British Columbia·NewThe quick injection of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles coming off the ferry has become increasingly chaotic, says Steven Earle, a representative with the Gabriola Transportation Society.Island residents’ transportation committee says mix of pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles is dangerousMaryse Zeidler · CBC News · Posted: Nov 09, 2025 7:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Narrow shoulders and windy roads with limited visibility on Gabriola Island puts pedestrian and cyclists’ safety at risk, according to some residents. (Gabriola Transportation Society)A group of residents on Gabriola Island, B.C., near Nanaimo are calling for a trail to connect the B.C. Ferries terminal with an existing trail that leads to the main village. Steven Earle, a representative with the Gabriola Transportation Society, says the quick injection of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles coming off the ferry has become increasingly chaotic.”The roads are narrow, the shoulders are non-existent and there aren’t sidewalks,” Earle said.”It’s always been an issue, but it’s becoming more of an issue with [an] increased number of cyclists and a lot of people on electric bicycles.”The trail would help divert cyclists and pedestrians off of the road, and provide them with a safer, car-free route.Read more stories from Vancouver IslandConnecting trailsA year ago, a 2.3-kilometre gravel trail finally came together on Mayne Island after residents lobbied for it. Earle hopes the efforts of the Gabriola Transportation Society could lead to something similar.The society’s proposed 650-metre trail on Gabriola would ideally connect with the island’s existing 1,400-metre trail leading to the main village. Earle says residents began lobbying for a new trail when the Ferry Advisory Committee was still in place, but discussions with B.C. Ferries were dropped when the committees were cancelled. The proposed 650-metre trail on Gabriola Island would connect with the existing village pathway. (Gabriola Transportation Society)According to its website, B.C. Ferries is planning to upgrade the terminal at Descanso Bay. But at a Regional District of Nanaimo meeting last week, Earle said that project is on hold and it will be a long time before it comes to fruition. Passing on responsibilityIn an email to CBC News, B.C. Ferries said the project needs collaboration between several jurisdictions, including the province, the regional district and Islands Trust. “While our funding and mandate do not extend to municipal roads or land-based infrastructure, we are committed to being a strong partner and ensuring public safety is a priority,” a B.C. Ferries spokesperson said. Earle says having to deal with multiple stakeholders has always been an issue, but in this case he’s sure it’s the regional district’s job to take the lead on the project.in 2024, Mayne Island acquired a new trail to connect the village to the ferry terminal. (Gabriola Transportation Society)”We have to deal with so many different agencies that one of them will say, ‘Well it’s not us,” he said. “So they’ll go keep trying to pass on responsibility to someone else.”At the meeting, RDN Electoral Area B Director Vanessa Craig said she agrees with the society’s assessment of the need for a trail. Craig said she’s already been in discussions with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit on the matter. “I agree, it’s urgent,” Craig said at the meeting.The road is challenging to work with, she said at the meeting, because on one side is a cliff and on the other is a rock face. In a written statement, Craig says the connector was identified as a priority in the recently approved recreation and parks master plan for Area B. Craig says money for a project plan is in place from the area’s Community Works Fund. Earle says he met with the regional district to ensure that directors are aware of the urgent need for the trail, and to make sure the project doesn’t get shelved for years. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit says it’s aware of the issue.”While there is no formal proposal under review, the ministry is open to discussions with local partners,” it said in a written statement.ABOUT THE AUTHORMaryse Zeidler is an award-winning reporter who covers news from Nanaimo and north Vancouver Island. Have a news tip? You can reach her at maryse.zeidler@cbc.ca.
Traffic chaos at B.C. Ferries terminal prompts call for village trail extension on Gabriola Island
