Handrails on the Breakwater

By Josie Bannerman

Handrail design: The post and cable design of the handrails preserves views for people in wheelchairs as well as for those standing.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) will install handrails on the breakwater at Ogden Point over the next few months to satisfy concerns expressed by their insurers for public safety.

Site of new stairs: The handrail project also includes a new set of stairs by the lighthouse and upgrades to the entrance.

"If we didn't install handrails, we could have been forced to close the breakwater to the public," said Curtis Grad, GVHA President and CEO. "The new handrails are also designed to meet the Canada Labour Code which requires fall protection for workers maintaining the breakwater," he said.

An important element of the installation will be a wide gate at the entrance to the breakwater, making it possible for people with strollers, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters to gain access. The new gate will remain open 24 hours a day, and with handrails in place, the GVHA will be able to keep the breakwater open during high winds. Handrails will be fabricated off-site in sections, and the breakwater will be closed for 8-12 weeks when installation is underway.

So, what do people in James Bay think about this development? Whether they walk the breakwater or not, people have strong opinions about the handrail project, and when I asked, most were very willing to speak their minds! Here is what some of you said:

Repairs on hold:Winter storms peel away the walking surface of breakwater. This year repairs have been put on hold because of safety concerns for workers.

Stephen
Part of the appeal of the breakwater for me has always been how wild and open it is. You're right beside the ocean and exposed to the elements, whether it's wind, rain, and seawater, or sunshine. I think handrails will taint that experience - I want to get hit with spray, struggle to move forward against a storm, and stop and look at the sea unobstructed in good weather and bad.

Linda
I'm horrified. Can't make every place safe. Can't make the world a better place by putting up railings. People have to be able to assess risk for themselves and act accordingly.

Jo
I would put the $500,000 price tag to better use. There are lots of waterfront pathways that people can use. If you don't feel safe on the breakwater, don't go out there!

Cracks in surface: Structural cracks in the walking surface of the breakwater may create new safety concerns. Graham worries that they may serve as "traps" for the thin wheels of strollers and walkers.

Bob
The fact that there are no hand-railings may be why no accidents have happened. Put them up and increased traffic, less careful, less fit, may change the stats. Should they also install some speed bumps to further discourage skate-boarders and cyclists?

Graham
I've been walking the breakwater for 58 years - if it ain't broke - don't fix it! The breakwater with handrails will be like a cattle stall. I'm concerned that kids will find a way to wiggle through the cables on the handrail, stroller and walker wheels will get caught in the "sidewalk cracks", and people will use the new steps near the lighthouse as an invitation to get themselves into trouble!

Angela
I'm concerned about handrails encouraging overcrowding on the breakwater and hindering a good vigorous walk. Installing handrails may be carrying social responsibility to a ridiculous extreme. Breakwater etiquette as it now exists will fall apart!

Wendy
Yuck! I'm disappointed. The new open breakwater with handrails + dog walkers and others will change the whole experience.

Helen
Handrails won't address my vertigo issue. The breakwater is narrow and the water moving on each side is visible to me when looking straight ahead. That movement is what causes the vertigo for me. I don't think handrails will make a difference, as there will still be visibility through them. Having said that, I am pro-handrails so that people who are afraid to go out there now will be able to.

Ken
It is time for handrails. I've lived near the breakwater for 35 years, and I've watched it get busier. Most people who use the breakwater are responsible, but those who are not create problems. Handrails will offer more safety, and the design has a very nautical look!

David
It's hard to spoil something so wild, but people with disabilities deserve to be able to share the experience. Victoria has a reputation for creating accessibility - sidewalks, doorways, transit - and handrails on the breakwater continue this philosophy.

Jim
I don't see a downside. Handrails will increase safety and accessibility. They will have a minimal visual impact, and if anyone is concerned about changing the original appearance of the breakwater - the murals have already done that!

What do you think about the breakwater handrails project? Write a letter to the editor and let us know! We look forward to hearing from you.