A request has been submitted to the District of Port Hardy for the addition of bike lanes along Byng Road.
Port Hardy resident Tracey Hamilton wrote a letter to council outlining several accidents over a four-year period, saying the figures illustrate why bike lanes are needed to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.
“ICBC data shows six vehicle accidents along Byng Road, 12 accidents at the intersection of Byng and Highway 19, as well as five at Fort Rupert Road and Highway 19,” the letter says. “I feel the route is much more dangerous due to the increased speed of 100 kilometres per hour, and the number of transport and large trucks along this route.”
In her letter, Hamilton suggested using the Commuter Trail as a bike route.
“Alternatively, a bike and pedestrian route from Ta’yagul (Storey’s Beach) and an area into Port Hardy could be achieved by restoring the Commuter Trail that starts behind Fort Rupert School and ends on the Ferry Terminal Road,” she says.
Councillor Brian Texmo said he is in favour of a bike lane on the Commuter Trail, noting Byng Road is already very narrow.
“I do believe there should be something, but how do you deal with this when the road is so narrow, it seems rather monumental in my mind and I don’t know the steps in doing something like this,” he said. “I would need to see the steps, and the hoops to go through to get this done.”
Councillor Janet Dorward agreed the area is not safe and said there would be challenges to making the stretch safer.
“Both roads are really dangerous because of the speed and there’s a passing lane,” she said. “The challenge is that it’s not our jurisdiction, and even if it was the cost to put a shoulder in, I think there are better routes to go.”
Council decided to investigate options along with community partners.
