Having transit alternate between Granville St. and Howe/Seymour is causing immense confusion for transit users unfamiliar with this scheme as well as with those familiar with it (at around the time of the switch-over). If you miss the last bus on the Granville route then you have to scramble to Howe or Seymour. I have also (on a few occasions) told people standing at bus stops on Granville, or else on Howe or Seymour, that they need to go to another street to catch the bus at that time (then met with looks of confusion, anger and/or despair…).

Also, since the transit-only lanes on Howe and Seymour, have been re-designated as on-street parking, this leads to transit delays when Granville is closed to traffic.

I strongly feel that Granville should be closed at all times to traffic, EXCEPT for transit on a 24/7 basis (no need to alternate with Howe/Seymour). This is done in many other cities around the world, and could easily be done in Vancouver.

This would make the Granville Mall area (from Davie to Georgia and block-by-block north of Georgia) into pedestrian malls with transit running through. This would also create more space on the sidewalks for pedestrians through elimination of the sidewalk car "perches" now in use. Absent other traffic, it has been shown that pedestrians and transit can share such areas with little or no problems.

I have discussed this idea with several friends and strangers (on these bus routes) and I have yet to find anyone who does not agree with this idea.
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With plans to bring transit back to Granville, our pedestrian street is being taken away from us. Space designated for people is being lost to automobiles. We do not need cars on this corridor, and transit is doing just fine on Seymour and Howe, so why do we need to destroy such a great street by forcing the return of motorised transport?

The "entertainment district" part of Granville really ought to be closed for traffic forever. It hasn't been open for traffic in a couple years by now and nobody seems to complain so why not rip up the "road" part of it and put in more sidewalk, making an aboveground pedestrian mall for all of us to enjoy year round

I concur. Pedestrian/biking oriented streets (but not car exclusive) are common in Europe. They allow access to vehicles for residential/delivery use, but remove temporary parking and hand that space back to local businesses and clients.

Think of Yaletown; let the locals, cabs, and trucks putter through infrequently at 5kph or less, yielding to people, and remove all street parking (there are massive parkades at either edge of Yaletown). Make that space patio/bike path, etc.

Next, link these areas up so that cross-town venturing people have the option to avoid traffic completely on their journeys. This will increase biking and walking. Say something like Hamilton or Homer end to end, and Robson. Why does one of the heaviest foot traffic regions on the continent hand over four lanes for barely mobile cars with loud stereos?

@MZan, starting this Saturday, Granville Street will be converted into a pedestrian zone for the summer. From July 3 – September 6, Granville will be closed to traffic between Smithe and Hastings. Instead of traffic, Granville will be a community space filled with public seating and extended business patios. Free weekend programming will animate the space with everything from salsa dancing to street hockey. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Learn more about Rediscover Granville 2.010 and the schedule of events here:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/granvilleredesign/rediscover/index.htm

@MZan, the forum is equipped with an automatic profanity filter that converts certain words to stars. Strange that it blocked your word - whatever it was. Regardless, thanks for your idea!

I would like to amend that on Granville St., south of Smithe, if transit will continue on this routing, the curb lanes can be upgraded to bus/bike only lanes (red tarmaced). The removal of flex-parking south of Nelson is still required and definitely recommended.
P.S. The stared-out word is "*****," not some profanity...I guess the moderator didn't like it?!