A lesson in communication: Just got off the phone with Gerry, owner of Vancouver Horse Drawn Tours and left feeling like we had good faith communication that created more mutual understanding.

Gerry says he's a cyclist, bikes to work, takes family cycling around Stanley Park. He realizes that the sign is poor optics and didn't communicate his point in a nuanced way. He was frustrated.

Frustrated about not being consulted by @ParkBoard, when he did have meetings scheduled the Parks Board employee would cancel or not show up at all.

Says he agrees the orange cones are choking the cyclists and that they should be justified towards the left, not right.

I explained how the sign looks like he wants to take the cycling lane away entirely. He agrees that it's a bad look and will remove the sign in a few days. He wants pressure on @ParkBoard for their poor leadership on this issue.

He thinks the seawall expansion idea (with cantaleaver) is preferable in the mid or long term. Acknowledges that he's a business using public land and that it's his duty to be responsible.

I don't agree entirely with his approach at all, but the fact that he called me after I left a voice mail yesterday is a great sign of good faith, in my opinion. He was respectful and understood my values and was able to share his side as well.

Overall I feel happy with the communication we had as well as updating more towards the fact that the @ParkBoard is a poorly managed organization that is in need of major overhaul. #vanpoli