The City of Victoria recently released an online survey, which closes on Aug. 31, to find out how the public feels about downtown busking.
Busking in Victoria is regulated by the city's street entertainment bylaw, which hasn't been reviewed since 2012.
The city’s media relations manager Collen Mycroft said some people want to see it updated.
“Concerns have been expressed by the busking, business and downtown resident community about the quality, locations and timing of performances," Mycroft stated in an email to the Victoria News.
The survey asks respondents how they feel about 13 new downtown busking locations the City is piloting, five of which are on Government St. The other eight are scattered in high-traffic areas, like at the bottom of the Johnson Street Bridge.
Depending on the results of the survey, the City may develop an interim update to its street entertainment bylaw to test new busking approaches next summer. It may then move change to permanently change the bylaw.
This work is part of OUR DWTN – the City’s initiative focused on revitalizing the downtown core.
More information can be found at engage.victoria.ca/busking.
