by developers, planners, and the general community to inform land development processes. Active Design is an approach for the design of places and infrastructure to support active living within communities. A key component to active living is active transportation, which includes human-powered ways of getting to and from our daily destinations, such as walking, wheel chairing, riding a bike and rollerblading.
School Travel Planning
School Travel Planning (STP) is an initiative that promotes the use of active transportation for the daily trip to school in addition to addressing health, physical activity, traffic safety issues, and climate change. The STP program works with students, teachers, parents, and municipal staff to identify issues and opportunities for both infrastructure improvements and behavioural changes to encourage students to walk or roll to and from school.
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan chapter on transportation prioritizes active transportation, safety, more alternatives, integration, and reducing environmental impacts. The document contains 25 policies directly related to transportation. Every one of these policies draw on the need to better accommodate active transportation on the island.
Province of British Columbia’s Active Transportation Programs
In 2019, the Province of British Columbia outlined steps they are taking to help communities increase support and infrastructure to facilitate active transportation. The provincial website can be reached here and outlines funding opportunities, provides educational resources, introduces relevant policies and legislation, and provides tools for further research. The Province can be contacted directly through their webpage for any questions related to the information they provide.