UnGapTheMap: A Youth Perspective on Cycling Networks

Guest article written by 17-year-old, Bill Pai (pictured in above photo).

Bill Pai, 17, is a secondary school student living in Vancouver. He cycles daily to school and around the city, which has given him firsthand experience with the strengths and gaps in local bike infrastructure. Passionate about safer and more connected bike lanes, Bill hopes to encourage more young people and families to embrace cycling as a convenient, healthy, and climate-friendly way to get around.

Every morning, my school commute involves riding my bike along Vancouver's bike lanes—paths that are engineered to make cycling efficient, safe, and delightful. While our city has done much to accommodate cyclists, there is one issue that stands out: abrupt breaks in bike lanes or spilling cyclists onto heavy-travel roads with no safety net. As a 17-year-old regular cyclist, I've ridden through these discontinuities myself and witnessed the confusion and risks they present.

My usual route takes me on separated bike lanes that suddenly vanish, forcing me to ride through traffic intersections or suddenly enter auto traffic. The most problematic section is downtown at the intersection of Dunsmuir and Hornby Streets, where a separated route disappears and leaves cyclists such as myself to ride across traffic to access another separated route. Each day I get ready, anxiously glancing over my shoulder as I cycle between the buses and cars.

This is not just a nuisance, it's dangerous. Younger riders, such as my younger sister, are put in risky situations which could be avoided so easily with more thoughtful design. Even veteran adult cyclists vent on-line and discuss how to ride these chopped-up parts safely. Clearly, this issue hurts anyone using Vancouver's cycling grid, from novice to old-timer.

Continuity, well-integrated bike lanes are more than pleasant to ride on, they're safe for the bicyclists, too. Continuity of bike infrastructure is consistently demonstrated in research to be linked with fewer accidents and more assertive bikers. World cities famous for cycling, such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam, share one feature: uninterrupted, natural-surfacing cycling routes. Vancouver can, and must, learn from them by emphasizing continuity.

Aside from safety, smoothing out the transition of our bike lanes could be the key to prompting teenagers and families to use cycling as their main means of transportation. Most of my friends avoid cycling because they are not comfortable knowing how to navigate complicated points of transition from sheltered to open ground. Picture how many kids and teenagers would cycle every day if routes were safe and convenient. Better cycling provision would create a generation of everyday cyclists, who could significantly reduce our car dependency and carbon legacy.

How might Vancouver sensibly solve the problem?
 

First, small adjustments can make transitions between intersections and bike lanes smoother. Having clear signs, special signals, and separated barriers can guide cyclists safely through hazardous areas. In addition, expanding and connecting existing lanes, especially near school zones and downtown, would instantly make transportation easier and safer.

Urban planners must also actively solicit and incorporate input from youth cyclists. Youth cyclists using the city infrastructure on a day-to-day basis provide new input and wonderful insights. Our previous experiences and worries should inform planning in the future to better build bike lanes that are particularly tailored for use by users of all ages.

Secondly, public direct involvement can also help improve cycling infrastructure. Citizen bike rides, public consultation, and coordination with cycling clubs can help give the cyclists' voice, putting the issue into the spotlight and priorities.

As Vancouver transitions to ambitious climate and transport goals, cycling infrastructure will understandably be at the front. Bike lanes are not a nicety, an extra amenity to bring life to our city centers. They are a plea for healthier citizens, safer streets, and a cleaner environment. As someone who uses these spaces regularly as a young adult, I believe it is one of our top priorities to address these issues. Let's ensure that Vancouver's youth cyclists, and all cyclists—are able to move around Vancouver easily, effectively, and safely.

Let's ride without stopping.