Temporary Stanley Park bike lane creates accessibility challenges

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the Vancouver Park Board begins to set up a temporary bike lane in Stanley Park for the second year in a row, at least one group is urging them to reconsider, suggesting seniors and people with disabilities will end up suffering.

Stanley Park For All spokesperson Bonnie Mackenzie says these changes mean the park won’t be for all, adding it limits people from accessing various sites.

“[Access to] Prospect Point, to The Teahouse, to all the other amenities,” Mackenzie says will be affected.

She’s worried these changes could actually be permanent, leaving many behind.

Read More: Temporary bike lane returning to Stanley Park

“Concrete barriers go up — how temporary is that going to be? I just can’t imagine that they’re going to spend the money to then take them all down again,” she says.

Mackenzie says that while last year was also supposed to be temporary, the park board went ahead with the changes again this year.

“I’m not sure what the definition of temporary is. Is it going to be every year during the summer that we’re not going to have access to the park?” she says.

In a statement released regarding the temporary bike lane, Park Board Chair Camil Dumont says that Vancouverites need to think about reducing their dependency on cars, however for Mackenzie that creates serious challenges.

“For persons with disabilities, you weren’t able to go and use the accessible washroom at Prospect Point or The Teahouse,” she says.

NEWS 1130 has reached out to the Vancouver Park Board for comment.