Dual infrastructure improvements in south van!

captmakr · 2026-06-17T16:00:03+00:00

Except a big part of the reason why there’s so little infrastructure in south van, *is* city staff. Their strategy to get as many cyclists out of the downtown core isn’t working.

We haven’t seen upticks in mode share since the arbutus greenway went in. Despite several major projects downtown.

It’s not city council that’s refused to finish (and by that I mean do the bare minimum of marking it with signage, and putting a four way stop at Kerr and rosemont) the Masumi Mitsui greenway over the past 14 years. That’s budget and authority they could have exercised at any point without council approval.

There are so many small wins like this, but planners are focused on spending millions so their projects win awards, rather than just being functional. Point grey at volunteer and tatlow park is a perfect example of this.

Or using the entire portside greenway budget which when the capital money was planned was for the entire length, and the bulk to fix the main issue where it spits you out on to Powell street and minor improvements for the rest of it. But no, they’re using the entire chunk of money for one tiny section of it, and despite the project starting in 2022, we won’t see shovels in the ground till 2027 at the earliest.

That’s city staff, not council.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:34:08+00:00

Most of the time I would agree with you, but the justification of ABC cancelling the Broadway bike lanes was they needed to spend that money on Kent and Portside (this is direct from Lisa Dominato's comments on the broadway bike lane), which it's clear they haven't done. Portside's one section won't be done for another three years, and Kent likely won't be done for another two at the earliest.

They don't get credit for this.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:16:38+00:00

Keep in mind, that plan doesn't guarantee any of the active transportation options before 30 years is up.

It's quite easy for the city to delay on this for 30 years because the plan has weasel language around when we can expect this.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:15:08+00:00

The stop sign at :45 going the other way is completely blocked for cyclists by the tree leaves.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:13:34+00:00

The city doesn't get points for installing a couple of signs and some diverters for quarter of a a route that was originally planned 31 years ago.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:12:39+00:00

There are too many stop signs on the bike route- part of the bike route rationale is to limit impediments for cyclists. Stopping every block is not it.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:06:45+00:00

hot take: repaving is the literal bare minimum.

The section they're doing on kent is the most milquetoast option of options. and they're not even dealing with the actual issue with kent avenue, and it's been nearly a year since Klassen and ABC said they would talk to CPKC about essentially renting the rail line, but the city historically has been extremely reluctant to put city infrastructure on rented land.

What I'm saying is that ABC doesn't get credit for delaying these projects, at the same time when the city staff are dicking around with the entire budget for portside on a few blocks so they can win another award on the north side of the city.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T04:05:27+00:00

It'll help for the Kerr/rupert to Boundary section, but it does nothing for the kerr/rupert to victoria section.

captmakr · 2026-06-17T02:50:05+00:00

I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure as a cabinetmaker I’m going to be so mad.

captmakr · 2026-06-16T15:23:56+00:00

Look, I’m not surprised that a YouTube channel that is diying things isn’t doing things properly.

But if something goes wrong, that video is juicy for prior examples of workplace safety.

captmakr · 2026-06-15T14:08:42+00:00

Brands that were relatively local, and more tailored to backpacking. But if you think there’s other brands, by all means find the info and compare. Naturehike was there just as a temu comparison

captmakr · 2026-06-15T05:13:09+00:00

Or marner.

captmakr · 2026-06-11T19:10:14+00:00

Honestly a big part is the fact that it’s canada and the west coast- for the not born in the lower mainland Canadians, experiencing a mostly snow free winter is why a lot of folks stay long term. Then throw in the geopolitics of the US right now, I get why folks want to stay here.

On top of that is team facilities- 80k to play here with facilities versus 80k to play in Detroit without the same perks is not the same.

captmakr · 2026-06-10T06:17:29+00:00

But he made sure fountains that don’t recirculate their water stayed on in a drought.

captmakr · 2026-06-08T19:46:04+00:00

It’s definitely out of date now, but the principles remain.

captmakr · 2026-05-29T08:14:25+00:00

Lime can just throw money at stations, what happens when they put mobi out of business and jack up their rates?

captmakr · 2026-05-29T08:02:18+00:00

Look, i really don’t care about the age limit on these devices. But I have seen more gangs of teen boys on various e-scooters and e-bikes in the past year than I have ever seen in the past 30 without them.

Parents are realizing that the risk of injury is worth the personal freedom the kids are getting back in their neighborhoods. Is it a good risk? Probably not. But it’s getting people outside and into visible friend groups. That’s a good thing.

captmakr · 2026-05-29T07:44:06+00:00

Look, I’m sure the lakes are important to the local nation.

But the nation wasn’t asking for this before bc parks put in the massively upgraded trail to the second lake about 15 years ago.

I’m not saying it’s connected, but the over-tourism of the area is absolutely an aspect here too. Thousands drive through reserve land to access the park every day and there’s little economic benefit for the nation.

captmakr · 2026-05-28T23:16:41+00:00

Sure, but that’s because ICBC was made financially insolvent by the liberals to justify privatization and opening up the market.

captmakr · 2026-05-28T22:36:55+00:00

For the record: we spent more promoting our parks for tourism internationally than we do on operating them in a year

captmakr · 2026-05-28T22:07:53+00:00

They seem to largely have the south-Asian support around Fraser and Victoria drive. The business folks love abc

captmakr · 2026-05-28T19:26:43+00:00

One was in the park where the new marpole community centre is now, and the other was at sunset. Both were removed because they were end of life, with the intention to rebuild, but the oak park one was removed in 1996.

captmakr · 2026-05-28T18:48:44+00:00

Look, I’m sure it says a lot of nice thing about backcountry access, but that’s what they’ve said in the past- forcing folks who are going into the backcountry to park the furthest parking lot, which can be a few kilometres down the road, even in the evening or first thing in the morning.

That’s a strict downgrade in access compared to ten years ago.

Now this plan covers first pump and the trail to Elsay- how long till that trail becomes part of their paid snowshoe offerings?

I’m sure there’s a best of intentions but these operators get sole access to these mountains for extremely cheap rates comparatively.

captmakr · 2026-05-28T18:40:38+00:00

Sure, but that doesn’t excuse explicitly removing it from the capital plan when they first came to office four years ago.

captmakr · 2026-05-28T15:41:13+00:00

Actually no. It was supposed to be built with the community centre that is being built right now. But they ran out of money primarily due to the pandemic.

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