Students from Camosun College have won first place in the second annual “Ready, Set, Solve” program by creating an inventory of bicycle infrastructure and mapping community cycling routes within the Township.
The student team—one of 18 teams involved in the program—collected information on bicycle rack locations and configurations, and mapped the locations of Esquimalt’s cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes, signage and sharrows (roadway stencils of bikes with directional chevrons).
Research findings from the students revealed that the Township has 4.56 kilometres of bike lanes, 42 bike racks, 303 bike parking spots and 124 bike signs and sharrows. The data collected from this project will help the municipality plan future cycling infrastructure in the context of an overall multi-modal transportation strategy.
Esquimalt’s Official Community Plan includes targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 38% by 2020 and 83% by 2050 compared to 2007 levels. On-road transportation accounts for 45% of Esquimalt’s GHG emissions. Improving cycling infrastructure encourages cycling as an alternative to single occupancy vehicle trips and helps to reduce these emissions.
Ready, Set, Solve is a program hosted by the Capital Regional District (CRD), with support from BC Hydro. The program offers a chance for post-secondary students to gain practical experience while supporting organizations that are taking action on climate change.
For more information, please contact:
Marlene Lagoa, Sustainability Coordinator
Tel: 250-414-7114