More and more cities in the world are recognizing the benefits of lower emission vehicles like scooters and motorcycles and providing an incentive in the form of free parking to encourage their usage.

Finally, a proper motion has been put in front of Vancouver city council to designate space for free scooter and motorcycle. The benefits are many-fold and well articulated in the motion from Councillor David Cadman, seconded by Councillor Ellen Woodsworth.

I have come to understand that there have been several attempts my the British Columbia Coalition of Motorcyclists (who are trumpeting this motion on their site and have created a Facebook Group) and others to facilitate a change to the rules here in Vancouver but they have all failed, mainly, I have heard, due to the issue of revenue. Vancouver Councils have been unwilling to adopt any measure that either cost money to implement or put parking revenue in any kind of potential jeopardy. All the while, of course, claiming to have the interests of sustainability in mind. In fact our current city council is striving to make Vancouver the greenest city in the word.


Here is the motion reproduced from the transcript of the council meeting.

2. Scooter and Motorcycle On-Street Parking

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth

WHEREAS

1. The City of Vancouver should do everything in its power to encourage its
residents to use environmentally friendly modes of transportation; and

2. Canada is committed to the Kyoto Protocol; and

3. Vancouver residents are being urged to do their part in the federal
governmentès One-Tonne Challenge (Canada to reduce its annual greenhouse
gas emissions by one tonne); and

4. The Greenest City Initiative mandate includes reducing pollution, improving
transportation and its action plan will identify best practices from leading
cities around the world; and

5. There are greater than 26000 motorcycles and scooters in Vancouver and the
rate of growth for usage has been 5 times that of passenger vehicles in BC over
the last 5 years; and

6. Motorized scooters use up to 90 percent less gasoline than passenger cars and
trucks, and motorcycles use less fuel than cars and trucks; and

7. Scooters and motorcycles are significantly smaller than cars and trucks (often
carrying the same number of passengers), use far less road space, thus reduce
congestion and gridlock; and

8. Scooters and motorcycles are significantly lighter than other vehicles, thus
cause less wear and tear on roadways and thereby leave a small footprint; and

9. Scooters and motorcycles regularly encounter problems when currently parking
because other vehicle operators often do not see the cycles thus damaging
them which incurs increased costs for all insurance ratepayers; and
Regular Council Meeting
Minutes, Tuesday, October 6, 2009 15

10. There is very little on-street parking available on Vancouver roadways, forcing
motorized cycle operators to find innovative solutions which are often illegal
and sometimes dangerous; and

11. Most tourist destinations worldwide facilitate scooter and motorcycle
transportation; and

12. Best practices in neighboring cities with similar transportation challenges to
Vancouver's (including San Francisco, Portland and Toronto) all have
established free and abundant parking to encourage and accommodate scooter
and motorcycle use.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT Vancouver City Council request Parking and Engineering staff to initiate
a revenue neutral change to present by-laws to free up street parking by
designating free of charge parking for motorized scooters and motorcycles in
all 6 meter spaces between pedestrian crosswalks and auto parking AFTER
intersections.

referred

REFERRAL MOVED by Councillor Meggs
THAT Vancouver City Council refer Motion B.2 “Scooter and Motorcycle On-Street
Parking” to staff to report back on existing initiatives and options for expansion of onstreet scooter and motorcycle parking space in the city that:

• support the Greenest City Action Team recommendations through an emphasis
on zero emission vehicles;

• include cost-recovery for parking; and

• take into account neighbourhood concerns about noise.

CARRIED
(Councillors Cadman and Woodsworth opposed)

----------------------
What was interesting to me was the sequence of events inasmuch as you have the Councillors Cadman and Woodsworth making the motion and then Councillor Meggs referring the motion to Engineering with a list of caveats - the most potentially troubling one referring to cost recovery - and then the original motioning Councillors oppose this referring motion. I fear, given the caveats that we will have another unsatisfactory outcome.

For months now, I have been talking with my friends over at Vespa Metro about this very problem and it was they that brought this motion to my attention. They have also published a notice about it on the Vespa Metro website along with email addresses and phone numbers to use to back the motion that I have reproduced below. Evidently they have a contact that has been working on getting this motion through council. I am going to work with them further to try to see it happen and am calling on scooter and motorcycle riders in the area to help by appealing to the council and adding credibility to the motion with our voices and emails.

Please, send an email to the mayor or phone the council. I will be publishing the date and time when this will be back in front of council again – its going to be soon evidently as we have heard that City Engineering is ready to make their recommendations.

In the meantime:

HOW TO HELP:

1. EMAIL, PHONE, OR FAX CITY HALL TO EXPRESS YOUR HEARTFELT SUPPORT
(it will only take a couple minutes)

a. EMAIL: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

b. PHONE: 604.873.7276

c. FAX: 604.873.7419

WITH JUST A QUICK CALL OR EMAIL, YOU CAN MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE!!!