WATCH: There is a new push to change an old-standing policy at Halifax’s most popular park. Bikes are not allowed at Point Pleasant Park on weekends or holidays. But as Julia Wong reports, not everyone agrees with the rule.
HALIFAX – There is a new push to change an old rule at Point Pleasant Park.
Bikes are not allowed at the popular Halifax park on weekends and holidays. They are permitted Monday to Friday.
Tiffany Chase, a spokesperson for the municipality, said the policy has been in effect for approximately 20 years.
“The holidays and weekends are the highest volume times for Point Pleasant Park. We’re looking to avoid accidents that were taking place between cyclists and also dogs are there as well,” she said. “We have strollers. We have multiple park users that are all coming together in one space.”
Chase said it isn’t clear how often the rule is enforced and how often tickets are issued. She said the policy is only in place at Point Pleasant due to its popularity.
“We’ve tried to accommodate as many users as possible on holidays and weekends. The best way we can do that safely is to limit cycling access during those time periods but allow it during other times,” she said.
The policy is befuddling for Mike MacPhail, who tried to bike through the park Sunday with his family only to discover that they were not allowed. He posted about the incident on his Facebook page and received lots of comments from people who did not realize the rule existed.
“I was amazed considering … we ought to promote active living and a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“To find that the city’s arguably premier public park restricts bikes on weekends seemed ludicrous and backwards.”
MacPhail said it was disappointing since the rule seems to backpedal on the municipality’s push for residents to become more active.
“It seems completely counter-intuitive to what the city is supposedly trying to do in terms of promoting active lifestyles.”
He said the argument that the park is too busy on weekends doesn’t hold water.
“We almost had the park to ourselves. Certainly there weren’t many dogs running around,” he said.
Worries from dog owners
However, dog owners said they would have concerns if the policy was changed. Ben Covert brings his puppy to the park almost every day.
Dog owner Lynn McCallum brings her dogs to the park every day. She said discussion over the policy may be futile.
“I see a lot of people on their bikes on the weekends,” she said. “They’re not enforcing it anyway. It seems like a moot point.”
Shared responsibility
Cyclist Greg Arsenault said he would like the option of riding through the park on the weekends and holidays but adds there needs to be an understanding between all park users.
“I respect the need to share,” he said. “If the park is really crowded and people are riding their bikes too fast without caution that could … create anxiety with people who are concerned they’re going to be hit.”
Eric Jonsson, a board member with the Halifax Cycling Coalition, said the group would embrace a change to the policy.
Jonsson said any change would encourage more people to ride bikes in the park, which may then translate to more people riding on the streets.
“That’s what we’re really hoping to accomplish here,” he said.
Push from councillor
District 7 councillor Waye Mason said he received approximately five complaints about the bike policy this past weekend. He only received one complaint last year.
Mason said he plans to bring the issue up Thursday at the Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee.
“Nothing is static. The way people use parks changes over time. We didn’t have skate parks 20 years ago. We didn’t have people rollerblading on the Oval. I think it’s important to have a review,” he said.
Any recommendation from the Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee would then go to Halifax and West Community Council. That council could then bring forward a recommendation to Regional Council.
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