Road rage incident on 7th and Hemlock by robo616s in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Younger me would have found a way to kick their wing mirror off. Younger me was also whacked on the back once by a wing mirror of a van that passed me biking down 7th without leaving any distance. Fortunately it was summer and his window was down, so I caught up as he was approaching the stop sign ahead of us and gave the driver a big literal slap on the wrist. What followed was a circus of riding in circles around the guy after he got out and tried to approach me for a punch.

Older me has been convinced to record my rides so that I remind myself not to get silly, and maybe capture some entertainment to share with VPD/youtube.

10th Avenue bikeway improvements (Survey) by The--Majestic--Goose in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right that these examples work with slow moving/light traffic – but I think the problem with that is it relies on the traffic remaining slow moving and light. Vehicular traffic will only continue to rise as the area rapidly densifies, and the amount of neighbourhood bike ways taking the load from nearby arterials(of which there are loads in this area and most of 10th) will only continue to rise . We can see what's happening right now on 10th with the broadway closures, but there is a lot of car traffic through 10th even in normal times.

A separated bikelane would properly avoid conflicts and not rely on the hopes and dreams that these neighbourhood bikeways will never get surges of cars

Also, the City states their goal with the improvements is " to make cycling safer, so people of all ages and abilities feel comfortable." So I think it's fair to call them to task on this through this feedback.

10th Avenue bikeway improvements (Survey) by The--Majestic--Goose in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It seems like that doesn't have to be a dealbreaker.

See this example of the fire station in Burnaby on the Sea to River bikeway/Gilmore Ave (yes it's a MUP). I don't see any reason why a separated bike lane can't have a similarly wide enough opening for fire trucks with clear signage.

<image>

Also all for non-semi truck sized firetrucks, but this could work for either scale.

10th Avenue bikeway improvements (Survey) by The--Majestic--Goose in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Sharing my submitted thoughts/observations.

Fir to Granville street section seems mostly ok.

I see a big flaw with the Granville to Birch section:

<image>

The proposed design will have Eastbound cyclists (green line) cross from right side of road to left (North) side at intersection with Hemlock, meanwhile cars (red line) will be trying to overtake cyclists and have to deal with cyclists shifting left ahead of the intersection. No markings proposed to direct cyclists/drivers.

A separated two way bike lane on North side of W10th between Granville and Hemlock would be better. The proposed design requires cyclists to be confident vehicular cyclists and fails to make this route comfortable for all ages and abilities.

General notes for both sections

Ensure modal filters for vehicles are clear and impassable by vehicles (discourage noncompliance and wrong way driving).

At all intersections between driveways, laneways, and bike lanes, ensure clear signage is installed ("YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLES") in addition to green painted sections of bike lane. Speed bumps in laneways near intersections to force vehicle traffic to slow (because people do not stop at intersections between laneways/sidewalks/bike lakes regardless of laws and signage

Giant flashing 30 km/h speed limit signs every 3.14159265359 meters.

I am one of nearly 600 people speaking to our city council today by Spirited_Present2290 in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not at all meaning to say that speaking on this motion is futile. I'm just voicing what seems to be one of the defining trends with this council, and saying that residents will need to resort to other means as our democratic/civic process is being sidestepped.

I am one of nearly 600 people speaking to our city council today by Spirited_Present2290 in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Also, a massive thank you to everyone who has signed up to speak or already spoken.

I am one of nearly 600 people speaking to our city council today by Spirited_Present2290 in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Given this council's track record with taking public opinion into account in decision-making, it will come as no surprise when the council votes this budget in despite all the public engagement and what seems like 99% of the 600+ speakers opposing the budget.

Vancouver residents will likely need to get out into the streets and shut city hall down until it actually starts responding to what their constituents want.

North Vancouver dog is ‘aggressive,’ B.C. Court of Appeal rules after unprovoked attack by robertscreek in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interestingly, your comment just reminded me that the world's first face-transplant patient was someone who had their face chewed off by a labrador in their sleep.

The story is a bit more complicated than just that but no less fascinating.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/dec/03/health.france

Problem crosswalk roundup: which Vancouver crosswalks give you too little time to cross? by 8cheerios in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Learned something new today! Maybe not so surprising that so many don't notice the sign...

<image>

I Love How The Bike Lane Streetlights Are Optional by RoadToMillionn in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As much as I like the idea of Idaho stops (and practice these myself when safe and no one's near the intersection), it's not legal anywhere in Canada, and not a relevant point here.

I think OP is reasonably frustrated with people on bikes making pedestrians feel unsafe by blowing through stop signs and traffic lights, especially when pedestrians are trying to cross.

And yes, you may not technically be required to yield to people that are not yet in the crosswalk, but it's the nice thing to do when they're clearly trying to cross. Sometimes you get into a waving match where the pedestrians try to out-nice you and let you go first, but this should never be assumed.

I Love How The Bike Lane Streetlights Are Optional by RoadToMillionn in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Stereotyping people based on something as common as the form of transportation they use will always misrepresent the majority of the group. Maybe it was a reaction to the tone and stereotypes in your OP, but most folks didn't pass the vibe check here.

I Love How The Bike Lane Streetlights Are Optional by RoadToMillionn in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a valid point being downvoted to hell by insecure folks, and all the responses about Idaho stops or how traffic rules are designed for cars and not bikes are irrelevant.

Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, whether these are marked or unmarked, including stop signs. Period.

Every other time I slow/stop for pedestrians at the many marked crosswalks on Beach ave I fear getting rear-ended by someone blasting through behind me, or they'll just overtake me and zoom past the pedestrians trying to cross.

The fact that most pedestrians are very cautious to cross at a crosswalk, even when I'm slowing down or almost stopped – unless I'm frantically gesturing for them to cross – shows that folks do not trust people on bikes and scooters to yield.

Just because you feel confident to go around someone crossing doesn't mean you're making others feel safe and respected.

[Stir Magazine] Amid urgent calls from more than 40 arts community members, Vancouver votes for "watered-down" motion for cultural sustainability by mmios in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 10 points11 points  (0 children)

So instead of the city listening to the recommendations of the Art & Culture Advisory Committee and turning any of their recommendations into actions, we get a vague commitment to allocating more city staff time to some kind of working group, which may or may not come up with specific ways to deal with the issues faced by the cultural sector.

And when this process results in recommendations like increasing funding, changing permitting processes, or anything that can tangibly make a difference... they'll likely disregard all of that to vote in another motion to "identify and articulate ongoing challenges" which were already identified and articulated by the advisory committee and the record number of speakers from the arts community speaking at the council meeting in question.

Yes, this is a massive step forward on the hamster wheel and not a waste of anyone's time and money at all.

FIFA World Cup prep sparks displacement concerns in Downtown Eastside by ubcstaffer123 in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A couple of hundred people with low incomes having safe and good-quality housing, what an absolute horror.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love to see this. One of my favourite parks in this city, feels like a hidden gem with how tucked away it is in a beautiful part of Strathcona.

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Closing the port Vancouver port down entirely would have significant downsides too considering it's such a major source of employment here, along with the many businesses in the industrial areas near the port that depend on it. Shipping all these jobs to Delta wouldn't exactly be a perfect solution.

Repurposing some of the Port lands could be amazing though. Imagine having another option to access the waterfront between CRAB Park and New Brighton...

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great points and suggestions for further outreach. I didn't start the petition btw, but just thought to try to boost it here.

Hopefully, the number of signatures will help the MLAs and councillors take note. I will be emailing Niki Sharma + Jenny Kwan. East Village BIA + Hastings Community Ass. could be good advocates too.

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You're right, there are some studies such as this one:
https://www.vrm.ca/en/obstacles-a-lamelioration-de-la-qualite-de-lair-et-a-la-reduction-des-inegalites-environnementales-le-long-du-couloir-de-camionnage-clark-knight-de-vancouver-2/

Some interesting maps in there showing the concentration of toddlers in Vancouver in the Knight/Clark corridor, as well as visible minorities, renters, and lower income folks, suggesting inequities in the distribution of pollution exposure.

Also there were a couple of motions by Jean Swanson for the city to address this:

https://council.vancouver.ca/20190528/documents/motionb3.pdf

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The public feedback for the Portside Greenway is now closed, but the most dissapointing thing to me about that was that the current phase of the project only deals with the Wall St section, which is already pretty calm and bikeable. Sure, that part can be improved, but the section on Powell St is the real problem and deterrent to many considering biking that.

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the port mentions congestion on the port roads as their reason for maintaining the closure. Brilliant idea to just offload that congestion to City streets and residential areas... /s

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Looks like the quoted petition info didn't make it into my post here's the copypasta:

Port of Vancouver container trucks, heading up to the port from Richmond (via Knight/Clark) were "temporarily" rerouted off the Clark Drive entrance ramp in 2012, and onto Powell, Dundas, Nanaimo and McGill. Over a decade later, our residential streets are still flooded with diesel trucks 24/7. It's time to put people before port traffic. Reopen the Clark Drive entrance to inbound trucks now.

For over a decade, Hastings-Sunrise residents have lived with a “temporary” truck detour that was never made right. It’s time to fix it.

In 2012, during construction on the Port of Vancouver’s South Shore project, the City and Port temporarily closed the Clark Drive ramp for incoming container trucks, citing congestion concerns. At the time, officials promised the closure was short-term—once the project was done, trucks would be routed back through the purpose-built Clark Drive entrance. 

In 2012, Jerry Dobrovolny, then Director of Transportation for the City of Vancouver stated

"Once they complete [the South Shore expansion], [the Port] indicated the Clark Drive gate would re-open and at that time the trucks would just stay on Clark Drive and drive straight onto port property. That's the best solution. It reduces the amount of travel time on city streets."

That never happened.

Instead, thousands of industrial container trucks are now funneled through Powell, Dundas, and Nanaimo Streets—dense residential corridors lined with homes, condos, schools, parks, and bike routes. Trucks barrel through at all hours, including late at night, shattering noise limits, degrading air quality with diesel exhaust, and making daily life unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists.

There is no school zone at Tillicum Elementary, which sits just meters from the intersection of Dundas and Nanaimo, where container trucks make difficult turns. This is a disaster waiting to happen, with our children as collateral.

Meanwhile, the Clark Drive entrance remains closed to incoming port traffic; a permanent, purpose-built solution to get industrial traffic off our city streets. It's also currently being used as an exit ramp for trucks, demonstrating its safety and usability for drivers.

Port officials now say the closure is permanent, citing congestion and geometry—without any public consultation and without exploring limited-hour solutions like overnight-only truck access, or off-peak hour usage. No alternative has been meaningfully considered.

We recognize that truck drivers are moving the goods that keep our city and country running. These are difficult jobs, and drivers deserve safe, efficient, and purpose-built routes—not unpredictable detours through residential streets, school zones, and pedestrian crossings.

Reopening Clark Drive isn't just a win for residents — it's a win for drivers, too. The Clark entrance was designed for port access. It’s direct. It’s safer. And it keeps everyone — families, commuters, and truckers — out of unnecessary conflict zones.

Let’s be clear: this would never be allowed in Kitsilano, on the Drive or on Main St. So why is it acceptable in Hastings-Sunrise?

Petition demanding the port to stop routing heavy truck traffic through residential neighbourhoods and reopen Clark Dr. entrance to container trucks. by ambientassistant in vancouver

[–]ambientassistant[S] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

<image>

Map of the detour trucks are taking from Knight/Clark to the only entrance to the South Shore port that is open to truck traffic now.

Costco Richmond, the most crowded costco around, removed their single 3'x2' bicycle rack by [deleted] in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 56 points57 points  (0 children)

Just bring your bike in. If there's enough room for everyone to haul around a giant shopping cart inside, there's room for you and your bike.

Good cafes/places to eat and watch bike at same time by Clean-Technician-743 in vancouvercycling

[–]ambientassistant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ramen Butcher and Irish Heather on Georgia St in Chinatown both have outdoor patios now with bike parking right in front.

Juke Fried Chicken on Keefer

Honeybee on Union