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Our View: Pumping the tires on cycling

People in Sooke are both for and against building a bike skills park

With the arrival of summer, issues which usually get a lot of public reaction will likely wither on the vine, so to speak. People like to relax, take it easy and savour the slow down of local politics.

There are a some issues which are drawing reactions, both positive and negative in Sooke at the moment. One is the Bike Skills Park proposed for John Phillips Memorial Park. This paper has dutifully printed the letters which have come in, both pro and con. Residents in the neighbourhood of the park don’t want it there, citing issues of parking, noise, loss of enjoyment of their quiet, etc. The pro side says kids need a place to play and ride. They’ll take care of everything, the park will bring tourists to Sooke and everyone will benefit.

The public information session scheduled for tonight will give residents a chance to see exactly what the bike club envisions for the bike park.

There is no question that youth need more to do in Sooke, but whether the ones that need something to do will use the park is an unknown at this point. Not everyone cycles. The idea is a good one, but liability insurance, upkeep, maintenance and infrastructure should remain the responsibility of the bike club, not the municipality. Once it is on municipal land, it becomes, in many ways, the responsibility of the district. Liability should lie with the club not the taxpayers of Sooke. That was what was in the original proposal.

If it flies, good luck with it. If it doesn’t, let’s think about preserving the park for the future, as it doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is — a natural park.