Two PACA execs and one member met with Joan P. from the Penticton Indian Band yesterday to discuss the safety of the road corridor up Green Mountain Rd and the mountain bike trails behind West Bench. There are several concerns around the use of Green Mt. Rd. for cyclists on their way towards Apex. The main concern is the narrow road without shoulder which is easily clogged up. We are going to suggest to local government to explore the possibility of creating a shoulder or separated path on at least one side of the road to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The key area would be from the turnoff of the Channel to West Hills Rd. Obviously this may be too great of a request to be granted anytime soon, so in the meantime PACA is trying to find some funding for a sign to be posted at the beginning of Green Mtn. Road reminding cyclists to ride single file, respect that it is a busy road and asking ALL road users to share the road. Joan seemed to think this would be a good first step. We would like to remind riders to ride single file on the right side of the road and ask the training camps to make out-of-town riders aware of the high use of narrow and busy roads (esp. Eastside Rd and Green Mt. Rd) by cyclists in the spring and summer and to help us find ways to avoid car-bike conflicts by riding responsibly. Joan has offered to put a reminder in the next PIB newsletter that the roadways are meant to be shared. As for the mountain bike trails on PIB land near West Bench, many of you know that steps have recently been taken to prevent the access and use of the trails by non-natives. We were told that the land has always and will remain to be off limits. We discussed several possibilities and are looking in to pursuing the possible only option which would be to request a Section 28 (2) under the Indian Act. This could permit the use of the land for activities approved by the band and signed off by Her Majesty. It seems outlandish that we are considering anything that may require approval by Her Majesty, but this was an option that we were told could be explored. This is not something that I see PACA undertaking but we will suggest it as an option to the RDOS and hear what they may think about it. As always, PACA is here to represent cyclists and we are interested in your thoughts on these and other issues.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:20:22 +0000
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