U/B-2(i)
CITY OF VANCOUVER
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
A Public Information Meeting of the Council of the City of
Vancouver was held on Tuesday, July 11, 1995 at 7:30 p.m., in the
Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of hearing
delegations with respect to Bicycle Parking Requirements.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Chiavario, Clarke, Hemer, Kennedy, Kwan,
Price and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Bellamy (Sick Leave)
Councillor Ip (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Puil
CLERK: Denise Salmon
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
DELEGATIONS
1. Bicycle Parking Requirements
(Amendments to Parking and
Building By-laws)
Council convened this Public Information Meeting to hear
delegations with respect to the bicycle parking requirements Policy
Report dated May 3, 1995 (on file). Also before Council for
consideration was a memorandum dated July 4, 1995, from the Bicycle
Advisory Committee and a letter dated July 2, 1995, from Mr. John
Whistler, Chair, Bicycle Advisory Committee. Council will defer any
decision with respect to the Policy Report to the July 18, 1995, Council
meeting.Staff Opening Comments
Mr. Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, provided
Council with background on the bicycle parking standards noting the
standards first emerged with the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan in July
1988, and proceeded through the "Clouds of Change". In 1991, interim
guidelines were adopted and since that time the Bicycle Advisory
Committee has been working on the standards. At a Public Hearing on
October 20, 1994, Council deferred decision on this matter pending
discussion at a February 23, 1995, Workshop. The revised amendments
resulting from the workshop are contained in the report now before
Council.
Mr. Paul Pinsker, Engineering Department, summarized the eight
basic changes recommended to the Parking and Building By-laws as
follows:
- Class A requirements
- bicycle room/compound capacity
- location of bicycle parking
- location of bicycle lockers
- variable dimensions
- reinforcing bar requirement
- protection from elements
- shower and change room requirement
- threshold
- initial requirement, and
- sharing with fitness facilities.
A Council member asked if a specific location was required for the
showers and Mr. Pinsker advised showers could be located anywhere in the
building. A member of Council also enquired as to the user cost of
providing shower facilities and was advised building owners would have
the option of charging a fee for access to the showers.
The following delegations appeared:
Mr. John Wright, Acting Chair, Bicycle Advisory Committee, noted
approving the suggested amendments to the Parking and Building By-laws
would, in effect, reduce standards to a bicycle storage level. In
particular he made reference to the need for:
- bicycle parking near-grade;
- better personal safety, security and accessibility;
- dealing effectively with growing transportation and air
pollution problems. He requested Council reject the
standards as proposed by the General Manager of Engineering
Services and a return to those put forward at the Public
Hearing on October 20, 1994.
Regarding elevator access to below-grade bicycle parking it was
noted freight elevators would be necessary as bicycle use increases - a
person with bicycle occupies the same space as three people.
Mr. Dave Olsen, Director, Better Environmentally Sound
Transportation (BEST), advised the City's original guidelines have been
adopted by Mission and Richmond's downtown bicycle parking regulations
are more stringent than our original regulations.
He then commented on the following:
- the City's modal split has increased dramatically in the last
two years and even 3%, especially in the downtown core, will
be history in the near future;
- Richmond allows no more than twenty bicycles per enclosed
parking area as this provides better safety for users;
- adequate end-of-trip facilities and secure parking need to be
addressed in the proposed by-law.
A Council member indicated shower placement had been discussed in
the Workshop and asked if washrooms would be an appropriate location.
This option was acceptable to members of the cycling community present.
Mr. Colin Brander, raised the following points:
- developers will be unwilling to retro-fit for showers, etc.
after construction to allow for increases in modal split;
- adequate end-of-trip facilities are a necessity;
- reinforcing bar equipment needs to be mandatory, allowing
security for those working overtime, evenings and weekends.
Mr. Brian Lees, Downtown Vancouver Association, noted support for
bicycle commuting and acknowledged the need for bicycle storage.
However, he does not see the bicycle moving large numbers of commuters
but more as a recreational vehicle. He noted the 2 - 2.5% modal split
is adequate and space allocated to bicycles should be available for
other uses until demand increases. He further advised the Vancouver
Parking Corporation currently provides free bicycle.It was pointed out
by a member of Council the modal split is already at 2% and 2.5% leaves
little room for future demand. He also asked if future retrofitting
would be possible and Mr. Lees agreed this was a possibility.
Mr. Nelson McLachlan, Senior Patrol Officer, Stanley Park Bike
Patrol, advised during his three years patrolling the park and seaside
routes he has observed an explosion of people using these facilities as
well as those at Coal Harbour, Yaletown and the north shore of False
Creek. He advised we are a physically active city with many
participating in walking, jogging, cycling and skating.
He urged Council to maintain the present guidelines and most
importantly the current threshold required for showers.
Mr. Gavin Davidson, BEST, noted:
- developers should be required to retrofit if mode share rises
to 2.5%;
- reinforcing bar requirement needs to remain to provide
security and safety;
- shower threshold to remain at 4, as proposed at Public
Hearing, but can be located anywhere in the building that is
accessible.
Ms. Helen Warn, advised she rides ten miles to work and back each
day and makes full use of shower facilities provided in her building.
Two showers are provided for each sex and are over used, so much so, a
fee of $160 per year is now charged in an attempt to reduce demand.
These facilities are used not only by cyclists but also joggers, roller
bladers, those who work-out and power walkers. She urged Council
support the active lifestyle of Vancouverites and maintain the current
shower threshold. Concern was also expressed on below-grade bicycle
parking and the exception of reinforcing bar requirement, especially for
those who are required to leave their bikes overnight. She also advised
members of Cycling B.C. are provided with access to a good household
insurance policy covering bicycles as many companies now refuse to
provide this coverage due to the high incidents of stolen bicycles.
Mr. Mark Allison, Cycling B.C., suggested if the City and G.V.R.D.
were truly dedicated to their Go Green campaign more support was needed
to encourage cyclists. He advised cycling is daunting to many -
particularly in the downtown core. Safe secure parking and end-of-trip
facilities i.e., showers would provide effective encouragement to many
who currently use their cars to travel to work. He further advised
every end destination should provide some type of bicycle parking and
concluded the current standards involved a lot of thought aimed at
reducing car usage and providing better, more effective bicycle parking
facilities and should be maintained.
A member of Council enquired if the new library is currently
providing ample bicycle parking spaces. Mr. Pinsker replied not all of
the Class B spaces have yet been installed. Another Council member
inquired if Class B spaces in new buildings would be required to be
covered. Mr. Pinsker advised yes, but only to minimum requirement and
the building overhang would generally provide sufficient protection.
Mr. Jon Markoulis, BOMA, made the following points:
- increased operating costs imposed by City requirements make
buildings less competitive, however his organization is not
opposed to cycling and would like to provide facilities for
cyclists, but at reduced cost;
- bicycle parking should be allowed in any suitable area,
security issues are the same for both bicycles and autos and
safety in general in parkades needs to be addressed;
- flexibility should be allowed on the reinforcing bar
requirement perhaps using concrete block wall construction and
video cameras;
- rain protection for short-term bicycle parking seems
unnecessary as the rider will already have ridden through the
rain;
- sharing of fitness facilities should include those
commercially operated;
- vertical bicycle parking should be permitted and would allow
more efficient use of space;
- at-grade or above-grade exempt parking for autos should also
allow exclusion from FSR for bicycle parking.
Mr. Doug Watts, introduced himself as one of the original writers
of the current guidelines. He advised these guidelines should not be
reduced now and expressed his feeling that ridership share would
definitely increase if adequate end-of-trip facilities are provided.
STAFF CLOSING COMMENTS
Mr. Rudberg advised a memorandum would be prepared for Council's
consideration on July 18, 1995, outlining the bicycle parking options.
Once decisions are made the appropriate by-law amendments will be
prepared for submission to Council for enactment.
Mayor Owen thanked those who had made presentations and advised the
bicycle parking requirements report dated May 3, 1995, would be
considered at the Council meeting on July 18, 1995.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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The Public Information meeting adjourned
at approximately 9:15 p.m.
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