EDITORIAL – Here’s an easy way to pay for the Lansdowne Street pathway
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THE PROPOSED LANSDOWNE STREET multi-use pathway has been stirring up some opposition from those who figure it will be a waste of money.
It’s the case with any project that those who won’t personally make use of it aren’t inclined to spend their tax dollars for the general good. Still, there’s nothing wrong with challenging the need for major infrastructure proposals.
The Lansdowne project is touted by City Hall staff as filling in a missing link in the City’s active transportation vision. Meeting that vision seems to involve dropping pieces of it into place here and there and then trying to hook them all up.
The recently completed Sixth Avenue bike lanes, for example, don’t lead anywhere in particular. The Lansdowne lanes are supposed to connect that route to the end of Second Avenue.
Lansdowne would have been much easier to work with had the City not dramatically narrowed it years ago to create more parking for the re-imagined Thompson Park Mall, but that’s water under the bridge, so to speak.
If the pedestrian-cycling path gets the green light this week, it will certainly be a better investment than the million-dollar two-block stretch at Halston, on which I’ve yet to see a pedestrian or cyclist.
If money’s the issue, I have an answer that might assuage concerns — scrap that useless plan for a pedestrian-and-cycling overpass across Summit Drive between College Heights and Thompson Rivers University.
That would pay for the Lansdowne project with money left for other projects as well, since the overpass is expected to cost $10 million. The City’s share is supposed to be only half of that, but Lansdowne is estimated at $2.75 million, so getting rid of the overpass in favour of a fence would easily get the job done all-round.
Active transportation is a worthy cause. It just has to be done in the right places.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
(Image: City of Kamloops)
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I agree, a great waste of my taxpayers money just as the 6 th Ave bike lane was. I drive down 6 th at least twice a day and have yet to see anyone using the bike lane since it opened. A total waste of money. I think a lot more thought needs to go into some of these overpriced projects the city that are taking a huge chunk out of our wallets. Concentrate on what you already have folks and keep that in good repair. I could name a few facilities the city is ignoring and letting them go downhill badly. Our parks and gardens are not in as good a shape as they used to be, some of our heritage facilities look worn out and run down and some of the community halls have seen better days due to poor maintenance and just general lack of caring by staff.
LikeLike
I predict a considerable number of injuries on the mixed pathway, due to oblivious pedestrians and high speed, high weight electric bikes.
A city that understands the needs of cyclists and pedestrians doesn’t mix them on the same path. To make this work correctly, each demographic needs dedicated lanes. As a previous municipal planner for coastal cities, I can say that the CoK and Council are making expensive and short-sighted decisions, arising from ignorance to best practices when it comes to safety and outcomes.
Laughably, even the graphic being used by the city shows pedestrians taking up the entire width of the path, blocking overtaking by cyclists coming up behind them.
Mix in wandering addicts, summer tourist season, some dogs on leashes, and were liable to see regular hits like Michael Jackson in the 80s.
LikeLike
Well put in regards to the dreadful arrival of high-powered, heavy and fast electric contraptions on two wheels. However imbecile cyclists who ride too fast with little regards for others has been a problem all along. CoK and this and previous councils WERE/ARE making expensive and short-sighted decisions.
LikeLike
The number one priority should’ve been all along to connect the downtown to TRU. And perhaps a connection with at least two or three alternative routes. That has not happened yet despite reminding them to do just that again and again. Furthermore the Summit Drive connection, while certainly an option to have, should’ve happened eventually, a lower priority section.
With TRU connected it would have been easy to reach Dufferin, Pineview and Aberdeen via Kenna Cartwright park.
Then there is this continuous quest for pointless, expensive embellishments like the interlocking brick interlay.
No point in “talking” when they great challenge lays in their inability to listen.
LikeLike
Let’s scrap both plans
The crossing over Summit – that students will not go out of their way ro use.
The Landsdowne pedestrian – cycling path that will be planted into one of the busiest sections of road in Kamloops. Since closing the right hand lane bridge access from Victoria street to the beidge this area of Landsdowne 3rd and 2nd becomes chaotic through most of the day but particularly frim 3 on. Add trains and wow a tad more chaos.
Drive the area and experience it before making decisions. Please.
LikeLike