Eighteen communities throughout the province, including Victoria, will receive grants for cycling projects that support green transportation and encourage active lifestyles, the government announced Wednesday.
“B.C. is a leader in North America when it comes to cycling infrastructure, and I’m pleased to see 18 more communities building a culture of cycling and encouraging healthy living,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“I’m excited this year’s grant recipients represent diversity in the kinds of projects being built and the size of participating communities—both urban and rural.”
Victoria will receive $895,000 to put towards construction of the Wharf Street protected bike lanes, which is scheduled to begin October 2018.
The grant comes through BikeBC, a cost-sharing program that provides financial support for communities that build green-focused transportation options while also attracting tourism cyclists to B.C.
In total, this year’s bike grants amount to $6.11 million. The provincial government has invested over $34 million in 117 cycling projects throughout B.C. since 2014.
“With 2.3 million British Columbians wanting to cycle more, these projects funded through BikeBC will help make communities safer, healthier, and more affordable—in addition to helping B.C. realize its potential when it comes to cycling tourism, and the economic benefits that come with it,” said Richard Campbell, executive director of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition.
The following communities on Vancouver Island are eligible for funding:
- Oak Bay: $78,160 for Cadboro Bay Road bike lanes project
- Qualicum Beach: $693,830 for Uptown to Waterfront connector completion
- Victoria: $895,000 for Wharf Street protected bike lanes
Correction: A previous version of this article included funding for the University of British Columbia in the list of communities on Vancouver Island. UBC is obviously not on Vancouver Island. We regret the error.
