District of West Van is looking for guidance from user groups on how to move forward with development on Cypress (the area of the first switchback is termed "Cypress Village").
This survey applies to all of us and not just DWV residents, or even those whose primary riding area is Cypress. We are all invited to fill out the survey. This is great as the more mountain bikers fill this out and note that they mountain bike on Cypress, the more power our voice has.
As you know, the landowner is keen to move forward with large scale development plans in Cypress Village and the District is asking how user groups would like that to look. I know that bike traffic on Cypress was WAY up this year, so this is coming at a good time for us - we want to make sure that DWV knows that there are way more bikes on Cypress than they think, that our user group matters and importantly, we hope to leave everyone with a perception that the development plans on Cypress will benefit from inclusion of mountain bikers and mountain bike trails.
Being realistic, there is going to be considerable development and the development will have a significant impact on all the MTB trails in that immediate area. Full stop.
BUT this is our opportunity to, as a community, make it known that the Mountain Biking Trails matter to a large number of people and that mountain bikers (and the trails) need to be considered in the plan. And it would be even better if our user group was considered as one that could provide significant benefits to the outcome of the project long-term.
Think about, in a post Covid world (if there is such a thing), bikers having a pub to go to in the Village. Maybe some authorized trails to get you there. Bike wash stations (Alan B has been petitioning for one to be installed in the area soon and its already looking good!), coffee shops...whatever. Picture something like a scaled back Whistler Village at the bottom of Cypress. CYPRESS CAN HAVE ITS OWN DUMPSTERS!!!! The development is going to happen so lets have a voice in how it turns out! Lets not miss this chance to provide constructive input.
The main page is here: https://www.westvancouverite.ca/upperlands
It contains the history of the discussion as well as the background material for your review should you wish prior to completing the survey.
The Survey is at the bottom of the page. It is not long and will only take minutes to complete. You can preview the survey HERE
NOTE: Question 8 in the survey asks how you use the land - Mountain Biking is listed - having MTB included in that list is a testament to the hard work by Alan B and others for well over a decade. Having our user group listed shows that we are on the right track. Thank you Alan.
Please ask anyone who cares about Cypress to fill out the form! The more that do, the better for us.
Last edited by: Ddean on Nov. 18, 2020, 4:19 p.m., edited 1 time in total.