Shared bike lanes: Commuters' paradise or hell on wheels?

Vancouver's everexpanding bike communityreceived another boost this week, when city council approved the building of12 new separated bike lanes.

But there's a catch.The lanes aren't just for cyclists anymore.

The plan includes a pilot project allowingother human powered modes of transportationskateboards, kick scooters and rollerblades into the bike lanes,bringing a whole new meaning to the slogan"share the road."

Erin O'Melinn of the cycling advocacy group HUB says it isnot opposed to the idea, but there needs to be a conversation about how all the different wheeled devices and their users can coexist and stay safe.

"Forexamplewe know that people biking will generally be going faster than people on skateboards," she said. "So how can we talk about passing?At the same time we want people onskateboardsto be safe."

One potential problem is that cyclists tend to ride in a straight and narrowline,while skateboarders and rollerbladers sometimes goside-to-side slalom style,to control speed.

O'Melinn says it's thosekinds of details that need to be addressed.

"We want to make sure that people on skateboards, for example, are not using the lanes for practising tricks but for getting places," she said. "One thing we want to be clear is that the lanes are there for transportation."

Skateboarderswho spoke to theCBC thought expanding bike lane use was generally a positive step.

"I think it's a good thing so that you're not on the sidewalk disturbing people who are walking, because [skateboards] can keep up with the speed of a bike,"said skateboarderIgnatiusStewart."I think it will be fine."

Others note thatonly a segment of the skateboard population is likely use the lanes.

"It's catering to people who ride long boards." said street skater Chad Murray.

Murray worries thatopening up bike lanes to skateboards means thecity will start cracking down on peopleriding outside the lanes.

"I think skateboarding likes to exist between the rules a little," he said. "But obviously the citylikes to control everything."