The City has just started implementing their 5 year Active Transportation Network Plan. In a nutshell, it's to be 26 safe routes throughout the city for cyclists, walkers, mobile chair users and other wheeled device users. The routes are intended to minimize the possible conflict with cars, trucks, and other vehicles that the use the main roads.

The planning, financing and implementation of this project is to happen in increments. This year Boyd Street in Queensborough, and 7th Street and 7th Avenue are on the agenda and some work has started. Next year work will start on 8th, 9th and 10th Streets around Moody Park and on London Street.

London Street in particular has seen several delegations to City Council with respect to consultation on the potential plan...many are not happy. 

In this video, NewWest.tv speaks to Mike Anderson, the Manager of Transportation for New Westminster. He provides the big picture of what the city is trying to achieve and why...and there are lots of considerations from equity to safety; proximity to jurisdictional issues and more. He also speaks to the concerns with respect to the London Street plan - Council has received a number of delegations on the matter.

The impetus for creating the network plan is multi-pronged. First, the safety of people riding bicycles, walking, using mobile chairs, scooters, skateboards was an important factor. Also, in 2019 the City proclaimed a climate emergency and put in place 7 bold steps for Environmental Sustainability in order to help to reduce and mitigate the effects of fossil fuel use...working toward a car-light community being inherent to the plan. The adoption this July of the Vision Zero strategy has only added further reason to having this Active Transportation Network Plan; It's a global strategy to eliminate death and serious injuries and to take road safety to a higher level.