Vancouver opens viaduct bike lane

The City of Vancouver opened another bike lane for cyclists heading downtown on Wednesday morning, this time over the Dunsmuir Viaduct from East Vancouver.

The lane was modeled after the popular bike lanes were installed last summer on the Burrard Bridge, but in this case no vehicle traffic lanes were removed to make way for the bikes.

Instead the lane was created by shifting existing concrete barriers on the bridge from the south side to the north side while the viaduct was closed to traffic during the Olympic Games.

Bikes heading in both directions will share the lane, which is divided only by a strip of paint at each end.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, who was on hand to officially open the new lane on Wednesday morning, said it would create a safer route for cyclists using the Adanac Bikeway through East Vancouver.

"Separated bike lanes are a proven way to attract more people to cycling, and with these new protected bike lanes on the Dunsmuir Viaduct, cyclists now have a safer route into downtown," said Robertson who is known for his keen interest in cycling.

Councillor struck by car

And safety was top of mind for the mayor this week after Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs was hospitalized after being struck by a car while cycling on Tuesday morning.

Fellow Coun. Kerry Jang said Meggs is now awaiting surgery for a neck injury, but is expected to recover and to be released next week.

Meggs couldn't remember what happened, but woke-up with a police officer and fireman standing over him, said Jang.

"Yesterday afternoon I spoke to his wife, it looks like there will be a little bit of surgery over the next couple of days, the prognosis is good, he's joking and he's pretty good," said Jang.

"He told me he had a couple of vertebrae that were pulled apart and they were deciding whether to do surgery," said Jang.