TRANSPORTATION – 6th Avenue bike lane now open for public use

The 6th Avenue protected bike lane is open for public use. This is the last leg of the Summit-Downtown Active Transportation Connection Project and the first of its kind in Kamloops, according to a news release from City Hall on Friday (Oct. 6, 2023).

The new, fully protected, two-way bike lane, is designed for all ages and abilities, runs from Columbia Street to Lansdowne Street along the east side of 6th Avenue, and allows cyclists to travel in both directions from the Lansdowne Bus Exchange to Peterson Creek Park, including Xget’tem’ Trail.

As part of the project, residents will notice the following changes to traffic movement through the corridor for traffic flow and safety purposes:

-Cyclists passing through Seymour Street and Victoria Street will now see new, bike-specific traffic signals.

-Changes have been made to the lane configurations at intersections along 6th Avenue as the roadway has been converted from four-vehicle lanes to two=vehicle lanes to accommodate the width of the bike lane and separation median.

Cyclists using the protected, two-way bicycle lane are required to yield to pedestrians crossing the bicycle lane from the sidewalk to the bus stops. A rectangular rapid flashing beacon and yellow urban braille have been installed to ensure the safe movement for people of all abilities.

The traffic light at 6th Avenue and Victoria Street will operate differently to ensure better separation between cyclists and certain vehicle movements. Watch the animated traffic graphic.

New “No Right on Red” signs at have been installed at:

-6th Avenue and Columbia Street (westbound right turn)

-6th Avenue and Victoria Street (westbound right turn)

The configuration for southbound lanes exiting Lansdowne Mall at 6th Avenue have been changed, converting the shared through-right lane into a right-turn only.

The Summit-Downtown Connection Project consists of two segments—the Summit Drive multi-use pathway and 6th Avenue bike lane. The two components support a continuous north-south bicycle route from Aberdeen to Westsyde and are part of the North-South Kamloops Bicycle Corridor Project, which aims to build out a core bike network in Kamloops, connecting infrastructure and pathways from Aberdeen through the Downtown to the North Shore and Westsyde.

The Summit-Downtown Connection Project received a $3.2 million federal contribution through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure funding stream, with the intention of fast-tracking cycling, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure.

Motorists are reminded that parking is not permitted in the bike lane. Designated on-street parking lanes are available along 6th Avenue.

The City is calling on all users—motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians—to “pay attention, maintain a safe distance, keep their eyes and ears open, yield to the right-of-way, and do their part to share the road responsibly.”