Gibsons Mayor Wayne Rowe invoked a rarely used power this week to have council reconsider its decision on bike lanes for Shaw Road.
Council voted Sept. 20 to back a staff recommendation that on-street parking be banned along much of Shaw to create two dedicated bike lanes. The decision came after an online survey that residents later criticized as being a poor reflection of their views. Several came forward to say they weren’t even aware of the survey.
At council’s Oct. 4 meeting, Rowe cited the concerns over the survey, and the fact the vote took place with two council members absent. But he also had a word of caution for opponents of the plan.
“One should not assume that reconsideration automatically means a change in the outcome. Reconsideration simply means it will be reconsidered,” he said.
Councillors voted to have staff set up an information meeting with Shaw Road residents to hear their concerns directly before the reconsideration motion goes to council.
Shaw Road resident Wally Dempster was slated to speak about those concerns right after Rowe’s announcement, and he joked that he was a bit caught off guard because he was planning to try to convince council to do what Rowe had already done.
At the mayor’s urging, Dempster went ahead with the presentation as planned.
“It was the shock of losing our parking that got our attention,” he said. “Since that time there’s been a flurry of activity. Doing our own research and investigations and talking with as many people as possible: cyclists and residents as well.”
Neighbourhood residents have collected 200 signatures on a petition asking council to take a second look at the plan, and Dempster said the original survey “didn’t ask the right questions of the right people in the right manner.”
Dempster said one thing his group heard from cyclists is that they agree with the feeling that Shaw Road is safe, although it may need bike lanes in the future if it becomes a through road with more traffic. “Some of their thoughts are that it’s silly to spend the money there when there are so many places that present real hazards to the cyclists and something needs to be done in those areas,” he said.
Dempster also told council Shaw Road residents have been hearing from people living on the nearby side streets who told them, “We don’t want to turn into your parking lot.”
Council didn’t set a date for the meeting, or to bring the plan back for another vote.
“We’re going to try to get something set up pretty quick,” Rowe promised.
