On Saturday, a gathering of locals from Vancouver, activists, and some city employees took place in Devonian Harbour Park.
In addition to highlighting park board candidates who they believe will “return Stanley Park to pre-pandemic level and restore simple access for visitors to the park,” the group’s objective is to increase public awareness about the next municipal election.
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Vice-chair of the Vancouver Park Board Tricia Barker stated, “We’re trying to spread the word that if we don’t do anything at the next election, the temporary bike lane will become permanent and access would be restricted for seniors and people with disabilities.”
“We need to restore the roads to their previous condition.”
An forthcoming building project that is expected to last years in the neighbourhood worries Barker about what will happen to Stanley Park in the foreseeable future.
“We’ll be starting one of Vancouver’s largest building projects early next year, and it’ll be right in the centre of Stanley Park. The pipeline from the North Shore to Vancouver is being renovated.
That means that for the next five years, ten hours a day, six days a week, there will be dump trucks coming and going from the park. With just one lane of car traffic, there is no way we can accomplish it.
“Barker mainly thinks that the temporary bike lane has harmed park businesses as well.
Restoring the park to its previous state, before the access changes enacted during the pandemic, is met with criticism.
According to Hub Cycling, a non-profit organisation in Vancouver, Jeff Leigh, the park has improved after the addition of the new temporary bike lane.
According to Leigh, who spoke to Global News, “the modification to the arrangement of traffic in the park has mainly been effective and is in keeping with the city’s long-term strategy on traffic and emissions.”
The Stanley Park Mobility Study, a project that was started two years ago and is looking into ways to lessen car traffic in the park, is still active.
Leigh advised waiting until the report was finished and reviewed before making any decisions on the park board.
The investigation should be finished early next year.
Rally in Vancouver to “rescue Stanley Park,” with worries about divisive bike lanes
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