As the City of Chilliwack embarks on its 2050 Official Community Plan (OCP) review, we face an important crossroads. The debate around transportation is heating up, with some calling for fewer bike lanes and more car lanes as a solution to traffic congestion. However, a recent CBC article provides clear evidence that expanding car infrastructure won’t solve the problem. Now, more than ever, is the time to double down on Chilliwack’s Active Transportation Plan, as part of the city’s commitment to providing multiple options for moving people efficiently in the urban core and beyond.
It’s easy to assume that adding more lanes for cars will reduce traffic. In fact, that belief has driven much of the urban planning across North America for decades. But cities like Toronto and Los Angeles, both of which have some of the widest highways in the world, are proof that more lanes lead to more gridlock, not less. As the CBC article points out, when new lanes are added, they tend to attract more cars, a phenomenon known as induced demand. This leads to the same—or worse—congestion in just a few years.
In Los Angeles, for instance, the 405 freeway has 10 to 12 lanes in some sections, yet the city remains notorious for its traffic jams. Similarly, Toronto’s highways, including the 401, offer ample lanes, yet drivers spend hours stuck in gridlock. These examples prove that more lanes won’t solve Chilliwack’s traffic problems. Instead, it’s about making smarter use of the space we have by offering real alternatives to driving.
The CBC article cites examples from cities like New York and Paris to show that investing in bike lanes can ease traffic for everyone, not just cyclists. In Manhattan, after the introduction of bike lanes, travel times for cars dropped by 35%. Paris saw a 5% decrease in car use while bike usage soared by 54% in just one year. While it may be tempting to dismiss these examples as too different from Chilliwack, the key takeaway is universal: when people are given safe, viable alternatives to driving, many choose to cycle or walk instead. This reduces the number of cars on the road, making commuting easier for everyone.
The City of Chilliwack is already on the right path, thanks to the Active Transportation Plan and its forward-thinking approach to biking and pedestrian infrastructure. This plan aligns with the city’s vision of creating complete, sustainable communities, a vision that is echoed in the ongoing 2050 OCP review. As the city grows, we need to build on this momentum and ensure that future developments offer multiple transportation options, especially in our urban core.
Chilliwack’s Active Transportation Plan is rooted in the understanding that more transportation choices lead to better outcomes. Whether for cyclists, pedestrians, or drivers, the plan aims to create safer, more efficient transportation networks. It’s not just about helping those who cycle, but about reducing overall congestion, improving safety, and lowering emissions.
As part of this plan, the Cycle Vision Plan laid out in 2017 has already identified critical projects that will close gaps in cycling routes and expand the city’s multi-use trails. It’s worth noting that 21% of Chilliwack residents already use active transportation regularly, and many more would if better infrastructure were available. Now is not the time to scale back these efforts. In fact, as the 2050 OCP review proceeds, we should be strengthening our commitment to bike lanes and other active transportation measures.
Chilliwack is already making significant strides with recent and ongoing road projects aimed at improving safety and mobility for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike. The completed Mary Street project and ongoing works on Knight Road, Tyson Road, and Keith Wilson Road are clear examples of this commitment. These projects feature several key elements designed to enhance safety and encourage active transportation, including:
These improvements demonstrate how Chilliwack is actively prioritizing safer and more efficient transportation networks, not just for cars, but for cyclists and pedestrians too.
As Chilliwack continues to grow, there will inevitably be calls to allocate more space for cars. But as Toronto and Los Angeles show us, more car lanes will only lead to more congestion. The real solution lies in reducing the need for everyone to drive. By investing in bike lanes, sidewalks, and public transportation, Chilliwack can create a more balanced, efficient, and livable city for the future.
The 2050 OCP review is a chance to reimagine how we move around Chilliwack. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to sustainable transportation options that benefit everyone. The data from cities around the world make it clear: bike lanes reduce congestion and improve quality of life. Abandoning or scaling back these initiatives in favor of more car lanes would be a step backward.
The Active Transportation Plan offers a clear path forward, and as the 2050 OCP review unfolds, now is the time to support it more than ever. Cities like Paris and New York have shown that bike lanes work, and the same can be true for Chilliwack. By continuing to invest in cycling infrastructure and creating safer streets for all users, we can ease congestion, promote healthier lifestyles, and ensure a more sustainable future for our city.
In the end, more lanes for cars will only bring more gridlock. But bike lanes? They bring solutions. Let’s continue down this path.
