More downtown involvement needed in lake-to-lake cycling route

The City is looking for more input before finalizing the preferred option for the downtown section of the lake-to-lake cycling route.

“We started with five different options for the downtown leg of the route and with the results of the technical analysis and the public input we have received to date, we have been able to narrow it down to two,” says City Engineer Ian Chapman.

The two options to be discussed further include one that would see a two-way cycle track replace the parking on the west side of Martin St. and a second that would see protected bicycle lanes replace the parking on both sides of Winnipeg St.

“The Martin St. option is favoured as it is direct and would have the least impact on parking and traffic but we also heard from many cyclists who believe that Winnipeg St. would provide a better experience,” says Chapman. “We’d like to have a further discussion with residents and businesses in the downtown before we land on the preferred option.”

All residents and businesses in the downtown and especially those located along the options being considered are invited to participate in one of two public meetings to help confirm the preferred option. The meetings will be held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on March 25 between 6:30 pm and 8 pm and March 26 between 5 pm and 6:30 pm.

“The downtown is likely the most challenging section of the route,” says Engagement Strategist JoAnne Kleb. “We’re not convinced we have heard from enough of the residents and businesses who could be affected and it is important that they be involved at this early stage of the process.”

Once the preferred option is determined for the downtown section of the route, the City will introduce the preferred options for each of the four sections and invite further discussion with the community in the final phase of engagement before making a recommendation to Council.

The work to identify the lake-to-lake route began last September with the Pedal Penticton event that had attendance of approximately 500 and generated more than 1,000 feedback forms with 93% either somewhat or strongly in support of a lake-to-lake route. This past December, the City shared the options for each of the four sections of the route with the community at two open houses that were attended by over 400 residents and generated over 200 feedback forms.