Vancouver resuming parking enforcement in some neighbourhoods to discourage traffic during pandemic

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The City of Vancouver is resuming parking enforcement in Kitsilano and Point Grey in support of physical distancing.

Enforcement of permit- and residential-parking zones in those neighbourhoods will begin Friday to discourage people from driving to beaches, parks and trails.

The area of enforcement will include streets north of 10th Avenue and west of Burrard Street, says the city in a release.

“As people from other parts of the city continue to travel by car, particularly during nice weather, to enjoy the beaches and trails in Kitsilano and Point Grey, the City of Vancouver is taking additional steps to deter people from driving to these destinations,” says the city.

“The goal is to enable physical distancing and reduce the number of people congregating on the area’s beaches and trails. These steps are in addition to the park board’s closure of parking lots at Kits Beach and Jericho.”

COVID-19 Need to Know:
✅ Thanks to everyone who is helping #Vancouver to #plankthecurve and slow the spread of COVID-19 by Staying Home, Staying Put, not gathering to socialize at our parks & beaches & maintaining a 2 metre physical distance from others. pic.twitter.com/C2pknJis8j

— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) April 15, 2020

The city will also remove parking next to Kits Park and install local-traffic-only signage on nearby streets to give people walking and cycling along the seawall more room to physically distance.

“We ask that people stay in their own neighbourhoods and take advantage of local parks and green space to exercise and get fresh air rather than converging on popular trails and beaches,” says the city.

Parking enforcement officers will begin ticketing cars without appropriate permits that are parked in permit-parking zones in Kitsilano and Point Grey on Friday, the city adds.

Large signs will be placed at access points, so drivers are aware parking enforcement has resumed.

“The city is committed to ensuring healthcare workers can continue to park for free during the COVID-19 crisis. We are working directly with healthcare facilities in the area to ensure parking remains available and accessible.”

The city also continues to monitor parking in permit zones and at parking meters throughout the city and encourages people to use the off-street options available to them.

“Should more operational or community issues arise, enforcement efforts will be scaled up to address them,” says the city.

At the end of March, the city announced it would no longer enforce metered parking, rush-hour zones, residential permit-parking zones, or parking time limits, including the three-hour parking restriction, in an effort to help healthcare workers and frontline city staff stay safe during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

The Vancouver Park Board previously made Stanley Park car-free to encourage physical distancing.