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Stop $35 million Goose/Lochside Trail project


Gerry Madden
Dec 12, 2025


I have cycled from Esquimalt to Cordoba Bay, Michell Farm, and Sidney most days for over 8 years – over 70,000 km in total.  

I have never seen a cycle or pedestrian accident on the 20 + km sections of the Goose/Lochside Trails while riding!

While more than 800,000 may ride or walk the busiest sections of these trails annually, that’s only about 200 per daylight hour on my 20km+ route in a 12 month period.  I rarely see more than a handful of users daily.

Overcrowding is not an issue and night use is almost nil.  We don’t need $35 million for street lights, 6 metre widening, and gorge trestle expansion.   We already have the longest and best trail system in the world and we love it!

We do need to encourage all riders and walkers to move safely, with courtesy, respect, and smiles to ensure safety and enjoyable trail experiences for all users. Signage, educational  publicity, and maybe part time student ambassadors in peak hours or busy sections might be useful.  

All much lower cost trail safety options, and likely better results than the proposed disruptive and lengthy $35 million trail construction project.  And we can all share a $50 to $100 per capita reduction in property taxes!  

Win win for everyone in a difficult time when an estimated 25% of Canadians can’t afford food and are forced to use food banks!

We need to get our municipal spending more in line with the reality of needs…don’t get me started on the $300 million Victoria swimming pool project – that’s about $3000 for every resident – over $10k for many families!  It was approved by only 15% of the population.  I’m betting the other 85% would love to save $10,000 in future taxes.  

Big spend projects like these need at least majority 50% + vote approvals, and should consider private sponsorship potential, or reconsider renovation options to lessen the huge tax impact and the long demo/construction loss of pool facilities.