Vancouver locals like riding bikes in Stanley Park. Thousands every day. This is a good thing. Yesterday afternoon I was walking on Beach Ave towards Hornby St and I saw 4 different cars parking and unloading bikes for a ride to Stanley Park in the space of one block. (Thread)

"Oh but they're furloughed, it will be different when things start back up..." But there are no tourists in Vancouver at the moment, so the thousands of cyclists riding bikes in Stanley Park every day are all Vancouver locals. Thousands more than usual, and all locals.

"The businesses in Stanley Park need cars to bring people to spend money..." People on bikes also have money. They drink coffee. They eat ice cream. They stop for lunch. They definitely stop at Prospect Point for a break because that hill is STEEP.

I've seen seniors, kids cargo bikes with kids and dogs in them, so many women, people wearing clothes they were already wearing, people wearing lycra, people on hand-cycles, recumbent bikes, kids learning to bike, bike-share bikes, A GUY ON A UNICYCLE!

These thousands of people every day are Vancouver residents enjoying using THEIR Stanley Park for a healthy, joyful activity that isn't noisy or smelly or dangerous and doesn't damage the environment. They're improving their mental and physical health. This is worthwhile.

"But keeping out cars restricts the park to West End locals within walking distance..." They're coming from the North Shore over the Lions Gate, Coal Harbour, the East side. I've watched them flowing down the Burrard Bridge around to Hornby St on to Beach Ave.

Cars take up a lot of room - I'd be interested to know whether Stanley Park is actually be getting more visitors at the moment than it normally would... @ParkBoard they're coming because you're making them feel welcome. Lean into it!

@ParkBoard Open the restaurants and concessions without letting the cars back in and see what happens. See if the THOUSANDS of Vancouverites on bikes stop and drink coffee, eat ice creams, buy lunch. Just try it out.

@ParkBoard @CityofVancouver @TransLink extend the route of the no. 23 Beach Ave bus around Stanley Park Drive without letting the cars back in. Just see what happens for a month or two. Just try it out. The bus stops are already there!

And if you've been riding in Stanley Park with your families or to take a break by yourself, email the Park Board. They won't know how much you love it if you don't tell them. And if you haven't already been, come and see how wonderful and quiet and beautiful and joyous it is.

The no. 19 bus is still coming right into Stanley Park, stopping at the Bus Loop near the Aquarium, the Rose Garden and the Railway Cafe and lots of beautiful walking tracks.

Restricting cars in Stanley Park doesn't have to mean excluding people who would normally come by car, but unrestricted car access sure does exclude thousands of cyclists who aren't confident, fit, able-bodied adults. Just look at the numbers.