Dear Editor: I read with interest the front-page article in Friday's (Sept. 26) North Shore News, WV Puts Brakes on Cedardale Bike Route. Residents of the 1000-block of Keith Road were also taken by surprise by the district's plan to widen our stretch of the road to put in a bike lane (purportedly to provide cyclists access from Ambleside to the Upper Levels Highway at Third Street/Inglewood). However, in spite of residents' objections and correspondence to mayor and staff requesting a stop work order until our concerns could be addressed, the district chose to push ahead, tearing up our road along with mature hedges and shrubs.
We raised a number of concerns that were never adequately addressed and specifically identified lack of neighbourhood consultation as the most pressing issue; however, the responses received ranged from inane to no response. So imagine my surprise to read that the Cedardale section of this project was suspended indefinitely as "there's some sensitivity in the area that staff weren't aware of" and that "Staff realized they should have done some consultation rather than just informing people."
While I'm delighted Cedardale residents were successful in suspending this project in their area due to lack of consultation, it is beyond comprehension that our neighbourhood was denied any such consideration. Within a matter of weeks, over the
exact same project and overlapping issues, one neighbourhood obtains a successful response while another is denied. This showcases a glaring inconsistency and absence of fair and equitable municipal process.
Just what was in that coffee Cedardale residents served to district staff that got them to respond to their concerns?
Melinda Slater
West Vancouver
Editor's note: The district has posted details of its Cycling Network Implementation Plan at westvancouver.ca.
