Please sign this petition to immediately address the negative implications of the barricaded bike lanes on 18th Avenue.

Please provide your address along with your signature, as is required by the city of Burnaby's petition process:

https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/meetings-and-public-hearings/petition-process

Living on 18th Avenue, we have experienced first-hand the negative effects of the barricaded bike lanes on our street. These barriers have created serious issues for residents and commuters alike. They have significantly affected accessibility, compromised available parking, eliminated loading zones, and raised serious safety concerns. 

The bike lanes have limited parking to an extent where it's not only inconvenient, but also hazardous for those who need to park far from their homes, particularly late at night. Elderly and people with disabilities or limited mobility are experiencing a significant lack of accessibility. Families with young children who use strollers are experiencing a significant lack of accessibility. Neighbors are arguing over the limited remaining street parking that is available.

There are over 170 strata lots on this street that have been negatively impacted by these bike lanes.

In addition, the lack of loading zones has put tremendous strain on delivery personnel who are already under immense pressure. Not to mention there is nowhere for moving trucks to safely park for when people are moving in or out of the complexes. 

There is also the very prominent issue of the lack of space for emergency vehicles to pass through.

The bike lanes are rendered mostly useless by being consistently blocked by garbage or recycling bins (40-60% of the week), or by being covered in debris and sticks, to the point that most cyclists are choosing to use the main road anyways. When this happens, cars cannot safely pass them due to the reduced width of the road, and it puts everyone at risk. 

According to a report by The National Association of City Transportation Officials, bike lanes should coexist harmoniously with pedestrian walkways and motor lanes, contributing to a more hospitable and inclusive city (source: NACTO's Urban Bikeway Design Guide). Yet, on our street, this balance has been upended. These bike lanes are negatively impacting residents year round in favor of prioritizing an activity that is largely seasonal and inactive for the majority of the year.

There was a significant lack of communication with the residents prior to the installation of this bike lane, which resulted in a lack of feedback against it. The committee responsible for this did not appropriately follow-up with residents to confirm their support, and they did not vet that the feedback they received was from verified residents.

This is a plea to the City Council to address the situation urgently. The necessity of bike lanes for enhancing traffic safety and promoting green commuting is understood. However, they shouldn't come at the cost of accessibility and safety of other road users. Please remove the barricaded bike lane, reinstate street parking, and create a shared road.

Let our voices be heard, prompting our leaders to pave the way forward keeping the interests of all road users in mind.

As per the City of Burnaby: "By signing a petition that is submitted to a public body, your personal information including your name, address and other personal contact information becomes part of the public record. Personal information is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of British Columbia."