In the News
Aidian's Pathway - article
Fall 2009 Newsletter
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Island Pathways Activity Report For 2009
The Completion of Three New Pathways!!!
Partners Creating Pathways (a partnership between Island Pathways, Trail and Nature Club, SS Transportation Commission, and the Ministry of Transportation) have been celebrating lately. And, the fine folks at Braehaven, Heritage Place, Meadowbrook, Greenwoods, and the hospital have been celebrating with them. Why? Because three new pathways on Salt Spring have just been completed, and these seniors are already some of their most enthusiastic users.
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Elizabeth Hunt cuts
the ribbon to open the new pathway
on Lower Ganges Road.
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One pathway, extending from Lower Ganges Road to Swanson Road along Atkins Road past Meadowbrook, allows users to safely and easily proceed along Atkins, accessing the Upper Ganges Center, Lady Minto Hospital, Legion, and Senior Centre on one end, and the pool, school, and downtown Ganges at the other end. The other two are pedestrian walkways along Blain and Crofton Roads. Needed for such a long time, pedestrians (a number of whom need the assistance of canes and walkers) and motorized wheelchair travelers now have a safe walkway along the roads. In addition to delighted residents and staff at Salt Spring's retirement homes, hospital staff members are pleased. They had worried about the dangerous pedestrian access to the hospital and are glad to see the nearby walkway being so well used.
The construction of the pathways was a joy, due largely to the fine contractors hired for the task: Ganges Excavating Services Ltd (Atkins) and Capitol City Paving (Crofton and Blain), in addition to Schos Line Painting, who was responsible for all the painting on the new asphalt. We were also pleased that some of the work was subcontracted to local businesses. Amazingly, the Crofton and Blain walkways were completed in 4 days! And, the weather gods made the sun shine for most of this time.
Did you see the balloons lining the walkways? While they were being constructed, a Heritage Place resident expressed her delight, saying, “I am so happy, I want to carry a balloon on my walker.” What a great idea! So, as soon as they were completed, we bought balloons to celebrate. On the day of the balloons, Kit Lewis, an 80-year-old who walks the pathways almost each day to visit her husband at Greenwoods, took her husband on an outing. They loved it, especially the balloons they were given and the pedestrian symbols painted on the asphalt!
You volunteers have been amazing, giving countless hours to these pathways. In addition to all your work, none of this would have been possible without the generous support of so many granters and donors. A big thank you to all, including the B.C. government, CRD grant-in-aid, PARC, Salt Spring Island Foundation, BC Transmission Corporation, SSI Legion, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Van City, SS Legion Women’s Auxiliary, SS Lions Club, the SS Transportation Commission, Slegg Lumber (who donated all the ground cover needed for the entire project,) Country Grocer, The Plant Farm, Windsor Plywood, Grange Engineering Associates, and a variety of individuals who generously donated funds.
What's Next
An illustrated rendition of the Ganges Pathway Network map produced by Philip Grange is being created by artist Donald Gunn and should be ready by early next year. It will be available at the nearby senior residences, the Visitors' Centre, and the pool. Additionally, a large copy of it will be posted in a new kiosk at Lower Ganges and Blair Roads, thanks to Ian Fraser who is building this new kiosk.
Early next year, Partners Creating Pathways will meet to discuss next steps. With PARC and the SS Transportation Commission working on other important sections of the Ganges Pathway Network, great progress is being made. With its completion drawing nearer, will Partners Creating Pathways commit to finishing it? Would you like to be the first to know by becoming a planning committee member? There is still much to do to reach our pathway goals, and you can help us get there. Call Jean Gelwicks at (250) 357-4859.
Have you Seen the New Bike Rack?
Ganges has just become even more bike-friendly due to Kevin Bell at Mouat's Trading Company. Through his efforts, the largest-yet bike rack has been installed in the heart of Ganges outside Mouat's. Island Pathways sends you a bike rack full of roses. Thanks, Kevin!
Where would you like to see additional bike racks? Many that you see were put there by Island Pathways, and we are always interested in providing more. If you have suggestions, please call Wendy Webb at (250) 653-2311.
Thrifty Foods Smile Cards
Island Pathways has been a member of Country Grocer's Save a Tape and Thrifty's Smile Card programs since they began. A steady and much-needed source of funding, the money generated from these programs has been an enormous help supporting our many initiatives. At Country Grocer, by simply taking a moment to slip your receipt into the Island Pathways box, 1% of everything you spend is donated to us. Since the Lower Ganges Pathway was completed last year, these contributions have increased significantly, leading us to believe that you like our pathways. Thanks - and keep it up! Thanks, also, to Country Grocer for initiating this great program, in addition to generously donating flowers to brighten our pathways.
Island Pathways is smiling, so glad to also participate in Thrifty's Smile Card program. Get your card from Wendy Webb at (250) 653-2311 and put money on it at Thrifty Foods. Five percent of everything you spend using this card goes to Island Pathways and provides funding for our pathway projects. Thanks to you, our Smile Card supporters, and Thrifty Foods for offering this great opportunity!
For more general information and a Smile Card please call or email... info@seido-en.com
Previous News Items
Fall 2008 Newsletter
Download and view the newsletter here (pdf file)
Food Bank Needs Bikes
The food bank has moved to a new location in the Community
Services/Climbing Wall etc. Building 268 Fulford-Ganges Rd. It is open
Tuesdays 10AM-4PM The Hinds have asked for assistance from Island Pathways
in the form of donating any good used bicycles for people that use the
food bank. Many cycle to the centre now but many cannot afford
transportation.
If you have a used bicycle in good repair please email Eve or Ted Hind at ehinds@telus.net.
We are also working on finding a bike rack that is
not being used. If you know of one here or off Island please let Wendy Webb know.
Alternate Bicycle Route to Ganges
An Island Pathways Project spearheaded by Jean Gelwicks
The road signs for the alternate bike route to Ganges are are now on
Salt Spring Island. This alternate bike route diverts cyclists away
from the congested GVM area (especially those cyclists coming to Salt
Spring for the first time from Vesuvius) down Atkins Road (by Foxglove
Farms) to Swanson which turns into Park Drive and into Ganges. This is
just one attempt to make the area around GVM (Ganges Village Market) safer
for cyclists and pedestrians.
Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion
The 2007 Wheels in Motion event was held Sunday June 10th at
various locations all over BC. Please see the website www.wheelsinmotion.org for the
nearest location and to perhaps help out by volunteering.
Island Pathways Sign
Island Pathways will be raising a beautiful new
cycling/walking etc. sign by the bike rack on the corner of the Chamber of
Commerce property in Ganges. It will be 8' tall and house a custom made
re-make of the present Heritage Map Ganges inset done by Donald Gunn. The
project was spear headed by Jean Gelwicks and built by Ian Fraser and Rob
Denny of Salt Spring Island, members of Island Pathways.
Heritage Map The fourth printing of the Heritage Map was
released early in 2006. It has been updated with additional information such as
marking steep hills, adding a legend for altitudes and adding the
boundaries for Provincial Parks.
Helmets for Life There are several "Helmets for Life" programs
each year.
Bike to Work Society - Courses
Do you think you know all the rules of the road? Are you tired of being honked at? The Bike to Work Society in Victoria has put on courses on "biking to work" for several years.
In 2006, the the 7.5 hour courses on bike skills for adults was run between
April 29 and June 10. It included both classroom and on-road
training. The courses were sponsored by the CRD Traffic Safety Commission and the
University of Victoria. The Bike to Work Society
can be contacted at 250-920-5775 or by them at skillscourses@biketoworkvictoria.ca.
Struck by Vehicle
On February 20 2003, Island Pathways acting president Margaretha Nordine was
struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle to work on Salt Spring Island. She suffered a pelvis fractured in 2
places and very likely would have sustained head injuries if it were not for her helmet which now has a large
chunk out of the front. The vehicle turned in front of her from Lower Ganges Road onto Atkins Road. Over 63% of
all car-bike collisions occur at intersections. Whether the the motorist is in the wrong, as in this case, or not,
it always pays to be extra careful. When you can, make eye contact with motorists. When turning or at
intersections, shoulder check or look in your mirror when approaching intersections and wear your helmet
correctly. Helmets should fit snugly. You should not be able to eat with it done up properly.
The driver of the vehicle was charged with driving without due consideration, noted a Salt Spring Island RCMP
press release. "The Spring Island RCMP would like to remind all motorists to be conscientious while driving in
island roads, especially when sharing the roads with bicycles. The same rights and regulations that apply to motor
vehicles apply to bicycles under the Motor Vehicle Act of British Columbia."
If you are not sure if your helmet is the correct size or fitted properly please see Keith Beldam at the cycle
shop in downtown Ganges or call Wendy Webb at 250-653-2311. Fort Street Cycle who supplies
helmets for our school helmet program is a good bet for a new helmet if you are in Victoria.
Margaretha has been very active in the Helmets for Life program and bike education in the schools. Helmets for
Life has provided hundreds of helmets to island children over the last five years. "Well trained bicycle riders
are what we need starting at a young age." We are looking forward to her recovery and hope she will be able to
return to the Helmets for Life program. She was slated to do a helmet session at Fulford School this spring. It is
not known if it will be postponed as she now looks forward to a six to eight week recovery period.
End to End
Ted Harrison rode over 1600 km doing the End to End ride in Britain in
2006.
Road Resurfacing
Salt Spring Island will soon have 20 km (standard per year is 2 km) of
road resurfacing starting April 1 2007 courtesy of our pothole count and
Murray Coell!!!! Please see front page of the Driftwood Feb. 21st issue.
This is a great step in the right direction but we desperately need
shoulders for non-motorized use. The Ganges hill which is presently ripped
up due to pipe installation is an excellent opportunity to put the
pressure on for such shoulders as it may be closed and repaved soon.
PLEASE, write Murray Coell and Thank him for the extra paving we will
have this year and request extra paving to include shoulders. Let him know
we are a cycling/tourist destination and desperately need to make our
roads safer for everyone. There is a good chance some paved shoulders will
happen if we write or email soon and also mention Ganges hill. Time is of
the essence.
A handwritten letter will have much more impact than an email:
Mr./Honourable Murray Coell, Ste. F-2412 Beacon Ave.
Sidney, B.C.
V8L 1X4
or murray.coell.mla@leg.bc.ca
Newsworthy Items or For Sale... If you have a good newsworthy item for the Island
Pathways website, or any sports equipment for sale, please get in touch with Wendy Webb at 250-653-2311 to have it posted on the Island Pathways website.
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