Protesters fight Kits Beach bike lane plan

People living around Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach Park are protesting plans for a bike lane in the popular park, but the park board says it isn't backing down.

Several hundred protesters turned out Sunday to let the park board know they're against the plan to put in asphalt over park space.

Howard Kelsey, who lives and plays basketball at Kits Beach, says they weren't properly consulted by the park board, and he didn't have time to tell Vancouver Park Board what he thinks of the plans.

"There's 5,000 of us. One person filled out a survey. That's not reflective of the will of the community."

Some of the protesters say they want the city to paint a bike lane on the nearby street instead.

Park board Comm. Constance Barnes says the lanes will be completed by May 2014, but the board is willing to hear the residents' concerns.

"It's about what we can be doing differently and we're always looking at tweaking our plans as we go forward," said Barnes.

The park board points out large areas of the park are already paved for tennis and basketball courts, and parking.