This is a great idea. With a few streetcars to help people move around it would be a boon to all businesses there. I know a few people think that removing cars means no-one will go shopping. The reality is that car free streets are enjoyable and lead to increased business as people enjoy being there.

If the tram that was running from Cambie and 4th during the Olympics were to be put back into action, this would be viable. Then people could park their cars in the skytrain parking. In that case it would work very well!

I support this as well, except a compromise could be to restrict the cars to part of the island.

That is great if you don't want the island to survive!! A few merchants who attract a lot of traffic create the income and the ambience that support many minimal income businesses and low income earning programs - theatre/arts etc. Nothing is free.
Already chefs and foodies have started to give up on the island due to the removal of short term parking close to the market.
Go fly a kite you 4 % Vancouver cyclists.
We need small Granville Island merchants to survive not to lose them to off island locations. Eliminating cars would destroy the business they have as spin off to foodies who shop there.

I agree, Granville Island should be car free. I avoid going there since it's not very enjoyable having to constantly dodge cars just to get to the market.

Hi Weaver, can you share CMHC's reply to you on bike parking in Granville Island?

This is a logical idea and I give it 3 votes. I would like to see a free shuttle on the island to help move people and goods around. Deliveries to businesses could be made during early morning and late evening times, then the streets closed. Personal experience trying to Go Green on Granville Island: I had a class at ECUAD and decided to get there by public transit. I was surprised when the bus driver said the entrance to the island was the end of the line. I struggled all the way to the campus with an extremely heavy bag of art supplies. Why isn't there a small community bus circling the island?

[Submitted via mail by Penny Perry]

"Granville Island is a Federal project but the City could encourage the building of a carpark off the Island and the use of mini trollies on the existing rails on the Island."

I agree... and let's have an integrated ferry that works false creek as part of the transit system. There are few cities in the world as uniquely placed as Vancouver to utilise the waterways, and most of those that are have already added city run ferry services. Make Granville island accessible, and people will leave their cars at home.

Wow! Imagine what Granville Island would be like if the car drivers weren't constantly honking their horns and shouting at you to get out of the way! Sadly, it's owned by Canada Mortgage and Housing and I'm not sure how much influence the City has over what goes on there. I contacted CMHC (who are not based in Vancouver) about the lack of bike parking spaces there in the summer, and it was clear from their reply that they don't understand.

This idea is a great one, but should come with one additional feature - improved access to the island via public transit. Currently, only the 50, the 84 and the seabus have direct access to the island.

This could be achieved in many ways. Some ideas are:

1) Add signs and clear pedestrian pathways from some of the nearby bus stops, like the one at Granville Circle.

2) Create a small shuttle bus loop dedicated to the island and nearby attractions that connects people from various bus stops in the surrounding area. You could easily charge for this service to cover the expenses and it would be less than paying for parking I assure you!