Commercial Drive bike lane supporter calls petition unbalanced


VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Not everyone wants to see plans for bike lanes on Commercial Drive halted.

Erin O`Melinn, executive director of cycling advocacy group HUB, is putting her voice of support behind the plan for a multi-use street between First and 14th avenues.

She says a recent petition against the bike lanes from the Commercial Drive Business Society wasn’t well balanced.

“There are so many people already walking, biking and taking transit that they really do deserve a more complete street.”

She points to a City of Vancouver study that suggest about 80 per cent of visitors to the area arrive by transit, bike or on foot.

She says some local businesses also use two-wheeled transportation.

“They use bikes to get around, they use bikes to transport their restaurant gear, and they see tons of people coming to their restaurant by bike as well.”

For those with concerns, O’Melinn suggests they take a look at San Francisco.

“In the beginning when the idea first came up, a lot of the merchants and owners were concerned. They didn’t want to see any changes to their streetscape, they were concerned about parking, and once the changes were in place, two thirds of merchants are very supportive and they’re seeing benefits to their business, so it’s actually better than it was.”

If approved, the commercial drive bike lanes would be part of a larger network that would be rolled out over the next five years.

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