Turning parking spots into sidewalk caf茅s is something that could make Victoria鈥檚 downtown core more inviting, but it will be an empty invitation if the concept adds to traffic congestion that persuades people to go elsewhere. It鈥檚 a good plan, but it needs careful implementation.
Bylaw revisions are being developed by city staff that would allow for the creation of 鈥減arklets鈥� by blocking off parking spaces and adding such things as benches, flooring and plants. One such area was created as a pilot project in the 700 block of Fort Street and it has proved to be popular.
And for good reason. It鈥檚 an attractive, people-friendly spot, a cheerful oasis on a busy street.
Crystal Moore, co-owner with her husband, Tom, of Crust Bakery at 730 Fort St., near the parklet, says comments about the space have been positive.
鈥淚t鈥檚 used all the time,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople comment on it all the time. They just think it鈥檚 the neatest thing that right downtown they can have this beautiful little parklet where they can go and sit and relax and have a coffee and something to eat or just catch up.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 been nothing but beneficial to us. Nobody鈥檚 complained about losing parking spots.鈥�
Parking, a never-ending source of complaints for any municipal government, has always been an issue in the downtown core. But Victoria has done well in enticing more people into parkades, freeing up on-street parking for a better circulation of traffic and customers to downtown businesses. The incremental changes to parking have been sensible and effective.
Turning parking spaces into people spaces will add to the core鈥檚 ambience, but the proposed mini-parks also have the potential to create traffic tangles for vehicles and pedestrians. Care should be taken to ensure both kinds of traffic can still flow smoothly.
And as Coun. Ben Isitt says, the policy should not be allowed to trump concerns of safety and the effective use of public space.
Fairness could also be an issue. As the Fort Street experiment has shown, the creation of a parklet can be beneficial to nearby businesses. If so, will the demand for converting those spaces exceed the supply? And what criteria will be used to decide where the parklets will be installed?
It鈥檚 good to get people out of their cars. That is one of the purposes of dedicated bicycle lanes 鈥� to make cycling easier and safer so people will choose cycling over driving. But those same bike lanes can cause congestion as they take away lanes from motorized traffic. Sometimes the cures produce more ills.
People return from Europe having enjoyed the sidewalk caf茅s, lively pedestrian-only thoroughfares, pleasant plazas and an endless stream of bicycle traffic that seems to flow smoothly. They wonder why we can鈥檛 be more like that.
We can learn much from those places, but we aren鈥檛 Holland, France or Spain. The capital region is spread out and hilly 鈥� distances and topography preclude cycling to work or to shop for many people. Not everyone can walk or cycle to the downtown, and taking public transit is not always practical.
Downtown Victoria is an attractive and interesting area, and it鈥檚 best enjoyed on foot. But first, people have to get there, and when they get there, they need places to park. They have to be able to move around.
Turning parking spaces into sidewalk caf茅s and mini-parks where people can relax is a creative idea. One site has shown it can work, but a few more sites should be tried before the concept becomes widespread.
