A group of cycling advocates made their pitch, asking the city to reconsider the plans for the Willingdon linear park that would connect Brentwood and the Heights.
But it doesn’t appear the concerns by the cycling community will lead to big changes in the project.
Members of HUB Burnaby, the local branch of a non-profit organization that promotes cycling in the community, were in council Monday making the argument the project needs to have separated walking and cycling facilities to make it safer and attract people.
“These facilities are neither safe nor comfortable for people walking or cycling,” Moreno Zanotto, a member of the group told council.
He noted since the 1990s the proportion of trips by bicycle in Burnaby was below one per cent, while in Vancouver trips have quadrupled in the same time. He suggested the current design is not suitable for a city that wants to grow cycling
The group also called for more consultation on the project, noting there was only one design concept at open houses and groups like HUB were not consulted.
The group presented council a petition with 280 signatures from people in the cycling community supporting the separated walking and cycling path for the project.
The current design is a 1.2-kilometre multi-use pathway that would be accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists. It’s proposed to run from Brentlawn Drive to Hastings Street, connecting Brentwood Town Centre to the north part of the city.
Council asked staff to come back with a report in response to the request by the group.
However, Mayor Derek Corrigan told the NOW the city never viewed the Willingdon project as a transportation corridor. Instead, he argued the project is considered an amenity for people to walk and take their kids that includes “pocket parks” and art.
“We see this as being something really innovative and creative, the HUB people see it simply as a bike way,” he said, adding there isn’t enough space to have a separated path.
Corrigan also took issue with HUB’s criticism of the consultation process, noting the project has been out in the public for a “significant period” with the city holding open houses and putting ads in newspapers to alert the public.
“We’re really proud of it, it’s not something we’re trying to hide,” he said.
Meanwhile, the project is currently in the design phase. City officials are still compiling data from a public meeting in September and hope to move to the detailed design and the rest of the process in the spring.
