GC 2020
171 results found
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Make Robson Square a true pedestrian square: NO through street!
Robson Street has been closed for the block of the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Law Courts due to the landscaping renovations currently taking place - it should ALWAYS be that way :-) Vehicle traffic is easily diverted around this single block - this is one of the few landscaped, sunny, and already publicly used gathering places that exist in the downtown core: make it a TRUE pedestrian square so that the public gatherings and special events that are so often held around the Vancouver Art Gallery can actually be pedestrian friendly events with space for everyone.... Robson Street buses…
29 votesThe draft Greenest City Action Plan will include directions to explore pedestrian-only and pedestrian-priority streets, but specific locations likely won’t be identified until later (e.g. as part of the transportation plan update).
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Create Green lane ways.
Create like chicago Green Lane ways which a)reduces rain water run off b) helps cools the city c)creates a nicer lane way compared to just ash fault d) they last a lot longer then ash fault ones and look a lot nicer!
13 votesWe have looked at the ""green lanes" pilots and reported to Council in 2008 (summary — they’re 3-4 times more expensive than our now-standard strip pavement, there is a definite "price point’ of how much residents would be willing to pay for the treatment, and they will likely have higher maintenance costs and a shorter service life). We’re currently finalizing our test site for the lower-cost lane treatment option — a permeable lane pavement design.
Here is the full Council report, including the resident survey.
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20081030/documents/pe4.pdf
Definitely an option for Council to increase the funding (reduce the property owner’s share) for these projects to promote more green lanes. More broadly speaking, the Greenest City team is supportive of the idea to make make laneways and alleys more pedestrian friendly environments, while maintaining essential functions (e.g. access for loading, parking and waste collection).
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Create a Separated Bike Lane on Commercial Drive
Commercial Drive is a destination shopping street in Vancouver's east side. It is already a popular route for cyclists, but there is currently no cycling facility provided.
The current route network lacks sufficient safe links to shopping destinations. A new separated bike route on Commercial Drive would address this issue and encourage new cyclists. As cyclist traffic increases, local businesses could also benefit from new the new street traffic.
19 votesThe city’s new 10-year cycling program master plan will soon be in development, and hopefully completed within the next year. A big part of the work ahead is to identify where separated bike lanes might be appropriate.
Lessons learned from the downtown trial will be an important input into the plan. The results so far support evidence elsewhere that separated bike lanes are a great way to make cycling more attractive on busy streets.
For more information, visit http://vancouver.ca/cycling .
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Rezone areas adjacent to commercial streets rather than displacing existing businesses.
Our network of commercial streets are generally the cultural heart of various Vancouver neighbourhoods. Currently, Vancouver is rezoning many commercial areas to accommodate higher density structures. This is a good ideas; however, this progress is slowly eradicating long-time businesses in commercial buildings. This is also eroding Vancouver's commercial property tax revenue.
I believe that (in more cases) the city of Vancouver should be rezoning the single family residences that surround these arteries instead. In many cases the houses are generic 'Vancouver Specials' and lowrise, 1950s style homes that were built to accommodate a vehicle-centric lifestyle. Many people are price out…
4 votesConcern for the continued viability of existing business is an important issue in Neighbourhood Centre and Corridor planning initiatives. However, rezoning residential properties to allow for commercial uses should be considered on a case-by-case basis (it could work in some areas, but not in others) and should proceed with caution.
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Street lights for the sidewalks, not just roads
Many of our streets are brightly lit at night while the sidewalks remain dark. Especially in areas with many seniors, like the West End, this discourages people from going out at night. Bring back street lights - for pedestrians - in our neighbourhoods.
2 votesPedestrian safety is a top priority. The Greenest City work will include directions to identify and address deficiencies in the network (e.g. missing sidewalks or curb ramps, need for improved pedestrian lighting).
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Bike subsidies for low income individuals and families.
It's not always cheap to get a good bike, especially if you have a large household or want to use it for more than just cruising. Having subsidies would encourage more people to take that first step to leaving the car behind.
20 votesThis is a laudable idea, but one that is challenging for the city to undertake. It may be more appropriately handled at a provincial or federal level. The cost of bikes pales in comparison to the cost of cars, so other solutions that increase opportunities for affordable housing nearer people’s places of work will make it easier for residents to give up at least one family car and invest those significant savings in other modes of transportation.
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Inspire us to bicycle!
Get the VPD sting operations to lay off bicyclists. Hiding behind trees and handing out $167 dollar tickets to the people TRYING to make a difference does NOTHING to encourage a green city. Get on a plane and go see some other european cities where they GIVE free bikes for the citizens to use, and honour their rights of personal freedom...not make citizens live in fear. Go do something about the real OFFENDERS in Vancouver.
13 votes -
19 votes
Great idea, but perhaps it should go even further: the goal should be to make walking, cycling, and transit even sexier than driving!
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Property tax exemption/deduction for not owning a car.
People should get a tax reduction or exemption in the city if they don't own a car because if they don't own one they are a) saying the don't need one in the city b) are not adding to congestion in the city c)likely taking public transit, cycling and or walking thus helping in reducing our overall foot print d) setting a good example for there children neighbours and the community and should be reward for doing so even if the credit is a small amount.
8 votes -
Create a surface network for transit
[Submitted via email by Ann Foster]
Improve transit by creating a surface network which covers all the main streets of Vancouver, instead of focusing on one or two very expensive "corridors". This has been done in Zurich, Switzerland where 70% of all trips are made by transit. Cycling in Vancouver is limited by hills, rain, bike theft, and the perception that showers and special clothing is required.
1 voteMost arterial streets in Vancouver already have local service which is “frequent” by TransLink standards. The City is supportive of increased frequency and reliability, especially in high-demand corridors.
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Make Longboarding a Legitimate Transportation Alternative
A lot of Vancouverites already commute safely by longboard, skateboards modified for stability at speed. The City should embrace and legitimize this choice of transportation and allow longboarders to be treated like cyclists on the road.
23 votes -
Work with large employers to encourage sustainable commuting choices
Trip reduction programs have been effective in various North American jurisdictions by giving employers the tools to encourage sustainable commuting. Through either voluntary or regulatory measures, large employers are supported to survey their staff on commute habits and develop a plan to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips. This may include cutting back on free parking, providing transit subsidies, installing lockers and showers for cyclists, or joining a carpool matching program. In Portland, the Employee Commute Options program has reduced over three million vehicle trips in the region.
http://www.deq.state.or.us/nwr/eco/eco.htm15 votes -
Discourage single-occupancy vehicles by restructuring roads and parking.
Driving single-occupancy vehicles contributes the largest to CO2 emission, fossil fuel dependency, fatal accidents, and overall air pollution. The first way to discourage it is to designate more dedicated bus lanes, HOV lanes, and bike lanes. Secondly, narrowing our roads would make people realise that they need to get out of congestion and start walking/cycling/taking transit. Thirdly, increase parking fees and reducing parking spaces would also greatly decrease people's willingness to drive.
16 votes -
Eliminate parking down town for commuters but ensure adequate park n ride infrastructure
Reduce traffic, noise, accidents, congestion, air pollution. Can be done, but needs to have commuter infrastructure in place and to the capacity required.
3 votes -
Municipal Control of Blanket Speed Limits
Limit motor vehicle speeds in the metro core to 40 km/h.
Place a 30 km/h speed limit on all local residential and collector streets.
Speed reduction is essential to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.19 votesThis is a policy direction that was adopted in the 1997 Transportation Plan. Staff have since been in discussion with provincial officials about legislative changes to support municipal control over blanket speed limits. Unfortunately those changes have not yet been adopted by the province.
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Promote electric taxicabs with tax and license fee incentives
One way to get people out of their cars is to make taxis more available and less expensive. And Vancouver's taxi fleets can be made greener by encouraging a shift to Electric Vehicles.
18 votes -
Create an East West bike lane
Remove parking on Broadway and encourage commercial access for bikes
18 votesThanks for sharing this idea!
The city’s new 10-year cycling program master plan will soon be in development, and hopefully completed within the next year. A big part of the work ahead is to identify where separated bike lanes might be appropriate.
Lessons learned from the downtown trial will be an important input into the plan. The results so far support evidence elsewhere that separated bike lanes are a great way to make cycling more attractive on busy streets.
For more information, visit http://vancouver.ca/cycling .
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Collect property tax on vehicles registered in BC
The state of Georgia charges an annual ad valorem tax on motorized vehicles. Car values decrease as cars age, so less wealthy people presumably pay less tax. I don’t think Georgia gives concessions for fuel efficient cars but that could be built in here. The new tax's unpopularity could be mitigated if the funds raised went to something really great and the accounting was extremely transparent.
10 votes -
incent green vehicles with free street parking
all green, fuel efficent cars should be given or allowed to purchase for a very nominal amout a barcoded parking decal to allow them free 3hr street parking in Vancouver. Fines if incurred to be automatically billed as agreed to when decal is purchased
5 votes -
Reduce number of truck routes - ban trucks on SW Marine Dr & Cambie St (bike routes)
Heavy trucks (G.V.W. greater than 5500 kg) are not compatible with cycling especially on a road like SW Marine Dr. Heavy trucks also cause disproportionate wear and tear on roads and are major air polluters.
4 votes
