The proposed creation of a bus lane in West Vancouver brought residents on both sides of the issue onto the streets for duelling protests on Saturday.

Around 150 opponents of the Marine-Main B-Line walked down Marine Drive to 13th Street, blocking a lane of traffic each way. They came into contact with around 20 people in support of the proposal outside the West Vancouver Memorial Library.

The protests follow West Vancouver Council's approval last summer of a proposal by Translink to create a new B-Line rapid service bus line running on Marine Drive from Dundarave in West Vancouver to Phibbs Exchange in North Vancouver. 

The Marine-Main line is one of four new B-Line routes Translink plans to build in 2019 as part of a 10-year-vision plan. The B-Line bus routes are designed to be faster and more reliable by combining stops that are at least one kilometre apart.

Opposition to plan
Translink presented the details of the plan to council in Nov. 2018 and it has since garnered significant opposition.

Under the plan, some parking will be removed and a lane of traffic in each direction on Marine Drive will be converted to a bus-priority lane that drivers can only use when turning right or when parking.

Opponents complain the bus lane will add to congestion and negatively impact businesses in the area. 

"People of West Vancouver do not want their roads closed, they do not want parking taken away from the business district, and the children do not want articulated buses running past their school," said rally organizer Nigel Malkin.

Malkin said his group was not opposed to the bus line but they want the terminus station moved further east to Park Royal Shopping Centre.

Supporters said the new line will improve commute times and possibly get more people out of their cars.

"Transit is the inevitable future of our communities ... 25 parking spots cannot stand in the way of that,"  said Graham Garnett.

"The people on this protest are completely out of touch with the actual people who live and commute to West Van.

Council rethink
Opposition to the proposal caused council members to rethink the plan. West Vancouver has since launched a consultation process after many residents complained they were not consulted by Translink when it developed its plan.

"I'm looking for the middle ground here," said West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth, who visited both rallies.

"I'm hoping that council can regain the trust of the community and make a decision where we can find some middle ground on this that meets the needs of everyone in the community."

Council will consider a motion at its March 4 meeting instructing city staff to work with Translink to identify possible alternative options for the terminus station.