Petition protesting parking fees at Spanish Banks picks up steam
An online petition protesting planned parking fees at Vancouver’s Spanish Banks has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures in three days.
Beginning in April, the city will charge $3.50 an hour, $13 daily or $87 for a seasonal pass for drivers to park at Spanish Banks during the summer months.
The move, approved in November 2017, was thrown into the spotlight after an online petition was launched this week to fight the new fees.
The Change.org petition was launched on Monday by a group called Vancouver Beach Lovers and by Thursday morning, had collected 2,677 signatures of the required 5,000.
“We, the undersigned, urge the park board to reconsider this means of revenue which has never been there before. We feel that the parks budget should be maintained on the same basis it has been for all the years Spanish Banks has not had parking fees,” the petition reads.
“This is a special place for people to come and go and enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of our city without having to put our hand in our pocket. It’s a rare treat. Let’s keep this area free for all.”
In November 2017, the Vancouver park board voted to approve user fees and changes proposed for 2018, which included the introduction of peak season pay parking at Spanish Banks.
“Pay parking is a critical source of park board revenue (and) enables funding for necessary enhancements to park safety, security and cleanliness,” said a staff presentation.
The report noted that pay parking was already in effect at “all destination parks and most beaches” in Vancouver but not at Spanish Banks, and that staff hoped to work with transit authorities and car and bike share providers to encourage car pooling and greener ways of getting to the popular beach.
Parks commissioners then voted to approve the new parking fee, which would be in effect from April 1 to Sept. 30, beginning this year. It is expected to raise about $235,000 in parking revenue after operating costs.