An avid Victoria cyclist is warning others that the green road paint on bike lanes can be dangerous after the rain.
In August, Craig Smith was driving his bike to work the morning after it rained and says he ended up falling while crossing Esquimalt Road at the E&N Trail crossing.
“I went around the corner, and it had rained that night, so the crosswalk was wet, and my bike slipped out from underneath me, and down I went on my right hip,” Smith said.
He says since the fall weather started, more cyclists have fallen in the same spot.
“I’ve heard of three other people, two in the last week and a half, and one of them I actually work with,” Smith explained.
“So it’s an ongoing problem I think should be addressed.”
Smith said they were all riding on the green-painted bike path when they fell, and he believes the paint has something to do with it.
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The City of Victoria said the green paint is filled with grit and is applied in a way to give it texture and the bike tires traction.
It’s also a safety feature to warn both cyclists and drivers of a high conflict zone around driveways and intersections.
According to Smith, at the E&N Trail crossing, the texture is wearing thin in places with high vehicle traffic, creating pockets of slippery spots.
“Looking at the condition of paint in other areas, this doesn’t seem to be as good of quality as some of the other crossings,” he said.
Corey Burger with Capital Bike told CHEK News that paint of any colour on the road can pose a challenge for cyclists as the paint itself is slippery.
“I know they do some good work in terms of adding grit and adding texture, but even then, a little bit of water and a few leaves on the ground will make it a big challenge,” Burger added.
Sarah Webb, manager of transportation planning and development, said the city does its best to stay on top of its cycling infrastructure, adding there is a regular maintenance schedule in place for the green paint.
“If and when we need to reapply textured paint, we will do so in any location,” Webb said.
Smith said if the green bike paths are going to need too much maintenance in high-traffic areas, maybe the city should look at other options.
He suggested painting a line with the green textured paint on either side of the path, leaving pavement in the middle to ensure tire traction.
Webb said if cyclists have any concerns or suggestions, they should contact the city.
Mackenzie Read
