A "maze gate" is seen at Stanley Park in a section from a Park Board motion. Staff sought to get rid of the traffic control mechanisms in place along the seawall, saying they’re inaccessible for people with mobility needs. (Vancouver Park Board) The Vancouver Park Board has approved a staff motion that seeks to make three locations along the Stanley Park Seawall more accessible for cyclists and those with mobility needs.
A staff motion on Monday sought to remove "maze gates" along the nine-kilometre-long trail circling Vancouver’s biggest park.
The gates, also called speed gates, are two sets of barriers on a bike path, where cyclists are expected to dismount and walk through them for a short stretch where they share the path with pedestrians.
Staff said the maze gates are not accessible, as they create confined operating spaces and are problematic for those riding adaptive bicycles and longer vehicles.
Now, park board commissioners have voted in favour of removing maze gates at Lumberman’s Arch and Third Beach, as well as changes to the shared path at Prospect Point. "Industry best practices do not recommend the use of maze gates," said city engineer Joses Akampurira on Monday.
"Instead, alternative design solutions are suggested to slow down cyclists, manage conflicts and encourage desired behaviours."
The staff motion recommended a marked bike path, with a single pedestrian crossing, at Lumberman’s Arch, with lean rails on either side of the bike path. The staff recommendation for Third Beach is to move the bike parking to create a separation […]
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