Green Paint Saves Lives: A Small Price for Safety in Kamloops
As Kamloops continues to grow, we often hear about the high costs of infrastructure; however, when it comes to the safety of our neighbours, children, and friends who bike our streets, a small investment in green paint could yield the highest return of all.
While green pavement markings are more expensive per litre than standard white or yellow street lines, they are not a luxury – they are a vital safety tool. More importantly, they are a commitment the City has already made on paper. Our Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Active Transportation Plan Update (2025) both emphasize a “safety-first” approach to move more people efficiently, with pedestrians and cyclists at the top of the City’s road-user hierarchy.
The rationale for the City to move from planning to action is clear: First, this is the most direct way to achieve Vision Zero. The City’s own Vision Zero Plan (2023) aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. By focusing “micro-fixes” on high conflict zones , the City can fulfill its promise to protect vulnerable road users where they are most at risk.
Second, this is a matter of fiscal common sense. When compared to the multi-million-dollar costs of road reconstruction, a minimal amount of durable, high-visibility paint is essentially a rounding error in the municipal budget. By applying these markings during regularly scheduled spring painting or repaving, as suggested in our long-term maintenance strategies, the City can potentially save on both labour and mobilization.
Finally, this is about accountability. The Active Transportation Plan Update (2025) specifically identifies the need to reduce barriers to cycling. Fear of traffic is the number one barrier in Kamloops. Bright, green markings are proven to increase motorist awareness and reduce “right-hook” collisions, making our streets usable for everyone, not just the brave.
It is time for the City to put its own adopted plans into practice. By identifying high-conflict intersections and marking them clearly, we move closer to a Kamloops that is safe, accessible, and true to its word. Green paint may cost more at the store, but the cost of a preventable tragedy is infinitely higher.
Sincerely,
Kamloops Cycling Coalition
Transition Kamloops
Transition Kamloops is a volunteer-driven, registered not-for-profit society focused on increasing local resilience and self-sufficiency in food, water, energy, culture and wellness. We emphasize a local economy, healthy ecosystems, and grassroots community building, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We believe in a better way: a community that sustains life in all its diversity, strives for equality and justice and invests in the future.
Transition Kamloops recognizes that we are living on Secwépemcul’ecw—land that was never ceded to settlers, and continues to be home to vibrant Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. We acknowledge the impact of colonization, forced displacement, and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples. We commit to listening, learning, and building positive relationships with Indigenous communities as we work towards reconciliation.
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