Walking, cycling and mass transit in Campbell River

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - According to Campbell River’s Sustainable Official Community Plan, 12% all trips to work within the city were to consist of walking, cycling or transit by 2020. They hope to increase this number to a third by 2060. In today’s interview the city’s transportation specialist, Melissa Heidema, talks about Campbell River’s shift to alternate forms of transportation.

Her most recent data comes from the 2006 census, at which point 10% of the population used alternate modes of transportation: 3% public transit, 6% are walking and 1% cycling.

“The goal in the master transportation plan is to get that 10% up to 20%, which would be 10% walking, 5% cycling and 5% transit. Now, 5% biking doesn't sound like a lot, but our current mode share is 1%. So we're aiming to go from 1% to 5%, which is quite a big jump,” explained Heidema.

She admitted that more recent data will soon be available, and this could alter their perception of the situation.

In addition, Campbell River’s current master transportation plan was drawn up in 2012. The city is awarding the contract for a 2022 plan to the WATT Consulting Group out of Victoria.

“This will give our community a lot of opportunity to comment on how they feel traffic is going in Campbell river and what improvements they'd like to see over the next 25 years,” said Heidema.

Up until recently the city had a list of 37 potential projects that could improve the cycling environment, but only a $15,000 budget!

Heidema said that was ‘not enough money to really do anything.’

Thanks to the River City Cycle Club, the budget for 2022 is now $200,000.

“They really very respectfully asked council for more money and made them see that, ‘hey, there's a desire. There's a need for this in Campbell river.’ Cycling has a whole host of benefits. It's makes for healthier individuals, healthier communities, less reliance on fossil fuels, less pollution, less congestion, less collisions. It's just better all around in a community if you have more cyclists.”

Heidema is in the midst of trying to figure which projects are most beneficial fo rthe community.

“Hopefully we pick a project that will bring cyclists off of a major street and into a more local pedestrian cyclist friendly street that brings them downtown and into Willow point,” she said.

She described two projects:
slowing down traffic on Birch street and making it safer for cyclists.
Taking parking away from one side of Hilchey and adding a buffered bike lane

The city is also putting sidewalks onto more streets, to make them pedestrian friendly. Their next sidewalk installation project is Cheviot road, a narrow street that leads up to Ripple Rock Elementary School.

Heidema said Campbell River has an excellent transit system, with major ibus lines along Dogwood street, Alder and Highway 19 A.

“We are getting ready to implement the next ride system,” she said.

People will soon be able use their smartphones to find out what bus stop they are at and when the next bus is arriving.

“I'm thrilled that this is coming to Campbell river.”