The Ribbons of Green Trails Society (ROGTS) has been active in the Greater Vernon area since the early '90s and has been a motivator behind the Jack Schratter xollege route, the Polson Pathway, the Grey Canal connecting trails and the 25th Avenue bike paths, among others. The Ribbons of Green plan for the development of cycling trails within the city has been part of the official community plan for years, and helps guide downtown development.
None of this happens, of course, without the budget allotments of council, and the development work of the regional and city engineering staffs.
Our group is comprised of a board of 11 people who meet monthly on current projects, discuss plans with city staff, write proposals, fundraise, and lobby politicians where required. Our monthly meetings include a council representative, along with city and regional staff.
On April 15, The Morning Star published an article regarding our association that I think needs clarification. ROGTS recently withdrew from the transportation demand management (TDM) steering committee, to the disappointment of one of the councillors, who stated that we were the one group most critical to that committee.
What is the TDM group? This department was set up in city hall in response to the rejection of the western bypass highway proposal several years ago, which most will recall as being very controversial.
With no relief in sight for congestion of traffic through the downtown core, the TDM group was tasked with recommending solutions to this dilemma:
n Bus routes could be improved, with a focus on commuter schedules
n One-way streets could be introduced
n Commuters could be encouraged to walk or cycle to work, or car-share, through programs such as Commuter Challenge, and Bike to Work Week
n Better sidewalks or safety sessions in schools could encourage children to walk or cycle to work
ROGTS fully supports the TDM process, and we work closely with their staff, in particular on the annual path development plans in the city core.
There is a second unsung volunteer group in Vernon that works with urban cycling. This is the Greater Vernon Cycling Advisory Committee (GVCAC). This group is focused on increasing cycling participation among adults and children, and is actively involved in school safety programs, improving road conditions and signage, and working with TDM on their annual events such as Bike to Work Week.
The GVCAC group is a key representative on the TDM committee meetings, and in fact one of their members, Kim Young, currently chairs this group.
Ribbons and GVCAC are closely linked, with an ROGTS member attending and contributing to their monthly meetings.
ROGTS is currently concentrating on several regional parks projects:
n After developing the proposal for Middleton Mountain, we are now concentrating on completing the trail system.
n We are in the early stages of working with the Foothills Neighbourhood Association on a park with trails.
n We are working with GVPRD on completing sections of the Grey Canal and BX Creek trail system
This leaves our group very busy, and we feel comfortable passing the cycling aspects of the TDM committee over to GVCAC, who we feel has a stronger focus on their specific objectives.
Our support for the TDM process is not diminished, and ROGTS will continue to provide input and contribute to the TDM objectives wherever we can help.
Dave Smith
President, Ribbons of Green Trails Society
Vernon
