Westside Road

[Kootenanny]

Recently, there was an accident on Westside Road, which runs up the west side of Okanagan Lake.

Hearing about this on the news, it seems a lot of locals are not happy with the road and would like it either "fixed" or condemned.  Hmmm...as a motorcyclist, I really like Westside Road--although new asphalt and perhaps the odd passing lane might be nice (as long as they don't straighten it too much!).  The proposed pullouts will work about as well as they do anywhere else--that is, not at all (it takes a driver with some courtesy to use a pullout...).  But, on the other hand, traffic is generally light, and there are a few spots to pass if you're careful (which the driver of the Cadillac in the news story obviously wasn't...I can just imagine what was going on there...).

[Mrs. DantesDame]

What do you mean by "repaired"    Granted, I haven't been on that road for a couple of years, but I don't recall much being "wrong" with it, other than being too-densely populated and no place to pass.  Of course, I was also on a dual-sport, so maybe I just didn't notice some bad pavement  

[bubba zanetti]

Was on that road last summer on the Triumph. It is a great road with some rough spots. Passing would be a real challenge in a low powered car.  Fintry Provincial Park is along there about midway and draws motorhomes and trailers but on the bike - lots of places to pass.

[bubba zanetti]

DD There is an interesting looking road, Bear Lake Rd, that connects with Douglas Lake Ranch from Bear Creek Provincial Park on Westside Rd via Lambly Rd. Hope to ride that over to Merrit this summer.  

[Kootenanny]

What do you mean by "repaired"    Granted, I haven't been on that road for a couple of years, but I don't recall much being "wrong" with it, other than being too-densely populated and no place to pass.  Of course, I was also on a dual-sport, so maybe I just didn't notice some bad pavement  

It's the locals who want it "repaired"--translation, widened and straightened.  As Kelowna is growing rapidly, many people want to live in a "wilderness" setting on the lake but still have ready access to the city...lots of development along the lakeside, and some very nice homes in there, but of course, the more people, the busier the road, and then come the calls for the road to be "repaired."  It's the old conundrum...seclusion may be nice, but if enough people want to be "secluded" in the same area, soon enough it's not "secluded" anymore, and ya gotta build a highway!

Traffic density is high there on the weekends or during commuting hours...ride in in the middle of a weekday, and it's not bad (of course, the problem is that it just takes on slow motorhome to cause a bottleneck).

[Mrs. DantesDame]

It's the locals who want it "repaired"--translation, widened and straightened.

Gotcha - thanks!  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

DD There is an interesting looking road, Bear Lake Rd, that connects with Douglas Lake Ranch from Bear Creek Provincial Park on Westside Rd via Lambly Rd. Hope to ride that over to Merrit this summer.  

Dammit - why have I never noticed that before? It looks tasty  


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[birdrunner]

Dammit - why have I never noticed that before? It looks tasty  


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Can't expect the locals to cough up every secret.

I'm wondering what gems the BBBBQ hosts are hiding?   Might take a couple bottles of good stuff to pry it out of them.

[bubba zanetti]

Well there is this rather amazing road that goes north out of Grand Forks ... but it is a dead end, unless you ride a dual sport.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Well there is this rather amazing road that goes north out of Grand Forks ... but it is a dead end, unless you ride a dual sport.

I'm coming north again, I promise!!!

[alphabet man]

Well there is this rather amazing road that goes north out of Grand Forks ... but it is a dead end, unless you ride a dual sport.

Just happen to have a short video