Maple Ridge Introduces Its First Parking-Protected Bike Lane on 240 Street
In early October, cyclists in Maple Ridge were treated to a welcome surprise while riding along 240 Street. As part of recent road works along a key stretch of the road, the city seized the opportunity during resurfacing to make a simple yet impactful change: swapping the positions of the bike lane and the parking lane. Now, the parking lane sits adjacent to the traffic lane, with the bike lane positioned safely to the right of the parked vehicles. This innovative arrangement marks the first of its kind in Maple Ridge, though it’s a proven approach already in use across Metro Vancouver and in cities around the world.
Lane switch along 240 Street
At HUB Cycling, we’ve long advocated for this type of infrastructure. By placing parked vehicles as a buffer between cyclists and fast-moving traffic, it creates a physical barrier that enhances safety. This setup not only shields riders from the dangers of high-speed vehicles but also significantly reduces the risk of “dooring” incidents—where a cyclist collides with an unexpectedly opened car door, often on the driver’s side. In traditional layouts, such events can force people cycling into the traffic lane in front of fast moving traffic, but this new configuration minimizes that hazard.
Of course, no change is without its considerations. One potential challenge is ensuring visibility of cyclists emerging from behind parked cars, particularly at driveways or entrances. Adequate clearance and sightlines are essential to prevent conflicts. Additionally, in some sections of 240 Street, the bike lane remains somewhat narrow—a compromise made by the city to maintain existing parking on both sides of the road. It’s worth noting that these parking lanes are designated as temporary, given future plans to widen the road into a four-lane arterial.
Challenge: need to ensure visibility of cyclists emerging from parked cars at driveways or entrances.
Shortly after the lane swap was implemented, an unfortunate incident occurred: a driver crashed into a parked vehicle. While the exact circumstances remain unclear, the event sparked frustration on social media, with some commenters opposing the lane swap. However, the width of the traffic lanes themselves was unchanged, and the reduced distance between moving and parked vehicles doesn’t inherently explain the accident. More importantly, had the lanes not been swapped, that collision could have involved a cyclist instead. This incident further highlights the protective value of this new design.
HUB Cycling is thrilled with the city’s decision to adopt this parking-protected model and extends our sincere thanks to Maple Ridge for prioritizing cyclist safety. We’ve already identified several other arterials in the city as strong candidates for similar upgrades and will continue to collaborate with the city to encourage their implementation. This step on 240 Street is a positive move toward making our roads safer and more inclusive for everyone on two wheels. Let’s build on this momentum for a more bike-friendly Maple Ridge.
Feedback is welcome by shooting us an email at mapleridge-pittmeadows@bikehub.ca.
