The B.C. government has approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for bike projects in the Central Okanagan.
Kelowna will be given $237,532 to help build street-level protected bike lanes from Sutherland Avenue to Springfield Road/Cadder Avenue.
Lake Country, meanwhile, will receive $35,045 to develop a cycling network plan.
Further south, in Osoyoos, $68,608 has been approved for a separated, multi-use pathway on Columbia Avenue.
Photo credit: Contributed
The funding is part of a $1,506,530 pot allocated to the Southern Interior for 2019-20.
"Cycling is great for your health, your wallet and the environment," said Claire Trevena, minister of transportation and infrastructure.
"It's an excellent way to stay connected to your community. Our government will continue to work with regional, local and Indigenous governments to build safe infrastructure that supports active transportation."
As part of the CleanBC strategy – the plan for a more sustainable future – there is a scheme being developed that builds on BikeBC.
That strategy, which will be unveiled soon, will focus on making walking, cycling, scootering, skateboarding and other modes of active transportation more convenient for people of all ages and abilities.
The rest of the funding pot is distributed as follows:
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City of Merritt approved to receive $25,000 to develop a cycling network plan that addresses active transportation within the community
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Regional District of East Kootenay approved to receive $1,000,000 for a separated 25-kilometre, multi-use pathway from Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs, which will include end-of-trip facilities
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City of Rossland approved to receive $69,805 for a separated, multi-use pathway along Columbia Ave
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City of Fernie approved to receive $70,540 for a paved pathway connecting Fairy Creek Bridge to the Fernie Visitor Centre
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Town of Osoyoos approved to receive $68,608 for a multi-use path between Lakeshore Drive and Cottonwood Drive that will connect with existing cycling and walkway infrastructure



