Fabulous weather – check
New waterfront patio – check
Gorgeous view of Downtown – check
Bike racks – er…
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Thanks to Andy Coupland.
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I wondered the same thing when first patronizing the Tap and Barrel at the Olympic Village: where are the bike racks? Answer: they’re coming – or at least they’re requested from the City. Another example of how, even where ‘green’ is a priority, the demand for cycling facilities can be underestimated.
And with the last free on-street parking (!!!) in the inner city all the spots were taken for blocks around. My guess is the merchants at the Village are demanding free on-street parking until the entire area is built out and occupied. Then the folks at City Hall will install the $$$ grabbing machinery. Then bikers can lock their bikes to those ubiquitous features of Vancouver life!
Oh, for the days when the meters were off at night and on Sundays. I’m amazed the various Downtown, West End and South Granville BIAs haven’t made a more concerted effort to restore this incredibly valuable convenience to both their customers and themselves. Except for the revenue impact, I cannot see a benefit to anyone for not having more reasonable hours for metered parking.
If you make it free then there will be no parking left, and how is it beneficial to businesses when their customers can’t find a parking spot and are forced to go park (and shop) somewhere else? The longer hours are a reflection of the fact we’re a bigger, denser city than we were. It’s not going back.
Maybe the BIA’s understand that night/Sunday meters => more turnover => more customers.
Bike parking has been an issue in the area for a while. In October, Terra Breads met with CoV reps to get more bike parking installed in front of there store. https://twitter.com/TerraBreads/statuses/129949341224943616
Here’s what it looked like before with bikes chained to every inch of railing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadianveggie/6248407037/
It wasn’t until March that the city installed the new racks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadianveggie/6883665384/
There’s also a lengthy discussion going on in the SEFC Neighbourhood Facebook group about the lack of secure, underground bike parking in some of the buildings – and condo bylaws that prohibit bikes on balconies.
What was supposed to have been secure bicycle parking for residents, was sold as storage lockers, so there are very few secure bicycle parking spots for residents, despite city bylaws requiring it.