EDITORIAL – 6th Avenue an example of how not to build the next bike lane
Photo released by City after opening of 6th Avenue bike lane showed the way it was supposed to be. (Image: Peter Olsen)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
‘ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION’ is such a nice-sounding phrase. It encompasses a vision of urban dwellers happily and healthily strolling or peddling their way about town on their way to work or to shop or for enjoyment.
But it can become a money pit unless it’s approached with great care and vision. Kamloops City council had a most interesting discussion today (Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025) of an update to what it calls its Active Transportation Master Plan. The update results from a lengthy review of sidewalks, bicycle lanes and multi-use pathways to make sure Kamloops is on the right track, so to speak, on planning for such things. Factors such as safety, costs, uses, future amenities and impacts of expansion were considered.
It’s a well-done report. Part of the presentation to council included the question of “traditional infrastructure” versus “quick-build infrastructure.” Traditional infrastructure refers to permanent facilities “characterized by their durability and integration into the broader road network, and it often has a high initial construction cost. This infrastructure type can be on-road facilities like dedicated bike lanes or off-road ones like multi-use pathways.”
On the other hand, quick-build infrastructure uses low-cost temporary materials such as bollards, curbs, paint and signing that “can be easily be modified throughout the project’s lifespan.
“Quick-build infrastructure is typically implemented within the curb-to-curb width of a roadway by retrofitting existing roads. This type of infrastructure is designed to be completed within days, weeks or months rather than years.”
Good to know. Inevitably, the 6th Avenue boondoggle came up for comment. Councillors questioned the wisdom of building the thing, which cost an astounding $2 million plus.
Their attitude was quite different from when it was built. After it opened in October 2023, Coun. Nancy Bepple said, “It’s just a fantastic project which shows how when community makes their needs known, when council listens to what community is asking for and when we have great staff who can put it into operations, we can have something that really makes the City a better place to live.”
Well, it hasn’t been quite as advertised. Not only is it ugly as can be, and confusing, but nobody on a bicycle or on foot uses it. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration.
Officially, about 150 cyclists use it in a given day. In good weather, that is. Even that pathetically low figure drew some skepticism from around the council table, justifiably so. There should be an app that people can report to if they do see a bicycle on it, in the same way there are places to report seeing endangered species, like rare birds or badgers.
Coun. Margot Middleton even suggested today that the whole thing be removed.
The 6th Avenue project is a prime example of how to waste a huge amount of money for no benefit. Another example would be the block-long multi-use pathway that almost nobody uses along Westsyde Road approaching the Halston overpass. Its price tag was close to $1 million.
As a result, the “quick-build” approach garnered some positive feedback. If it had been used on 6th, we wouldn’t have been stuck with an albatross, and the money could have been used elsewhere.
The total plan is much more complicated than just that, but 6th Avenue illustrates the importance of going beyond what looks good in theory, and thoroughly analyzing how new active transportation infrastructure will be used.
It also provides good reason to think more in terms of a “quick-build” strategy that is quicker and cheaper and can be reversed if a particular project doesn’t prove to be as good as it looked on paper.
The master plan update is up for further consultation with the community on priorities. One priority should be to avoid another 6th Avenue.
Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. 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 live on 6th ave. There is absolutely not 150 cyclists a day, not even on the best day. There is, however, now a stream of traffic down 6th.
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Wait until the Tranquille Road Beautification project is finished. The road is not being made wider. In some spot’s it will be narrower. The power lines and poles are not being buried. In some opinions it is going to be waste of time and money. Not much is being said about it. Supposed to start the work this spring. Fun times!
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I read aloud the part about ‘150 cyclist a day use’ the 6th Ave path … and someone here … who actually works with a full view of that path from her desk, laughed aloud and said “On a warm sunny day in spring, fall and summer, its less than 5 riders per day throughout the entire day, and as its February right now, I can count on one hand how many cyclists have used it in the last 3 months, and we have had a lot of … warm sunny days.”
There a huge need to justify that 150. Likely a number coughed up by someone involved in the facilitation of it at the staff level … trying to hide the boondoggle.
I spoke about this, and the Westsyde road sidewalk that goes nowhere, soon after they were finished.
And this same Council is forcing TRU to agree to build the ped bridge over Summit at McGill .. 175 meters north of the intersection … you know … where no one will use it besides a couple apartment buildings on Dalgleish and McBeth. Its not even needed closer to the intersection.
Another boondoggle … mark my words.
Just put up a W. Victoria type CP fence up the middle of Summit to the intersection, build proper turning lanes, and rejig the pedestrian lights.
Take the lesson learned today, and apply it before its too late.
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Yes, Bepple pushed for this bike lane along 6th, she also spearheaded the $6million outdoor ice rink but let’s not forget the $2.8million, four block bike lane along Lansdowne that she pushed for and was supported by Hall and Karpuk.
This was at the Dec. 5/23 council meeting, the most inane, incompetent presentation I can remember, thankfully it was voted down. I spoke against this at that meeting and wondered out loud how the authors of this proposal were still employed.
Anyone who actually regularly bikes knows that 5th would be the logical bike lane and that “quick builds” are by far the best bang for your buck. All the city had to do is sit at the bottom of the Peterson Creek trail and ask the riders which is the best route, it’s not difficult.
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They were repeatedly told along the lines of what you mentioned in this editorial. A few years later I hold a very small pleasure in knowing that they were (again) wrong. They egos gets in the way of clear thinking. But why is there no accountability?
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This project was a Bepple boondoggle. Being that she is a cyclist, shame on her for seeing this expensive and almost entirely useless waste of taxpayer money to fruition. Make the cycling infrastructure actually useful. That implementation is absolute garbage.
They built it, and they didn’t come.
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From a cyclist that actually cycles 100s of kilometres yearly around the city I can tell you categorically she is not, definitely not a cyclist. From her house to City Hall is maybe 2 kilometres…that’s the extent of her “cycling”.And truth being told Kamloops truly is a cycling nightmare.
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And wait. The outdoor rink cometh next. Same authoress.
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