Port Coquitlam, BC – Feb. 24, 2023… A prominent B.C. cycling advocacy group has honoured Port Coquitlam for the multi-use pathway on Prairie Avenue – one of the latest additions to the City’s extensive 101-km network of bike-friendly routes.

The City received an Infrastructure Improvement Award Feb. 23 at HUB Cycling’s 10^th Annual Bike Awards ceremony, held virtually. HUB Cycling is a not-for-profit organization that works to remove barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver, and its annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations that are making biking better across the region.

“We appreciate HUB Cycling’s recognition for the work we’re doing to enhance cycling and other active transportation in our community – including constructing new multi-use pathways,” Mayor Brad West said. “As we continue to expand our network of trails and pathways, more residents feel comfortable choosing some form of active transportation for shopping, errands recreation or commuting, rather than getting into their cars. It’s an important part of our ongoing efforts to create a safe, healthy and livable community.”

Stretching from Coast Meridian Road to Burns Road, the 2-km multi-use pathway (MUP) was constructed in 2021 on the north side of Prairie Avenue among other improvements to the corridor that included street trees, transit shelters, traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements.

The first cycling facility to be introduced to the busy arterial road, the MUP provides a safe link for north-side residents to get to schools, parks, places of worship and other amenities.

Port Coquitlam began constructing MUPs in 2018 as a safe, cost-effective solution to promote active transportation. By separating people from roads, MUPs encourage more people to walk, cycle and roll around the community, leading to improved health, greater community connection, reduced traffic and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Including the Prairie MUP, the City has constructed six MUPs to date. Three more are slated to begin construction in 2023, and another two in 2025 and 2026.

“Our residents want to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle, and that includes how they get around the community,” said Cllr. Darrell Penner, Council’s designate for transportation matters. “We’re continuing to build our active transportation network and are planning more paths, trails, sidewalks, traffic calming and pedestrian safety upgrades as we update the City’s Master Transportation Plan.”

The Prairie MUP is part of an array of bike-friendly facilities and services in Port Coquitlam that include:

• More than 101-kms of bike-friendly routes, including 19-kms of MUPs, the 25-km Traboulay PoCo Trail, 28-kms of other trails, 8 kms of on-street bike lanes, and 21-kms of shared road bike routes.
• A permanent bike fix-it station at Gates Park,
• 25 City-owned bike racks,
• Bike lockers at the West Coast Express station,
• Green paint to alert drivers of bike conflict zones
• Bike push buttons and crosswalk improvements for cyclists

For a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of bike-friendly routes in the City and more information on Port Coquitlam’s cycling amenities, visit portcoquitlam.ca/cycling.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca