Cyclists head south in the Burrard Bridge's new bike lanes during warmer weather this summer. Cyclists head south in the Burrard Bridge's new bike lanes during warmer weather this summer. (CBC)

The temporary bike lanes on Vancouver's Burrard Bridge could be here to stay after a city survey found bike traffic was up, accidents were down and supporters outnumbered opponents nearly two to one.

City staff have recommended that the lanes should become permanent after they found bike traffic on the bridge has increased by more than 25 per cent since they were installed this summer, said Coun. Heather Deal.

"It shows that, not only do we have a safer bridge, but that cars, pedestrians and cyclists all think it's a good idea... It's a huge success for us," said Deal.

Poll results

The City of Vancouver poll, conducted by the Mustel Group on Sept. 23-28, surveyed 310 residents of Vancouver.

The margin of error — which would be significant for a poll that size — was not released, but among the numbers released by the city, the poll suggested:

  • Overall 45 per cent supported the changes versus 21 per cent opposed.
  • Downtown, support rose to 57 per cent, with 20 per cent opposed.
  • On the West Side, support hit 60 per cent, with only 18 per cent opposed.
  • Among cyclists, the trial had 90 per cent support and 79 per cent support among pedestrians.
  • Among single-occupancy vehicle drivers, 51 per cent supported the trial, with 31 per cent opposed.

The temporary lanes, which were created by removing cars from one lane and pedestrians from one sidewalk, were widely expected to create traffic chaos around the bridge, which connects the downtown Vancouver peninsula with the south side of False Creek, but that never happened, said Deal.

"The traffic mayhem that some predicted didn't happen," said Deal.

Installing the lanes on the existing bridge rather than widening it also saved the city an estimated $30 million, noted Deal.

"We've managed to keep cars, and pedestrians and cyclists and buses moving over that bridge safely without spending that money. I think it's just a huge success and I'm not surprised people see it that way."

While city staff are already recommending the changes be made permanent, the trial is set to continue until after the Olympics. After that, council will decide on the future of the lanes, said Deal.

A previous survey released in September found southbound vehicles were facing delays of up to six minutes during the morning rush only, but northbound vehicle lanes were as much as two minutes faster.

Some residents not happy

The apparent success hasn't come without controversy. The changes on the bridge also changed traffic on the north side of the bridge, and at least two businesses in the area say they've lost customers from drive-by-traffic, according to the city report.

In addition some residents of Beach Avenue say the change has diverted hundreds of cars through their neighbourhood.

Resident Wenda Deane says council has once again pushed changes without consultation, much like when they put in some emergency homeless shelters last winter.

"The first one was the heat shelters, they went ahead and put those in and they didn't bother to ask any of the local residents what they thought about them. They've done exactly the same thing in relation to this one," said Deane.