July 9 2020 Kinsol Trestle from Derby on Vimeo.
July 9 2020 Kinsol Trestle from Derby on Vimeo.
July 09, 2020 took the first ferry out from Brentwood Bay and from there through Shawnigan Lake and to the Kinsol Trestle. Surprised me
that the Kinsol Trestle south parking lot was further down the Renfrew road out of Shawnigan Lake than I expected, still only took one hour for the ride from
the ferry landing. The under 18 k 72 meter climb was a gentle and took a bit under 1 hour from the ferry – actually took longer but I needed coffee. (Every
good ride begins and ends with a cup of coffee)
I have wanted to make the trip to the trestle for quite a while. The trestle has a lot of historical significance as part of the CNR line up to Lake Cowichan.
For me it was interesting to see one of the largest wood trestles anywhere in the world. On several occasions as a construction supervisor I supervised or
inspected the construction of heavy timber marine construction. I was able to “keep” my hands clean” on these jobs but had a lot of respect for the bridge-men
doing what may be the hardest and most dangerous job in construction, wrestling with timbers that weigh much more than them 100 feet in the air. And today's
bridge-men have it easy compared to the work of those before them when there were no power tools and other aids to assist them.
Saoirse
Attack bollards at Saanich Rd/Lochside trail from Derby on Vimeo.
Attack bollards at Saanich Rd/Lochside trail from Derby on Vimeo.
On Monday Morning June 29, 2020 while riding south on the Lochside trail I was attacked by a bollard installed by the Capital Regional District (CRD)
) negligently signed with the CRD recommended warning signs. Worse the signage there misinformed one of the bollard location.
The bollards are according to their guidelines are to be painted a bright colour for daytime visibility. The reflective grey colour is not even close to a bright
colour and seems perfectly chosen to blend into the grey of mature dry asphalt. The yellow diamond they have painted 3 m ahead of the bollard is supposed to be
painted around the bollard. For a person with slightly impaired vision riding low as in the height of a small child the bollard as painted dissolves into not
there. Had the paint diamond been where it was supposed to be rather than misinforming me of the location of the bollard I would have not collided with the
bollard and bent a heat treated aluminum frame. Cost to repair a physically disabled senior citizens prime mode of transportation $5000. because the CRD
wished to save a few dollars of paint cost.
While discussing the use of bollards on regional trails in the CRD I was told they are there to stop 4X4 from driving on the trails. I examined almost all
the bollard locations on the Lochside trail. Most can be driven around by a car - definitely not a challenge for a 4x4 I have never heard of 4x4's are cars
racing up and down the trail. If the pusios.carpose of the bollards was to block cars then why are bollards not installed along all cycling lanes. While the CRD
staff refuses to admit it - they only purpose I can see for the bollards is to injure and main cyclists and their bikes
Seems the CRD does not feel it is their responsibility to apply signage as the their Board of Directors specified in a motion not is it important to follow
their one guidelines re signage.
Yes the bike is still rideable but the Attack bollards at Saanich Rd/Lochside trail he integrity of a heat treated aluminum frame is impaired and can't be safely repaired note the missing no parking signs
which help identify a post in the middle of the trail and misplaced diamonds the paint is in the location of previous posts from
Capital Regional District Pedestrian aIf this was the only damage the incorrectly signed and placed Capital Regional District (CRD) in Victoria BC did to my bike it would have been "only" a $500 bill to fix as it is it also twisted the frame a bit and requires a new frame too. The Greater Victoria area likes to portray they are a cycling mecca for the world but with steel bollards in the middle of their cycling trails that serve no purpose but to obstruct cyclists they can not claim the honour.
supposedly the bollards are to stop a non existent problem of vehicles driving on the trails but if that were the case why are there no bollards installed along cycle lanes to protect cyclist from cars?nd Cycling Master Plan Design Guidelines (no date + 2010?)
Capital Regional District Pedestrian and Cycling Master
Plan Design Guidelines
page 99
Posts should be permanently reflectorized for night time visibility and painted a bright color for improved daytime visibility.
Striping an envelope around the post is recommended.
When more than one post is used, an odd number of posts at 1.5 m spacing is desirable. Wider spacing can allow entry by adult tricycles, wheelchair users
and bicycles with trailers.
Saoirse