(This letter was sent to the Alberni Valley News on May 14 2025)
Dear Editor,
As I write this, the City is reportedly installing barriers to prevent left hand turns from 10th onto Dunbar. Tragedy three times over should not have been required for this. The recommendations from staff to close Dunbar came after the death of the cyclist in 2018. I think the current Council has learned the lesson and I hope it endures with future Councils and within City staff and engineers.
The City’s actions here as well as the installation of flashers at crosswalks, upgrades to sidewalks, and other changes signal a willingness to modernize our roadways in a more planned and comprehensive way.
There is much that needs to be done, not the least of which is updating our bike lanes to comply with standards for an “all ages and abilities” (“AAA”) road network for people to use by car, bike, board, foot, truck, scooter, or wheelchair.
Let us not do this piecemeal as tragedy forces us, but rather collaboratively and positively to continue building a City that is safe and attractive for the many people who live here, and want to in future.
Sincerely
Chris Alemany