Opponents want to put the brakes on Kitsilano Beach Park bike path

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      Vancouver's newest separated bike path isn't going to be approved without a fight.

      On Monday (March 12), representatives of the Kits Points Residents Association, Kitsilano Beach Coalition, and WakeUp Vancouver are encouraging the media to cover a rally outside the Vancouver park board office.

      It will take place before the commissioners' meeting on Monday (March 12) evening.

      Demonstrators plan to protest a staff recommendation to approve a "proposed conceptual alignment of a new separated cycling path through Kitsilano Beach Park".

      Opponents of the plan claim that Vision Vancouver and HUB Cycling are attempting "to take green space for a bike path".

      HUB Cycling was one of the groups consulted by the park board in a 2016 engagement process, as was the Kits Points Residents Association.

      Vision Vancouver only has one member on the park board, Catherine Evans.

      Three board seats are held by the NPA, two by the Greens, and one by Erin Shum, who broke away from the NPA caucus after accusing her colleagues of bullying.

      The video below is on the WakeUp Vancouver Facebook page and highlights concerns about the $2.2-million cost of a similar bike path proposed in 2013.

      Here's a 2013 video now on the Wake UP Vancouver Facebook page raising concerns about the bike lane.

      The park board shelved that plan in 2014 but resumed discussions with the community in 2016.

      The recent park board report does not cite a cost of the new recommended plan.

      Vancouver park board staff have recommended the following route for a new bike path through Kitsilano Beach Park.

      The plan is supported by Richard Campbell, executive director of the B.C. Cycling Coalition.

      "Really sad that some oppose a safe family cycling route by Kits," Campbell tweeted. "The current route through the parking lot is certainly not ok for children (or adults for that matter). If they are really concerned about green space, let's get rid of some parking in parks."

      The staff report states that throughout Kitsilano Beach Park, "there are ongoing conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians, motor vehicles and other modes of active transportation."

      "Efforts to separate these modes have been successful elsewhere in the City of Vancouver and similar strategies should be adopted in Kitsilano Beach Park to improve safety and the user experience throughout the park corridor."

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