Stanley Park Cycling Plan

Implementation Strategy approved

15 October 2012

The Park Board adopted the extensive Stanley park Cycling Plan and approved an implementation strategy to realize its vision to improve the experience of Stanley Park for all park users, while maintaining or enhancing the park's ecology.

• Read the staff report presented at the 15 October Park Board meeting

Public engagement

Summer 2012

The public engagement part of this initiative is finished. The final consultant team's plan has been posted.

Now, the Park Board is reviewing the consultant team's recommendations.

Reports

• Recommendations: Stanley Park Cycling Plan Implementation Strategy

Planning documents

• Stanley Park Cycling Plan
• Consultation Summary
• Project Overview
• Issues Identification

Cycling Plan themes

The Stanley Park Cycling Plan is comprised of a wide range of recommendations to be implemented over time, as capital budgets permit.

Some are fairly easy to implement, while others will require significant funding, further study, and/or approval from other agencies. A few recommendations are contingent on the implementation of others.

The plan contains both system-wide and site-specific recommendations grouped under six general themes:

1. Provide Seawall alternatives

At 8.8 km, the one-way bike path can be a challenge for some cyclists. As part of the cycling plan, the Parks Board will develop alternative shortcut bike routes.

2. Increase bike parking

The Parks Board is seeking a cost-effective proposal for bike parking in high-traffic areas, including Third Beach.

3. Decrease user conflict

We will use a number of means to reduce the potential for conflict between cyclists and pedestrians, including consistently marking high-traffic areas, and adapting popular lookout points. Some of these recommendations have already been implemented.

4. Protect ecology

The Stanley Park Ecology Society will be involved in reviewing plans to ensure the ecology of Stanley Park is maintained or enhanced by changes.

5. Improve connections

We will make connections to and within Stanley Park clear and direct.

6. Improve signs and wayfinding

More directional signs will be installed on trails, and sign messaging will be made more clear and consistent.

Timeline

Recommendations have been organized into categories depending on priority and budget.

Highest priority has been given to changes with additional benefits such as improving accessibility or benefiting the environment.

Early implementation

These recommendations have already been, or are currently being implemented, at low cost:

• Designate Hanson Trail as a shared pathway
• Use consistent crossing treatments at crossing/conflict zones in the park
• Implement consistent treatments for wayfinding and connectivity at Second Beach
• Implement a Gateway node at the east entrance of Stanley Park
• Improve the Park Drive exit onto Georgia Street to increase safety and be consistent with City standards
• Create curb cuts to facilitate bike movements and increase accessibility
• Remove the furniture at Seawall pinch points to improve traffic flow
• Use advance warning signage at the beginning and end of dismount areas

First priority improvements

A number of recommendations have been identified as high first priorty, and are undergoing design. They will be implemented by mid-2013:

• Connect the Seawall with Tunnel Trail and Beaver Lake Trail
• Consistently mark busy crossing areas with a focus on locations with a high number of cyclist-pedestrian conflicts
• Reroute the bike/rollerblade path at the stone bridge south of the planted island at Lost Lagoon
• Upgrade Rawlings Trail for better bike access to the Third Beach concession
• Increase bike parking at the north end of Third Beach
• Provide better signage and accessibility for bikes from Second Beach and Stanley Park Drive to the Bridge Path trail

All other improvements

Other recommendations will be implemented over time as budgets permit. Some improvements will need significant funding, further study, and approval from other agencies.

Stanley Park is one of the greatest parks in the world

Stanley Park is known as one of the great parks of the world. With its 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of greenspace adjacent to Vancouver’s downtown core, the park provides a variety of experiences to visitors in a central, urban location.

The park attracts both tourists and residents due to its lush rainforest and numerous attractions. These different groups of people use the park in a variety of ways and for different purposes.

For example, the park includes the 8.8 km Seawall that can draw thousands of pedestrians and cyclists every day for leisure and commuting. 

Why Stanley Park needs a cycling plan

The popularity of Stanley Park has resulted in a variety of cycling issues on the Seawall (Seaside) loop, and at entrances to the park, and management issues such as environmental impacts on trails within the interior of the park, including:

• Unclear connections and access to important park amenities or attractions
• Insufficient bike parking
• Pedestrian and cyclist conflicts and congestion at various points

The Park Board has greatly improved facilities for cycling in the park over the last ten years. Now there is a need for further improvements based on a comprehensive cycling plan.