Vancouver Park Board approves Stanley Park bike lane for summer

The Vancouver Park Board voted Wednesday evening to approve a temporarylane dedicated to cyclists on Park Drive in Stanley Park until the end of October.

The bike lane through the parkhas been a source of vociferous debate which has pitted cyclists versus persons with disabilities, business owners in Stanley Parkand drivers.

Last summer, a lane for cyclists in the park was createdto allow for more physical distancing on the seawallas it was crowded with people trying to enjoy the outdoors during the pandemic.

The park board is also directing staff to have thetemporary bike path ready as soon as it is "operationally reasonable".

Green Party Park Board Commissioner Camil Dumont had put forward a motion on Tuesday night to create the temporary lane.

The motion says during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 8 to June 22, 2020, Park Drive was closed to all vehicles and cycling volume went up by 180 per cent in comparison to the same time period in 2019.

One lane of vehicle traffic was reopened on June 22, 2020, and according to the motion, "bicycle ridership remained high throughthe park from that date until the removal of thetemporary bicyclelane in September."

The park board also directed staff to report back with data collected and observations made about the temporary measures during 2021.