PETERS – Multi-use pathways are harm reduction, and we should build more

Posted on December 9, 2023 in Local Voices, Page One, Peters // 2 Comments

(Image: CFJC Today)

THE ARMCHAIR MAYOR ARGUED THIS WEEK that multi-use pathways will present more problems than solutions in the future, thanks to the proliferation of hybrid transportation options in our community.

Mel is certainly correct that more and more people are choosing e-bikes to get around here and e-scooters may be on their way.

We will have to reckon with walkers and joggers commuting in the same lanes as those powered modes of transportation, but that doesn’t make multi-use pathways obsolete.

Canada’s cities, for better or for worse, are still overwhelmingly set up for vehicular traffic — cars and trucks and tractor-trailers.

For the foreseeable future, the most dangerous potential conflict will not be between pedestrians and e-bikes, but between cyclists and vehicles.

In other words, the chances of a cyclist being injured or killed in a collision with a vehicle are far greater than the same thing happening to a pedestrian in a collision with an e-bike or e-scooter.

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James Peters is the radio anchor at CFJC, coming to Kamloops in 2006. He anchors the afternoon news on B-100 and 98.3 CIFM, and contributes weekly editorials to the CFJC Evening News. He tweets regularly @Jamloops.

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About Mel Rothenburger (11571 Articles)

ArmchairMayor.ca is a forum about Kamloops and the world. It has more than one million views. Mel Rothenburger is the former Editor of The Daily News in Kamloops, B.C. (retiring in 2012), and past mayor of Kamloops (1999-2005). At ArmchairMayor.ca he is the publisher, editor, news editor, city editor, reporter, webmaster, and just about anything else you can think of. He is grateful for the contributions of several local columnists. This blog doesn't require a subscription but gratefully accepts donations to help defray costs.

2 Comments on PETERS – Multi-use pathways are harm reduction, and we should build more

1. Serge // December 9, 2023 at 9:35 AM // Reply

   Multi-use pathways are a vestige from the 90s. They become effectively useless for any mode of transport that is not the lowest common denominator (pedestrians). Pedos don’t typically obey right of way concepts on mixed pathways. This is at best a nuisance for others, and at worst a safety issue, particularly when pets on leashes are included.

   Any money spent on new multi-use pathways is a waste, and ignorant of modern urban planning and design practices.

   But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Just look at the current state of existing mixed paths. Some are in a state of serious disrepair. CoK can’t even ensure those are well maintained, and it wants to build new ones?

   Come on CoK Council, now is not the time to erect new expensive projects.

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2. Pierre // December 9, 2023 at 7:41 AM // Reply

   Unquestionably we should build more pathways. Unquestionably we should build them less extravagant (hence expensive) safer and easier to maintain especially in the winter months. I am not sure if anyone has noticed the challenges faced in maintaining the Peterson Creek pathway in the winter months.

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