Equestrians in Burnaby, BC are up in arms over the city’s plan to pave over a well-worn horseback riding trail for cyclists to use. According to a story posted to the CBC’s website, the town’s city council approved a plan to pave trails that run on the south side of Burnaby Lake Regional Park. The Burnaby Horsemen’s Association, which has been operating a stable on the lakeshore since 1971 and which currently houses 59 horses, is protesting the move despite the council vote.
“I was pretty upset about [the plan to pave the trail],” Vicky Gilker, a horse owner and rider says in the video clip. “It takes away where we can ride safely and makes [the trail] more of a commuter path for cyclists.” Global News interviewed Michelle Brittain and Erika Nassichuk of the BHA; that video can be seen here.
Cyclists want the paved trail to make commuting faster and safer, but the trail has been used by riders for over 50 years, hence the conflict. The CBC story notes that bicycles weren’t even allowed on the trail until two months ago, and now they seem to be running it.
Burnaby Councelor Pietro Calendino tells the pubcaster that a paved bicycle path is central to the city’s plan to work into Vancouver’s Regional Greenways Plan. “Cyclists would like to have a direct route between Vancouver and New Westminster,” he told the CBC.
This is supposed to be in the name of progress as the city expands and encourages green methods of transportation – which horses are too, by the way. But as any rider knows, pavement can be treacherous for horses as they can slip and it can even cause bruising to their hooves.
“Basically, if they pave the trails … we can no longer go on those trails and basically we’re kind of landlocked here with a very limited little network of trails,” Helene Littmann, a Burnaby resident who boards her horse Splatt at the stables tells the CBC.
The riders estimate the paving plan will reduce their riding area by over 50%; the association is still hoping to find an alternative solution.