Vancouverites Back Temporary Bike Lane in Stanley Park

Almost two thirds of Vancouver residents support having separated bike lanes in the city.

Vancouver, BC [May 18, 2021] – The authorization of a temporary bike lane on Park Drive in Stanley Park has been met with approval by a majority of City of Vancouver residents, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative municipal sample, almost three-in-five Vancouverites (59%) think allowing the temporary bike lane until the end of October 2021 is a “very good” or “good” idea, while 29% deem it a “bad” or “very bad” idea.

Agreement with the temporary bike lane in Stanley Park is highest among women (62%), people aged 18-to-34 (69%) and Downtown residents (64%).

Majorities of Vancouverites whose weekday commute involves cycling (79%), using public transit (75%) or driving (53%) are also in favour of the decision made by the Vancouver Park Board.

Almost two thirds of Vancouver residents (64%) say they support having separated bike lanes in the city, down five points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in November 2019.

Residents aged 18-to-34 are more likely to support having separated bike lanes in Vancouver (67%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (54%) and aged 55 and over (47%).

Majorities of Vancouverites of European (68%), South Asian (65%) and East Asian descent (58%) are in favour of having separated bike lanes in the city.

Just over two-in-five Vancouverites (41%, +1) think the city currently has the right number of separated bike lanes—including 38% of Downtown residents, 41% of those who live East of Main Street and 43% of those who reside West of Main Street.

Almost three-in-ten residents (28%, -2) believe there are now too many separated bike lanes and some should be removed, while more than one-in-five (22%, +1) say there are not enough separated bike lanes and more should be added.

“Cycling infrastructure remains a polarizing issue for Vancouverites of different generations,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While only 19% of residents aged 18-to-34 think the city currently has too many separated bike lanes, the proportion rises to 32% among those aged 35-to-54 and to 36% among those aged 55 and over.”

Methodology:

Results are based on an online study conducted from May 5 to May 7, 2021, among 400 adults in the City of Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in the City of Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.9 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
 

Find our data tables here and download the press release here. 

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca