BIKE LANE CHAOS & CONFUSION
An Open Letter To The Parks Board

A long-time West Ender and the author of The West End Journal’s “Stanley Park Notebook” recently wrote the following letter to the Vancouver Parks Board. At the time of publication, she had still not received a response. The letter has been lightly edited for context and chronology of events.

by Jacqui Birchall
I am a daily walker in the park, (around 16 kms a day) and a casual bike rider. I also write a column about Stanley Park for the online publication The West End Journal.

When west-bound cyclists reach Second Beach they are confused. They see the big sign pointing them to the south, they confidently ride on the bike path behind the Second Beach Concession, and then they come to a dead halt at the entrance to the parking lot. All they see is “One Way, Do Not Enter” signs.

This way, for more confusion! (click on images to enlarge) — This way, for more confusion!
*(click on images to enlarge)*

I spend a lot of time helping cyclists out. There should be a very clear sign indicating to turn right at the west side of Lost Lagoon so they can achieve the one-way system. I am attaching photos of the confusing signs at Second Beach. The huge left-turn arrow is no help to cyclists seeking the one-way system. Recently I helped a large family on bikes find their way back to the parking lot near the tennis courts. The third photograph shows a sign that seems to be too small and not clear enough.

My understanding is that the path that leads up from Stanley Park Drive near the fire engine is now only for pedestrians. There is a sign at the entrance to the path saying the seawall is closed to bikes. The sign is ineffectual. On busy Saturdays and Sundays, that path (I call it the upper seawall) is full of cyclists, in-line skaters and skateboarders. I thought that some time ago the Park Board separated in-line skaters and skateboarders from pedestrians.

Am I correct in thinking that the path from the fire engine up and towards English Bay is for pedestrians only? The sign that says “No Bikes” that is situated on this path opposite the bowling green was stolen one Friday night.

A jumble of signage, cones, concrete barriers and bumpers has many wondering which way is which.

My absolute joy is to walk the trails in Stanley Park. Many of them have minuscule signs indicating no bikes. These include Lees, Tatlow, and Lovers. Am I correct? The tiny “no bikes” signs are obvious to me. As a five-foot two-inch walker they are at my eye level. They evade the speeding mountain bikers.

The bike lane in Stanley Park was created with good intentions, but is not safe. Do the authorities keep you informed of ambulance-attended cyclist accidents? Recently there was an unconscious cyclist on Stanley Park Drive. The biggest problem is the aggressive racing cyclists. One risks one's life when trying to use the pedestrian crossing in Stanley Park and all along English Bay to Hornby Street. These cyclists have no desire to stop. They also ride up to four and five abreast.

The hill up and over the Lion's Gate Bridge brings more dangers. Those less adept riders tend to fall off their bikes on the way up. The racing cyclists show little patience. There is also the problem of the racing cyclists who tend to move in groups taking up the road, intimidating the regular cyclists, and spitting and banging on the cars of drivers doing the speed limit.

I have read that concrete barriers are being installed in June and taken out in October. Sounds expensive. I am not sure such an immovable blockage will help with the large numbers of speedy cyclists. The cones allow flexibility in a crash or other dangerous situations.

The speed of the racing cyclists coming down from the Prospect Point Lookout is dangerous to all. There is a speed limit in Stanley Park, but many cyclists don't care. The park has moved from a place of enjoyment to a battle between the speedy on wheels and normal folks. The cyclists reach great speeds that they maintain as they pass Second Beach and onwards to English Bay. For them, there are no pedestrian crossings.

Do you have any suggestions on preventing such ignorant behaviour?