A couple of weekends ago, when it was hot and sunny (seems like eons ago), I ventured out to the Trout Lake Farmer’s Market at its new location in the north parking lot of John Hendry Park. The move from it’s former location by the community centre on the south side of the park means no parking for customer vehicles.
The group that organizes the market, Your Local Farmers Market Society, has taken this lack of parking as an opportunity to promote cycling, transit and walking as viable ways to get to and from the market. Pedestrians and transit-users are encouraged to bring along rolling carts to wheel around their purchases, and cyclists have it easy, with unofficial parking along the fence of the adjacent alley. Plus there are a couple bike routes that run to the park from different areas of town.
I did keep my eyes out for valet bike parking, a more and more common service at community events, however I only saw a tent that was promoting a specific brand of bikes and allowing test rides. Perhaps I missed the valet parking station?
At any rate, more people seem to be choosing sustainable and healthy means of transportation to support the choices they are making by purchasing local, organic and delicious farmers market fare.
Car-free alley behind the market is flanked by bikes ridden by market-goers.
Masses of Vancouverites scouting out produce, baked goods, cheese, meat, ready-to-eat to-go meals, plants, crafts and more at the market.
Delicious sunflower sprouts grown at the University of British Columbia and transported to the market by bike.
Nicest tractor I’ve seen in a long time.
1 response so far ↓
1 Joshua May // Jun 1, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I volunteer at the markets sometimes.. it’s incredible how many people I’ve had complaining when searching for parking that ‘oh it’s so far away, you won’t get any customers’ when I tell them to park on Victoria or even as far as the south lot. three blocks is too far? you try carting all your shit by bike dozens of blocks then. I ain’t complaining, mind you..I just have no sympathy for those who complain of a couple of blocks.
the bike valet is on the very east end of the markets, kind of tucked around the corner a little. I think Giant were sponsoring it the first week. it’s sort of the other side of the markets than the alley. east end. yeah. could I have overexplained that nay more and still failed to get the point across?
for reals though. summary time: (some) drivers are dicks, and bike valet exists.
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