Millions approved for bike lane projects across B.C.

B.C.'s provincial government has approved grants totalling over$10 million for cycling infrastructure projects across the province.

The grants, administered through the BikeBC program, help communities pay for new bikeways, or improve safety and accessibility on existing pathways.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructuresaidfunding for theprogram has increasedto $10 million this fiscal year from $6 million.

Municipalities applyfor the grants through the cycling infrastructure website.

The grants cover 50 per cent of the eligible project's costs in larger communities, andup to 75 per cent incommunities withfewer than 15,000 people.

This year's projects 28 in total are spread across the province from Vancouver Island to Northern B.C.

Major projects in Saanich, North Vancouver

Some major projectsinclude$1 million for the District of Saanichfor buffered bike lanes betweenMcKenzie Avenue and Torquay Drive, and another $1 million for the District of Tofinofor a separated, multi-use path from the Tofino Information Centre to the northern boundary of the Pacific Rim National Park.

The Regional District of East Kootney will receive $1 million for a separated 25-kilometremulti-use pathway from Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs.

Vancouver is receiving $1 million for upgrades to the downtown bike network. North Vancouver will get $1 million toward theCasano-Loutet cycling and pedestrian bridge over Highway 1.

Squamish improvements badly needed, parent says

In Squamish,$210,450 will be spent onupgrades to the Dentville section of the Discovery Trail, including a separated, lightedpath.

Squamish dadStephen Fryer says these improvements have long beenneeded as the community has grown.

His own kids cycle to school, and he's hoping the new cycling infrastructure will make their trips safer.

"We're talking a painted line between the kids and the vehicles," Fryer explained to On The Coast host Gloria Macarenkoabout the current cycle paths.

"We need to have safer transportation corridors to schools from the residences."

He says cycling infrastructure across Squamish is in need of improvement.