Locals might spot an unusual-looking funeral procession in a Vancouver park this afternoon.
A group of demonstrators who want the city to keep the park's bike lane has gathered on Sundays since March 19 to protest its removal.
The bike lane along Stanley Park Drive was installed in 2021 to allow social distancing between cyclists and other park-goers. However, it has become a concern to some for various reasons and even caused the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation meeting to recess early due to a heated altercation.
Organizer Carol DiPasquale told V.I.A. that Sunday's ride will include a "funeral procession" complete with a "hearse" and "coffin."
The group will meet at 1 p.m. on the front lawn of the Park Board at 2099 Beach Ave. before they head out for the demonstration.
"A eulogy will be read by one in the party, and we will ride out with the 'hearse' and 'coffin," she said.
"We are not sure if Tom Digby, Green Party, [Park Board] Commissioner, may come, [but] we are hoping so."
Attendees are encouraged to wear black in "commemoration of the loss of the bike lane" and to put a sign on their bikes that expresses how they feel. Flyers will be handed out to drivers to let them know why they are demonstrating.
The motto for the ride is: "Stanley Park for all -- not just cars."
In a Critical Mass Facebook Post, the protestors state that the bike lane was removed in the "middle of a climate emergency with wildfires covering B.C. and Alberta" and that the decision will encourage more vehicles to visit the park.
"Vancouver has become an international embarrassment. Tourists are already cancelling planned trips to Vancouver to cycle. This is not just a matter of debating the rights of people on bikes to ride safely in the park - it's an issue of climate," the group writes.
Instead of encouraging more vehicle traffic, the group argues that the city should work with TransLink to offer more frequent public transit options for people to access the park who cannot ride a bike.
Vancouverite Jordan Ross shared a couple of videos he took while cycling down the former bike lane, which was filled with vehicles.
"Now instead of a bike lane we have a new official place for cars to park and enjoy the beautiful views of the downtown skyline," they wrote in a Twitter post.
"You can't make this stuff up."
The city I live in literally replaced a bike lane in a park with parking. On go by bike week. You can't make this stuff up. 😂 #vancouver #gobybikeweek pic.twitter.com/2wibV76yMN
— Jordan Ross 🌱(they/them) (@JordanVegBike) June 2, 2023
With files from Maria Diment.
