Re: Reduction in park traffic sought (News, May 30)
In 2008, 60 parents from our preschool signed a petition asking the City of Victoria parks staff to make surfaces in Beacon Hill Park available for young children to ride with their bicycles.
City bylaws state that bicycles must share the road with vehicles and not ride on sidewalks, paths or natural areas (for obvious reasons). After the age of seven, there are very few children using park playgrounds because they need surfaces for the activities they enjoy most. These days we have lost the opportunity to provide young children roadways without vehicles.
How does driving a vehicle become an appropriate recreational activity within a park anyway? Moreover, every road in Victoria is scenic.
Commuters and bus companies choose to complain directly to city councillors so they can continue to drive through and park freely, even though there are plenty of streets immediately around Beacon Hill Park.
Even the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition pushed for a commuter route through the park.
I suggest that the complainers attend community meetings and hear more than their own voice. You may be delighted with the result of children cycling safely with their families in the park, a park that was enjoyed before the invention of automobiles.
Hopefully it’s not too late to consider our young citizens.
Cornelia Lange
Victoria