More information on the 25 year master plan for parks’ process “VanPlay"
In the latest report” Vanplay Strategic Big Moves.”, Park Board indicates a huge cycling component in Big Move 2- The Interconnected Network.
SECTION A
There are 2 big problems with relying on this for people biking in parks;
- this goal is aspirational and relies on others making it happen - “Collaborations with city’s planning, sustainability and engineering departments, partners, and neighbouring municipalities will be key to it’s success.” (Slide 65) and
- it focuses on getting people TO parks and not IN them “allowing pedestrians and cyclists to travel safely from park to park.” (Slide 68)
SECTION B
Check out the other VanPlay Reports here; although there are photos of people cycling happily in parks, you won’t find park cycling inventoried, encouraged, or planned for.
In particular, look here in Report 1 at both the observation SOPARC tool and the recreational amenities that Park Board decided to inventory, which did not include paths in parks.
The “System for Observing Play & Recreation in Communities”- SOPARC tool (Appendix 3 of report #1) designated potential multi-use paths only as “walking paths” throughout the report. It seems that the tool didn’t look at whether paths were designed to accommodate wheels (this could also help explain the fact that no wheelchair or mobility chair users were recorded on the paths during data collection periods) or were even permitting bicycle use. As we know, not observing something happening (like bicycle use) can be an indicator of lack of proper facilities or forbidden zones rather than lack of interest in use.
Another important oversight – paths weren’t inventoried in Report 1, chapter 3 p. 86 as was done for most other outdoor recreational amenities. The Seaside Greenway is Park Board’s “most popular recreational spot in the city” and paths in parks weren’t inventoried to see if they allow cycling, are paved, have stairs, etc.. Instead they inventoried and provided an overview of: court sports, basketball, ball diamonds etc.
SECTION C
Finally, for written communication by Park Board on their “to not through” parks approach for cycling & parks, look on the Vancouver-UBC Wiki Letters Page.
Look at the HUB Letters on March 12 2018: page 22 and on Nov 27 2017: first bullet point for meeting notes that reference the “to, not through” approach. There have been many verbal references to this approach as well.
In addition, the HUB Wiki chronicles the numerous communications our committee has made in efforts to see improvements on the Seaside Greenway Kits area as well as to see the 2012 Stanley Park Cycling Plan worked on. To no avail.