Steveston crowding could be fixed with more space: Richmond councillor

RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) — Overcrowding in the Steveston area isn’t acceptable, according to one Richmond councillor arguing for more space to allow for physical distancing.

Coun. Kelly  Greene says the modest sidewalks in the area can push people closer together, so she wants space re-allocated to remedy the situation, especially with warmer weather, and more tourists likely heading to the area soon.

“Steveston is an area that really attracts a lot of pedestrian, bike traffic, but without the wide sidewalks that we have in downtown Richmond to be able to accommodate for that. So it has its own peculiar challenges as a tourist destination,” she says.

“It’s very crowded with pedestrians and bikes. People are taking advantage of the good weather on the weekends, and doing what people like to do, which is go to Steveston.”

Green says people aren’t taking enough safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. From what she has seen, she says there aren’t many people wearing masks, despite being in close proximity to one another.

“We wouldn’t accept this on a beach. You’ve seen the blowback for people being shoulder-to-shoulder enjoying beaches, it’s not acceptable in other areas as well,” she says.

However, Greene says there isn’t much support for the idea from the rest of council.

“There’s a lot of room for cars, but we need to make room for people,” she says. “It’s really on city council to make sure that there’s enough room for people to be able to safely move through the village.”

“We already talked about this, and there doesn’t seem to be an appetite from other council members to make this happen,” she says.

She says she hasn’t heard complaints of crowding in other parts of Richmond.