ews & features EDITOR VERONNICA MACKILLOP THE VOICE, THURSDAY, DEC. 1 2016 7 : SEAN HITREC photo Skateboarders Calvin Dignard and Skye Clow. PY eeu ae mn MELANIE GREEN photo Two skateboarders practise their tricks at a new building underneath the Cambie Street Bridge. Skateboard lane safety unmonitored City’s pilot project allowing boards in bike lanes hasn’t kept track of accidents, clashes By MELANIE GREEN, SEAN HITREC AND KRISTYN ANTHONY t was a split second decision that saved Melisa Dogan from suffering a more seri- ous injury. A regular commuter on her longboard, Dogan was headed to work one morning us- ing a protected bike lane. A Vancouver pilot project currently under- way allows for skateboards to use lanes previ- ously only for cyclists, but nowhere in the fine print does it say convertibles can too. Dogan knew she’d have to remain one step ahead of the man driving in the one part of the road deemed safe from vehicles. She braked and almost instantaneously, the vehi- cle slammed its brakes too. She used her shoulder to brace for the inevitable impact, crashing into the back of the car tearing her bicep in the process. “He swore at me and drove off,” Dogan said. Avoiding collisions and conflicts between transportation user groups motivated the city vote to amend a by-law allowing skateboards into bike lanes as a pilot project for one year, to be re-evaluated in 2017. Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr voted in favour. She said 50 per cent of West Enders don’t have cars, so the pedestrian-friendly commu- nity got very upset over skateboarders on sidewalks. “Tve also seen skateboarders on the street. I’ve seen them down Cambie near city hall. They’re going down hills, they’re riding in traffic lanes and I tell you my heart is in my mouth in terms of fear that something’s going to happen.” The transition has not been without its share of bumps along the way. A Voice investigation has shown that city offi- cials have not kept track of injuries, accidents, clashes in the first 10 months of the pilot. Weekly statistics are kept for cyclists using bike lanes. A Freedom of Informa- tion request for data com- piled about the bike lane came up empty. “The city does not inde- pendently collect informa- tion of the type requested. This information is col- lected and compiled by ICBC and the Vancouver Police Department,” said Barbara Van _ Fraassen, Vancouver's director of ac- cess to information, in a response to The Voice’s FOI request. But both the VPD and ICBC told The Voice that they did not have data on accidents or altercations between user groups within the bike lanes either. The amendment comes as the city attempts a greener transportation initiative for 2040. Allowing all wheeled transport into the bike lanes serves the long-term strategic vision that includes public investment and a healthy, prosperous and liveable future for Vancouver, according to the city’s website. User groups have their own views on the value of the pilot project. Jeff Leigh, of the cycling advocacy group HUB, said the group was con- r4 4 sulted regarding the amendment. Their mission statement ties nicely in with the city’s active transportation ... We don’t ticular, he said separated bike paths — lanes for cyclists and other wheeled devices — on one-way streets are problematic because “the confusion at intersections is amazing.” There’s not enough room to pass, Brown explained, and he often finds himself trapped in the lane. Hornby and Dunsmuir is particu- larly tricky where two separated bike lanes meet along with pedestrians and vehicle traf- fic. In fact, that corner is the only bike path The Voice found with a skateboarder logo on the city sign. “Tf want to turn left at the next light, I can’t really do anything until I get to the intersection,” he said. “Then you’re doing footsie around and saying sorry to people mandate, he said, but there is some want to while theyre trying to turn... confusion around those skateboard- g@ back Eventually, someone’s going to ers that aren’t just commuting. ° . get hurt there.” “We said we really don’t have an in time to With the amendment came reg- opinion on skateboarders using the ayohen peo- wations for skateboarders to bike lane, but we do have an opinion I wear protective pads, helmets on people not having lights at night, ple [ were] and lights and to have use of on weaving back and forth and are do- gettin g something the city calls a “foot ing tricks. Why won’t you take this op- ticketed brake.” portunity to remind them that this is “Skateboarders are always gon- transportation and not a skateboard JEFFCOLE a take the path of least resis- park?” Leigh said. Though he had not heard of major injuries or clashes, Leigh did say peo- ple complained of minor collisions, of- ten when safety regulations aren’t met. Congested bike lanes are a concern for 21- year veteran bike courier Mike Brown. “I love skateboarding [...] but I don’t like the skateboards in the lanes.” Downtown, Brown has watched the trans- formation over two decades as bike lanes were built, torn down and re-routed. In par- VSC PRESIDENT tance,” said Jeff Cole, president of the Vancouver Skateboard Coali- tion (VSC) and co-manager of Skull Skates. The skateboard community was consulted on the pilot project, but Cole felt there was little purpose in commenting since city policy hasn’t always reflected the culture. “We stay silent because we didn’t want to poke any bears,” Cole said, “And we don’t want to go back in time to where people are getting ticketed.” The amendment regula- tions seem counter-pro- ductive, he added. “A foot brake is my foot.” Twenty years ago, when the coalition was formed, its goal was legit- 1 imization. To those out- BIKE lane safety Bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scoot- side the community, ers, and skates are skateboarding was a permitted in bike counterculture, some- lanes. thing for kids and teenag- y) ers who were criminal- ized for participating. The City of Vancouver started relaxing enforce- ment in terms of tickets in 2001, then passed a mo- tion to legalize skate- 3 boarding on certain streets in 2003, according to council minutes. In Tokyo in 2020, skate- boarding will make its Olympic debut and in 4 Vancouver, the coalition has grown. Monthly meetings are regularly attended by representa- tives from Vancouver City Council and the park board. Cole had not heard of any injuries in the bike lanes, though he admits most wouldn’t really talk about collisions unless major. He encour- aged safe riding, recognizing skateboarders will use both streets and bike lanes to get around. John Whistler, the former chair of a city- appointed committee focused on expanding bike lanes to skateboarders and oth- Segways, hover- boards, motorized wheelchairs, and motorbikes are not premitted in bike lanes. Riders are required to have a white headlight, a rear light and red reflec- tor on at night time or in the rain. Riders must always remain one meter away from any parked cars. Source: vancouver.ca/ streets-transportation/ cycling-safety-tips-and- regultions HY SER EEC ers, believes “skateboarders get a bad rap.” An avid inline skater and cyclist, Whistler was instrumental in the amendment process, pushing for it three years ago. Yet he only learned about the pilot project from The Voice. “The reality is you don’t want skateboards on the sidewalk,” said Whistler, now a transportation activ- ist. But he said implementing policy change is a challenge. “It is an example of the bureau- cratic process at city hall where wheels turn very slowly, but they do turn.” When asked about the lack of data on injuries, clashes or frequen- cy of use, NPA Coun. Melissa De Genova was unsettled. “T am concerned for potential fu- ture conflicts and injuries to either KRISTYN ANTHONY photo Jeff Cole, president of the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition and co-manager of Skull Skates. skateboarders or cyclists,” De Geno- va said. “I think that the city should be keeping data on that.”