Cyclists in South Surrey and White Rock are hoping to widely distribute maps of alternative bike routes to increase bike safety and make riders more aware of ways to avoid traffic accidents.

HUB, a non-profit cycling society, has propositioned the city councils of Surrey and White Rock to post bike maps throughout the peninsula - including in bike shops, recreation centres and libraries - after commercial mapmakers seemed disinterested in the idea.

"We're hoping to have a map put together for local residents and to advertise these routes," said Tim Yzerman, chair of HUB's Surrey, White Rock and North Delta committee. "I have had some close calls where people have cut me off for no apparent reason."

The committee is concerned that certain main roads in the area don't have adequate bike lanes. Yzerman and his colleague Mona Milne noted that 16th Avenue (also known as North Bluff Road) can be unsafe for twowheeled commuters between Ocean Park and Semiahmoo Mall.

"The road is still very dangerous for cyclists because [the bike lanes] are not widened," said Milne, secretary of the Surrey, White Rock and North Delta committee. While there are commercial maps available, Milne said many of them don't have bike routes.

She proposed cyclists go through trails in Centennial Park, residential streets and other scenic routes.

"They're just parallel, a couple of blocks north and a couple of blocks south," she said.

According to Yzerman, both cities are "definitely behind the idea to promote cycling on those routes as opposed to 16th Avenue."

He added that people who typically drive in the area and switch to cycling likely wouldn't know of these routes without having maps posted.

"If you get on your bike, it's better to take a different route, and most people that hadn't gone on their bike wouldn't know," he said.

While the map is in the works, Yzerman recommends checking TransLink's cycling maps at translink.ca, or using the City of Surrey's maps at surrey.ca/city-services/7773. aspx.

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