COQUITLAM, B.C., May 19, 2026 – The City is taking steps to improve accessibility for residents and visitors by removing maze gates, supported by a $25,000 grant from SPARC BC.
Maze gates, also called baffle gates, are staggered barriers at pathway entrances that can create challenges for people using mobility aids, strollers and bicycles.
Removing Community Barriers
Like most communities in Canada, maze gates were originally installed on City pathways to restrict unauthorized vehicle access and to slow cyclists; however, they are now widely recognized as significant accessibility barriers in public spaces.
People using wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and individuals using adaptive cycles, bike trailers or cargo bikes, often experience difficulty navigating maze gates safely, resulting in detours, dismounting, lifting heavy equipment or avoiding routes altogether.
The City began removing the gates in 2023 with more than 80 completed to date. The SPARC BC grant will help fund the removal of an additional 30 maze gates across the community, supporting the City’s goal of removing 90 gates by the end of summer as part of its ongoing investment in inclusive public spaces.
Where applicable, some of the wider gates have, and will be, retrofitted with a single post to remind motorists the pathway is not a road for cars, while still maintaining accessibility for people walking or rolling.
Advancing Accessibility and Inclusion
Improving pathway access helps create safer and more connected active transportation routes for everyone, including seniors, families and people with disabilities. By removing barriers, the City is working toward a more inclusive community where public spaces and transportation networks are easier to navigate and enjoy.
The barrier-removal initiative supports the City’s recently adopted Accessibility and Inclusion Plan, which will guide enhancements for the both the organization and community across six focus areas: Built Environment, Delivery of Services, Employment, Information and Communications, Procurement, and Transportation.
At its core, the Plan supports actions that make it easier for residents and visitors to access services and programs, move through our public spaces, and participate in community life.
Media contacts:
Thomas Thivener
Manager, Transportation Planning
tthivener@coquitlam.ca
Manisha Dutta
Senior Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
EDI@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.