It’s the unintended consequence - safety was promised; traffic was diverted; bicycles were welcomed; and parking spaces… vanished. The effect dominoed with alarming efficiency.
Full-closure traffic calming is touted as the solution to East Vancouver’s automotive problem, emphasizing the value of cycling over traditional transportation. Redefining the road, however, eliminates more than excess vehicle flow. It also irrevocably changes how individuals access parking.
The Parking Problem in East Vancouver
Vancouver's push for safer cycling is, at first glance, progressive. It's a rally for a greener, greater future. However, with it comes a cost of everyday convenience - with new paths carved from old parking spaces. Infrastructure is changed... and not for the better.
That debate has already surfaced in East Vancouver. When a separated bike-lane proposal was discussed for Commercial Drive, a survey by the Commercial Drive Business Society found that 85% of business and property owners were concerned about losing street-side parking to make room for cycling paths; and 84% of participants opposed the separated lane entirely.
Losing Space in East Vancouver
The effects of parking removal can prove easy to overlook when safety is the focus of each debate. How can one disagree with a more controlled, more pedestrian-focused enviornment? However, a curbside space serves a practical purpose for residents, customers, visitors, and those with mobility challenges; and, once that space becomes a protected cycle track, it is no longer available for those everyday uses.
Vancouver's own efforts show this to be a genuine concern. During construction on the Powell Street Overpass, a new bike lane reportedly eliminated 10 parking spaces outside a local business. The business owner said the design also removed the previous cargo area, creating difficulties for FedEx and UPS vehicles; and this will have considerable impact on the supply-chain process. Gaining a cycling path through traffic calming should not come at the expense of losing much-needed parking. The balance is not even.
The desire for a greener future cannot take precedence over the reality of today. The need for parking is, and will always be, paramount.
Sources
City of Vancouver — Protected Bicycle Lanes
City of Vancouver — 10th Avenue Bikeway Improvements
City of Vancouver — Parking By-law
Destination Vancouver — Commercial Drive Bike Lane Plan
CityNews Vancouver — Powell Street Overpass and Parking Impacts
Traffic Calming Effects In East Vancouver
Parking Impacts of Full-Closure Traffic Calming in East Vancouver
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