Stanley Park Temporary Bike Lane Reinstatement

The HUB Cycling Vancouver-UBC Local Committee calls for the immediate reinstatement of the Stanley Park temporary bike lane to address safety concerns detailed in a Stanley Park Bike Lane & Mobility Study (PDF) presented by Vancouver Park Board staff on November 27th, 2023.

The Local Committee, in a letter to the Park Board Commissioners (PDF), is calling on them to reinstate the temporary protected bike lane as soon as possible. The safety issues noted in this update and the Park Board’s previous commitment to a quick return of a bike lane support this call.

HUB Cycling will share the petition with Park Board Commissioners
once we have 600 plus supporters!

At the meeting on November 27th, Park Board staff reported several alarming issues that arose after removing the temporary bike lane. This included dangerous motor vehicle speeds on Park Drive, an ongoing decline in people on bikes in the park, and a minimum of a two-year delay in installing a permanent bike lane, initially promised to be in place in 2022 and then by summer 2024.

1. Park Board staff noted that vehicle speeds within the park became dangerously high after the protected bike lane was removed, with over half of drivers now traveling more than 20 km/h over the 30 km/h speed limit. This poses a significant threat to the safety of vulnerable road users, including people on bicycles, and it is imperative that measures are taken to address this issue promptly. Speed continues to be a leading cause of death on B.C. roads.¹  A person walking when hit by a person driving at 30km an hour has a 90% chance of surviving, while at 50km an hour has an 80% chance of being killed.*

   
    

2. The report indicated an ongoing decline in cycling within the park since 2020, when there were very few cars. Staff also noted a recent increase in cycling on the seawall, partly attributed to the lane's removal. We know the seawall is already unsafe because it is over-capacity at busy times. As an organization committed to promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation, we are deeply troubled by any factors that discourage cycling in our city. The Park Board, as part of the City of Vancouver, should recognize that a decline in people cycling is contrary to the goals of multiple City plans, including the Climate Emergency Action Plan.
    
3. Furthermore, we learned that removing the bike lane did not impact parking revenues, suggesting that the removal decision yielded no significant financial benefits. Research shows that investment in safe cycling infrastructure presents one of the highest returns on investment for all modes of transportation.²
    

We understand the timeline's challenges and the need for a safe, permanent solution. However, the revelation that implementing such a solution will take over two years is distressing. The Local Committee urges the Park Board to explore expedited solutions and allocate the necessary resources to reinstate the temporary bike lane as an interim measure.

CBC Vancouver News: ABC Vancouver admits "overpromising" on Stanley Park bike lane

CITY News: Vancouver Park Board rejects plans to reinstate Stanley Park bike lane by summer

¹ Provincial Government of British Columbia
² Institute for Transportation and Development Policy: How Cycling Powers People and Economies