Vancouver considers making Commercial, Granville more pedestrian friendly

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Granville Street and Commercial Drive may be filled with more people this summer.

A pair of motions going before Vancouver city council on Tuesday is looking at making the popular streets more pedestrian friendly.

On Granville Street, the motion proposes making the street car- and bus-free between Smithe and Helmcken streets on weekends during the 2021 summer months.

Noting that many people have been hard hit by the pandemic, the motion points to increasing public spaces to support the local economy.

“Social isolation and the mental health impacts of the pandemic are real; giving people places to safely gather outside can help overcome these challenges,” the document reads.

Granville Street pedestrian friendly proposal

For The Drive, that would mean prioritizing the road as a “Pedestrian-First High Street”, which includes reducing the speed limit, widening sidewalks, and enhancing crosswalks.

It’s a plan published by the Commercial Drive BIA, with support and research involving the community and local businesses.

It calls for the Drive to “evolve into a more pedestrian-friendly street, vibrant, accessible and, first and foremost, walkable while at the same time supporting business viability so that it remains a highly desirable local and regional commercial destination.”

The motion calls for supporting the vision and looking at how it can be implemented, phased, and incorporated.

Commercial Drive pedestrian friendly proposal

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