sicycle connection or hoo Friday, June 11, 1993 - North Shore News - 3 ’s hang-out? Lynn Valley residents embroiled in controversy over new bridge crossing THE TEENAGE ritual rite of passage across the water pipelines over Lynn Canyon at Rice Lake Road may soon be unnecessary if North Vancouver District procceds with its plans to build a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge at the Site. But while enginecring staff say the concept of providing casier access to Rice Lake and the Seymour Demonstration Forest is supported by many Lynn Valley residents, homeowners in the im- mediate vicinity of the proposed crossing and the RCMP oppose the idea. Engineer John McLean reported to the district's Operational Ser- vices Standing Committee on Monday that, in addition to access to Lynn Canyon Park and the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) lands, benefits of the new bridge would include: @ a new bicycle commuter route to Capilano College or the Second Narrows bridgehead; @ equestrian access to the east side of Lynn Creek; @ an easing of summertime con- gestion on the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge; @ a safer crossing for the youths and young adults who climb past the barricades on the two existing watermains that cross the ravine. Teachers NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL by Martin Mitlerchip But the prospect of youths and young adults using the area as a hang-out worries the local police. RCMP Inspector P.R. Wlodarezak has written to council with a ‘‘very strong recommenda- tion that no bridge be built in this location.’’ In his letter Wlodarczak con- cedes ‘that 99.9% of the people who will utilize this bridge are law abiding and will create no prob- lems for the residents or the other park users.’’ But he continues: “If a bridge is installed, 1 feel that it will be a magnet to that .1% of the people who congregate solely to cause disturbances, drink in public and carry on in a disturbing fashion simply for their own enjoyment. “If a bridge is installed, then I strongly believe that the incidence promise report cards for Grade 12s only Mediated negotiations continue NORTH VANCOUVER Grade 12 students will be issued report cards this month despite a paper strike being con- ducted by local teachers against the North Vancouver District 44 School Board (NVSB), a union official said Thursday. Keith Denley, first vice-presi- .dent of the North Vancouver Teachers’ Association (NVTA), ‘said that while the job action in- cludes a refusal by teachers. to mark report cards, the union is : making an exception for Grade 12 students. By Surj Rattan News Reporter Senior students require the documents to enter post-secon- dary education institutions. But Denley said North Van- couver students enrolled in all other grades will not receive report cards from their teachers. The union and the NVSB are negotiating with mediator Grant McArthur. The mediator is work- ing with the two sides to reach a collective agreement. Denley said there are about 16 items left on the negotiating table. Mediation sessions were scheduled to continue today and throughout the weekend, He said the union agreed Wed- nesday to hold off on escalated a NV¥VSB superintendent Robin Srayne... teachers’ job action disruptive. job action until the end of the school year. But the paper strike, said Denley, will continue. Said NVSB_ _ superintendent Robin Brayne, ‘‘Secondary schoo!- teachers are not completing report cards. Teachers are not providing marks. The teachers’ job action is disruptive.’” Index Ecolnfo BH Editoriat Page ff Home & Garden § Trevor Lautens Paul St. Pierre Weather Saturday, mostly sunny. High 19°C. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement Number 0087238 of complaints will rise. “We will have another gather- ing spot, and the residents in that locale will be very vociferous and strong in asking for action.”’ “The dilemma that is faced, of course, is do we penalize 99.9% of the people for that .1%?"' con- cludes Wlodarczak. Marion Road residents Anne and Bruce Pearce say they are al- ready concerned for the safety of their children because of drinking and drug use in the area. They have told council that “the proposed bridge would be inviting trouble’ since the Lynn Canyon area would be ‘‘a dif- ficult, time-consuming and dan- gerous area for the police depart- ment to monitor.” Additionally, they and = other area residents say they already have the problems of non-local traffic parking and littering on their narrow roads. In an attempt to respond to police and resident concerns, McLean recommended to the committee that: @ Marion Road and Rice Lake Road be retained as existing nar- row gravel roads to discourage See Park page 3 MARION\ RD NEWS graphic Joan Pedersen K hie BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN NEWS photo Net! Lucente &D MUFFORD, an electrical engineer who helped design the ZEV (zero emission vehicle) fuel cell, developed by North Vancouver-based Ballard Power Systems, shows where the fuel cell is located in a BC Transit bus. Non-polluting ZEV fuel-cell bus delivered to BC Transit — BC TRANSIT has taken possession of the world’s first fuel cell-powered ZEV (zero emission vehi- cle) bus. By Surj Rattan News Reporter The revolutionary fuel cell, which converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, was de- veloped by North Vancouver- based Ballard Power Systems Inc. The prototype transit bus is powered by electricity produced by the fuel cell, whose only other byproduct is water. Over the last three years, the provincial government has pro- vided $4 million of the pro- totype’s $6 million development cost. An additional $1 million was contributed to the project from the federal Energy, Mines and Rescurces’ Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology. ‘‘Now that we have successful- Ivy demonstrated the use of our fuel cells to power a transit bus, we are looking forward to the next stage of the project: devel- opment of a cost-effective commercial ZEV for the bus market by 1998,’’ said - Ballard Power Systems Inc. chairman Geoffrey Ballard. Premier Mike Harcourt said British Coltimbians can be proud of the contribution made by Ballard towards improving the world's air quality. “*We can now look forward to sharing some of the economic benefits which will accrue to British Columbia when this new technology is used to produce commercially viable, pollution- free vehicles,’’ said Harcourt. _ Federal Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Bill McKnight said the demand for cleaner transportation technologies is growing worldwide and technologies like Ballard’s will help Canada in capturing a share of the market. Said B.C. Technology Minister Tom Perry: ‘‘Working together, we have enabled Ballard to prove that its advanced energy technologies are capable of pro- ducing energy efficencies twice that of the internal combustion engine.” Meanwhile, B.C. Environment Minister John Cashore announc- ed this week that Ballard is one of nine recipients of the provin- cial government’s 1993 En- vironmental Awards. Ballard won the award for its fuel-cell project.