LANGLEY, British Columbia, March 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Langley Township cyclists are on the road to healthier living and a more sustainable way to commute. Earlier this month, the Langley Township council voted to spend $510,000 to expand commuter bike lanes as part of the municipality’s long-term plan to improve active transportation infrastructure in all of its communities, including Murrayville. Metro Vancouver matching the funding with another $500,000.
“This is an important investment, not only benefiting the health and wellbeing of our condo residents here at Murrayville House, but it’s also a much safer, and more affordable way to travel,” says The Agency Real Estate Marketing vice-president, Darryl Price.
Cycling is quickly becoming the preferred mode of transportation for many Canadians, as average commute times in Canada's biggest cities continues to get longer. According to Statistics Canada, the number of people in large cities who use bicycles as their main method of commuting has nearly doubled over the past two decades.
Active transportation - defined as walking or cycling to work - was used by 9.1 percent of Vancouverites in 2015 according to Statistics Canada. Today, nearly 30,000 people commute from BC's Fraser Valley region to Metro Vancouver for work. Travel distances range from 5 km to 25 km.
Since 2004, Langley Township has been working to develop a master cycling plan that sets out the Township’s vision for promoting cycling as a safe and viable transportation option. The 'Ultimate Cycling Network' includes improved cycling infrastructure specifically for commuters, with dedicated bike lanes, widened curb lanes, and paved shoulders. While the plan also includes a number of off-street cycling trails for Langley’s recreational cyclists, commuter cyclists prefer on-street cycling facilities as they generally offer a more direct, shorter route.
As of 2013, Langley Township’s cycling network included 64 kilometers of on-street cycling routes and 72 kilometers of off-street cycling routes. The cycling network is a long-term visionary plan to be implemented in the next 50 years in stages, subject to funding availability.
“This is fantastic news for Murrayville House residents who are not just buying a new home in Langley Township, but also planting roots in a community they hope to call home for years to come,” says Price.
For more information on how active transportation will impact condo developments like Murrayville House, contact Darryl Price at 604.427.4320 or email darryl@theagencyrem.com.