This column is written as correspondence between Byron the Bicyclist and Patty the Pedestrian.
Dear Byron.
Last week was Go by Bike Week in B.C. Normally, I would not expect to see you cycling in February. But due to mild weather, the roads were bare. Walking to go shopping, I had no snow.
When there was snow a few weeks ago, I noticed an improvement in sidewalk snow removal. Thank you. I appreciate the city of Williams Lake encouraging us to remove snow off the sidewalks within 24 hours. It has been part of our Good Neighbour Bylaw since 2014 but wasn’t enforced until this year.
Where sidewalk snow was not removed, I had to walk on the road in some places.
Signed: Patty the Pedestrian
Dear Patty.
Yes, I bicycled three times last week, two of them to go shopping. When Go by Bike BC announced it last fall, I thought: “No way am I cycling in February.”
It is ironic that my carbon-free cycling is on a snow-free road caused partly by the carbon we burn driving. This is not a great situation, the snowpack is low and fires might start even sooner.
Thanks to the city and funders for the new bike and pedestrian bridge over the Williams Lake River next to Margett’s Meats. I have used the new bridge several times to walk to Scout Island and bike to South Lakeside.
So now, Patty, we don’t have to use the Highway 20 bridge over the river. But we still must use the Highway 20 bridge over the railway tracks. Due to heavy traffic and high speeds, it is “a bridge too far” for some to want to make the trip.
Thanks to Councillor Flaspohler for taking the lead in asking the Province of B.C. for Highway 20 safety improvements from Mackenzie to South Lakeside Drive.
Signed; Byron the Bicyclist.
Bert Groenenberg has been walking, cycling and driving in Williams Lake for over 30 years.
READ MORE: Share the Road: What is your Williams Lake walk and bike score?
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