'Infringement of my rights': Man with MS speaks out about Stanley Park traffic changes
Stanley Park was a place where Robert Best could enjoy the outdoors and capture the serenity through photographs.
As his multiple sclerosis progressed, driving through the park also gave Best purpose.
“My responsibilities as a person were diminishing,” explained Best. “(Driving) was something I could do that my wife couldn’t do, so that was my identity.”
Best has been living with the chronic disease for about 30 years now.
Driving through Stanley Park, finding a parking spot and getting lifted onto a wheelchair was not an easy feat, but it was one of his favourite pastimes.
In April 2020, when little was known about COVID-19, the Vancouver Park Board shut down the crown jewel to vehicle traffic as a way to prevent the spread of the virus.
“When I heard Stanley Park was closing, it was just making my world smaller and smaller,” Best said. “Basically, my life is my apartment. And when I can't get out safely, I just feel that's an infringement of my rights to get out and be part of the community.”
Even though traffic was allowed through the park in June 2020, it hasn’t gone back to the way it was before the pandemic.
With many parking spots gone to make room for a temporary bike lane on the road, driving has become challenging for Best.
“I just have to focus on not hitting any pylons and focus on staying on the road and making it safe,” he said, explaining the extra concentration he uses with hand controls to manoeuvre the vehicle. “It seems like a simple task for many. But for me, it's a big task to get through Stanley Park.”
Best is one of five people who have launched a complaint against the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
The hearing has been underway since March 11.
“I was happy that someone had taken them to task because it was the right thing to do,” said Peter Brown, co-chair on Vancouver’s Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee.
Brown said no one from the park board asked the advisory committee for input before banning vehicle traffic from entering Stanley Park at the start of the pandemic.
He said if they had been consulted, they wouldn’t have supported the idea.
“We do have a basic knowledge that the park board does not have. We are the ones who live with disabilities, we know our limitations,” he said.
He said the crown jewel is more accessible now than it was in 2020, but there is still room for improvement.
Various city departments have representatives that sit on the advisory committee, but Brown said it’s been about nine months since any park board commissioner or park board staff had liaisons on the committee.
The park board did not respond to questions from CTV News about the vacancies.
Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, who was the last liaison from the park board, did not return our emails about why he is no longer on the committee.
Brown said human rights are hard to establish but easy to take away, adding that’s why the tribunal hearing is important.
“The concern remains that you got to stop slow erosion of accessible rights at the start or you’re going to see what is happening at Stanley Park happen in another park and another park. And it will be a bit by bit by bit, as they say, death by a thousand cuts,” he said.
The hearing is expected to end on Tuesday, but it could take weeks for the tribunal to come up with a decision.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972910.1721665918!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Harris praises Biden's 'unmatched' legacy, looks to lock up the Democratic nomination
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their party that he would be unable to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
WATCH LIVE 'We failed,' says Secret Service director grilled on Trump assassination attempt
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said Monday that her agency failed in its mission to protect former U.S.President Donald Trump during a highly contentious congressional hearing with lawmakers of both major political parties demanding she resign over security failures that allowed a gunman to scale a roof and open fire at a campaign rally.
Hollywood reacts to Joe Biden exiting the U.S. presidential race
Hollywood was quick to react to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden was ending his bid for re-election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Prince George is 11 -- see his birthday photo
Prince George has turned 11, and as per tradition his proud parents have released an official portrait to mark the occasion.
Two-thirds of Canadians polled say they 'desperately' need interest rates to go down
A new survey says the Bank of Canada's recent interest rate cut did little to change Canadians' negative perceptions about their personal finances.
Israel orders evacuation of part of Gaza humanitarian zone as war's toll passes 39,000 Palestinians
The Israeli military ordered the evacuation Monday of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip it had designated a humanitarian zone, saying it is planning an operation against Hamas militants there.
Wildfire forces evacuation of B.C.'s Barkerville gold rush heritage site
Visitors have been told to avoid B.C.'s historic Barkerville gold rush town, which is among several areas in the province's Cariboo region under evacuation orders due to the massive Antler Creek wildfire.
LeBron James to be Team USA's male flag bearer for Olympic Opening Ceremony
NBA legend LeBron James has been selected as Team USA’s male flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.