October 4, 2005
Dear Major and Council and members of the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists,
On September 29 th, I met with Doug Louie who is now in charge of parking in Vancouver. We spent an hour together discussing how to make this work for motorcyclists in Vancouver. I was disappointed that he had not received a copy of the “Parking Proposal” that was submitted by the Coalition in April of 2004, and even more unhappy that not a thing had been done to get it on the road but to quote him “I just started in this position”. Mr.. Louie was in fact happy that I brought a copy for him to go over and truly seemed eager to work on a solution.
It was a bit unsettling to me to have to basically start from scratch and explain to him why we chose corner clearances as he did not even realize that the issue was on-street 8 hour parking. We discussed that the rational behind the corner clearances was that the motorcycles would not be taking up metered two hour parking and felt that since it was indeed in many areas “dead space” that it would be viable. The proposal explains and addresses safety issues, number of motorcycles per spot and as it has been 18 months since it was presented several new ways to facilitate this program. Mr. Louie asked me if what I wanted was free parking and I said yes but I did not want that to be the stumbling block for 8 hour parking.
Our discussion then went to why I felt motorcyclists deserved to get the parking to which I explained (not that he didn't already know it) that in many if not all metropolitan cities around the world motorcycling is encouraged, tolls are lifted, free parking or dirt cheap parking offered all in the effort to encourage people to get out of their cars. Motorcycles use less fossil fuel, take up less road space, incur less damage to existing road systems and less space for parking. While motorcycles are not perfect, consideration that not everyone can ride a bicycle or walk to work and transit throughout the lower mainland is not always easy to access from certain areas needs to be addressed.
The Noise issue also came up and as I pointed out to Mr. Louie and addressed in the “Parking Proposal” that the Coalition has been a pro-active voice to the motorcycling community regarding excessive noise and loud pipes. I also explained that we are not looking for this parking to be anything but commuter parking for motorcyclists who work and go to school in the city.
Some of the ideas were to have up to three bikes in a normal spot with it being supported by the “Pay by Phone” system that will be in place next year. Mr. Louie was quite honest to say that he did not know if council would agree to eight hour on-street parking, something that will have to be addressed. A need is definitely there as there are very few spaces available in the lots and parkcades throughout the downtown core. One thing that he plans to do in the interim is to put motorcycle parking into some “dead spaces” that already exist in the city.
All in all I was very pleased with Mr. Louie's openness and his effort to perhaps think outside the box. I look forward to dealing with him on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Adele Tompkins, executive director
B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists