Burrard Bridge Bike Lanes Clock 1 Million Riders A Year

Just as the City approves funding to upgrade the Burrard Bridge and make the separated bike lane a permanent feature, a million cyclists have been recorded crossing the bridge. The millionth crossed just after 10 pm Wednesday evening.

In a release, Mayor Gregor Robertson called it “a remarkable achievement”. He added: “Before the bike lanes were in place, only the most dedicated cyclists used Burrard Bridge. Now it’s become a popular route for families, seniors, kids – it’s a safe and fun way to get into downtown or head towards Kits beach.”

City staff recognized the achievement by giving away T-shirts celebrating one million riders to cyclists crossing the bridge Thursday morning. Staff calculate the number of cyclists using wire loops embedded in the bike lane which detect metal wheels.

A 24 per cent increase in cyclists has been recorded since the Burrard Bridge bike lane was opened on July 13, 2009. An estimated 200,000 more bicycle trips have been recorded on the Burrard Bridge than without the lanes in place.

This week, approximately 6,000 bicycle trips a day are being made over the bridge; during peak periods, between 500 and 800 cyclists an hour cross the bridge.

The number of vehicles on Burrard and Granville Bridges has not changed significantly since the trial began. Even though pedestrians are not supposed to cross on the East side of the bridge anymore, pedestrian traffic over the bridge is also apparently unchanged with over 730,000 walking trips recorded since the trial began.

Findings from a UBC cycling safety study indicate that accident rates have decreased since the separated bike lanes have been added. In a five-month period before the lane separation, four cyclists were injured severely enough to require hospitalization. In the same five-month period during the trial, the number of cycling trips increased but only one cyclist went to hospital.

Cycle activist Richard Campbell said it was "great news", but added in an email that there is still much to be done in improving cycling facilities in the city:

"The city is planning separated bike lanes on either Horby or Burrard Street downtown and it would also be great if the city used the rehabilitation of the Bridge as an opportunity to reallocate lane of traffic on the east side of the bridge for bicycles so pedestrians could be allowed back on the east sidewalk."