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A new "lake to lake" cycling route through the middle of urban Penticton appears to be in the works.
According to a City of Penticton news release dated June 14, "Council will hear the plan to identify an ‘all ages and abilities’ cycling route at their meeting on June 18."
"The need for a safe and convenient cycling route through the city and connecting the Okanagan and Skaha lakes was first identified in the 2012 Cycling Plan Update and reaffirmed in the draft of the 2019 Official Community Plan. Council included $35,000 in this year’s budget to complete the plan," said the city.
According to City Engineer Ian Chapman, "The proposed route will form the spine of the City’s cycling network, making it safe for people of all ages and abilities to cycle to many amenities and destinations throughout the city. It will also provide an important link to the regional Kettle Valley Railway trails.”
Chapman admits the route may cause some "compromises" to parking and traffic lanes, but adds, "Our plan is to try to minimize the impact through creative design and we look forward to working with citizens on solutions.”
To that end, the City plans to fully engage residents and businesses in affected areas along the route and the community at large. Mail-outs, a survey, and open houses would also be part of the process.
A map accompanying the news release identifies the general location of the proposed route. It loosely follows a south-to-north corridor formed by Skaha Lake Road, Atkinson, Fairview, and Martin. It's important to note though that the current map is just a general guide.
The present goal, according to the city, is to complete the plan "this fall, in time for the 2020 budget process."
"There has been interest in this route for many years but it has taken time to move it forward," says Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki. "With the direction set in our draft Official Community Plan and growing support for active transportation in communities across Canada, it’s timely for Penticton to invest in this type of infrastructure.”
PentictonNow will have more updates this afternoon as we effort to speak with City Engineer Ian Chapman and a representative of the Penticton and Area Cycling Association.