Malahat conditions?

[Claire]

I'm contemplating a northward route later this week but recall from my last drive up the 'hat that it wasn't particularly appealing for cycling.

Does anyone have any current intel on how terrible the shoulders are?

[SteelBuns]

I drove it southbound last Saturday and the shoulder looked extremely nasty (both ways).

[mfarnham]

Anyone ridden the Malahat southbound recently?

Martin

[Curran]

Drove North today and lots of junk on the side.... Long construction zone too.

[barton bourassa]

Drove south this morning. Still lots of crap on the shoulder well away from the construction zone. it might be ok to ride from Mill Bay to south Shawnigan Lk Rd but the construction zone would require taking the lane.

I have sent many emails each year to the Ministry of Transportation people that deal with road maintenance contractors (like most things, the gov in it's infinite wisdom contracted out road maintenance, to the lowest bidder, years ago). I am routinely informed that the shoulders are swept every three to six weeks. I routinely tell them this is not possible!

The funniest thing today was the big bright blinky sign that said "Bike to Work Week! Share the Road!" on the Malahat. Right! Now maybe clean the shoulder and we would not have to share a lane with 100 Km an hour traffic. Just sayin'!

Barton.