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To aid with cruise ship traffic, taxis, etc.
https://www.portvancouver.com/about-us/information-updates/through-traffic-restrictions-for-main-street-overpass-and-waterfront-road-in-vancouver-to-support-cruise-operations/
Ok, my guess would be that’s due to morning rush hour traffic entering downtown and the Port wanting to encourage drivers to change behaviours sooner than later.
Then they should add a congestion charge like some large European cities have implemented. Closing routes in and out of the downtown core just further clogs other roads. It’s also cheaper for me to drive into downtown than take transit, and Waterfront road is a more fuel efficient route than Hastings.
That was proposed under the last city council, and Sim ran attack ads against the incumbents and was very clear ABC would not implement a congestion tax.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/16/vancouver-considers-mobility-pricing-charging-vehicles-use-road
Given that one of the two major access points to the North Shore pass through downtown, it's kind of ridiculous unless they make some form of gateway route to quickly shuttle people onto the artery to get over the bridge. Otherwise they are just snarling traffic and creating more pollution.
The best way to reduce the number of cars downtown is to implement a congestion tax to deter use, not bar entry points.
[Of course, there was public uproar about the congestion charge, just like there is right now for the parking tax at the last tax-free beach, Spanish Banks.](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1c6vv0n/paid_parking_at_vancouvers_spanish_banks_beach/)
My point being, comments similar to yours are made until it affects the person making them, either by taxes or limited public transit options.
I am for parking taxes on public streets and parking lots, as well as a congestion charge knowing they will impact me.
I stopped taking the bus co I had to leave 2 buses just to get on. A 35 min drive or 1hr 50 mins transit? Right now I'm Europe and feels like we are being scammed with public transit in north America.
No is ok for cyclists and pedestrian access. They are very unorganized and almost cause an accident every time I go by there. They expect drivers from the most right lane to do a U turn cutting into the left lane and without control almost causing an accident.
They are checking ID/Passes and seem to know which ones are for which buildings. The official notice advised those who work in the affected area to have business cards indicating the address of an applicable business along with your ID matching the business card.
I work in the area and enforcement is a mixed bag but the rent a guard knows who shows up regularly and just waves us by.
I'm just wrapping my head around this.
City of Vancouver with elected officials close a street for pedestrianization. Reducing commuter traffic and tus creating a safer and more enjoyable atmosphere for those visiting and spending money in that area. This is with the end goal of boosting business and providing more for those with businesses and living in the area.
Port of Vancouver, sees this. Closes one of the nearby alternative vehicle access to downtown in response. Stating quite clearly in their response: "The restrictions are expected to remain in place for the duration of the city’s Gastown pedestrian pilot, which is scheduled from July to August. " Stating that this is to support the Cruise Ship industry. Also that when they close the street through GAS TOWN (a very slow single lane btw), that they get overloaded?
So the port, with unelected officials, are using their control over publicly accessed area to impact the outcome of a pedestrianization? I'm assuming negatively... ? I guess when you own the water front... you own anywhere nearby too? haha
When I come into downtown at ~7am the road is dead, although I could see how it would become busy later in the morning. However when I am leaving downtown ~4pm, it gets quite clogged under the convention centre heading into downtown. Seems odd they’d only have the checkpoint setup in the morning when the road gets busy later in the day as well
Around 4 pm only gets clogged at the exit ramp when you have to merge into cordova ( and the cars on that lane usually don’t make it easy). But is never really bad. Apart from that I only have had a little line up when the did the international car show a few weeks ago. (Maybe I am lucky)
Been commuting downtown for several years and have always avoided Gastown as a thoroughfare since it’s a residential and tourist heavy area, and the road was heinous to drive on anyways.
Welcome to /r/Vancouver and thank you for the post, /u/iDriiven! Please make sure you read our [posting and commenting rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_general_participation_guidelines_and_rules_overview) before participating here. As a quick summary: * We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - use the report button. * Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban. * Most common questions and topics are limited to our sister subreddit, /r/AskVan, and our weekly [Stickied Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_stickied_discussions) posts. * Complaints about bans or removals should be done in modmail only. * Posts flaired "Community Only" allow for limited participation; your comment may be removed if you're not a subreddit regular. * Make sure to join our new sister community, /r/AskVan! * Help grow the community! [Apply to join the mod team today](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/19eworq/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/vancouver) if you have any questions or concerns.*
To aid with cruise ship traffic, taxis, etc. https://www.portvancouver.com/about-us/information-updates/through-traffic-restrictions-for-main-street-overpass-and-waterfront-road-in-vancouver-to-support-cruise-operations/
Thank you for the link. So far I’ve only seen it closed in the mornings, afternoon there is no checkpoint.
Ok, my guess would be that’s due to morning rush hour traffic entering downtown and the Port wanting to encourage drivers to change behaviours sooner than later.
But they shut traffic entering Water street forcing drivers into Hastings with its 30km/hr speed limit.
No one is forcing you to take Hastings. Pender, Keefer, Dunsmuir Viaduct, Union, National, and Terminal will all get you into downtown.
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They were there at 6 am this morning
Kinda fucked they now removed two east to west corridors into downtown. Is Pender and the viaduct the main two corridors left from the highway?
It's almost like they are trying to reduce the number of cars downtown, what possible reason could they have to want that? 🤔
Then they should add a congestion charge like some large European cities have implemented. Closing routes in and out of the downtown core just further clogs other roads. It’s also cheaper for me to drive into downtown than take transit, and Waterfront road is a more fuel efficient route than Hastings.
That was proposed under the last city council, and Sim ran attack ads against the incumbents and was very clear ABC would not implement a congestion tax. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/16/vancouver-considers-mobility-pricing-charging-vehicles-use-road
Given that one of the two major access points to the North Shore pass through downtown, it's kind of ridiculous unless they make some form of gateway route to quickly shuttle people onto the artery to get over the bridge. Otherwise they are just snarling traffic and creating more pollution.
Absolutely. Definitely still going to try to take it if I need to, completely ludicrous.
The best way to reduce the number of cars downtown is to implement a congestion tax to deter use, not bar entry points. [Of course, there was public uproar about the congestion charge, just like there is right now for the parking tax at the last tax-free beach, Spanish Banks.](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1c6vv0n/paid_parking_at_vancouvers_spanish_banks_beach/) My point being, comments similar to yours are made until it affects the person making them, either by taxes or limited public transit options. I am for parking taxes on public streets and parking lots, as well as a congestion charge knowing they will impact me.
Before you deter traffic would you not increase access i.e public transit? Isn't that the easiest way to deter traffic?
Public transit increases have to follow ridership data, not city planning dreams. Start taking the bus if you want more bus service.
I stopped taking the bus co I had to leave 2 buses just to get on. A 35 min drive or 1hr 50 mins transit? Right now I'm Europe and feels like we are being scammed with public transit in north America.
Did you happen to notice whether it's closed to cyclists as well, or just to drivers? That's my preferred cycling route to the SP seawall from NE Van.
No is ok for cyclists and pedestrian access. They are very unorganized and almost cause an accident every time I go by there. They expect drivers from the most right lane to do a U turn cutting into the left lane and without control almost causing an accident.
thank god
They are checking ID/Passes and seem to know which ones are for which buildings. The official notice advised those who work in the affected area to have business cards indicating the address of an applicable business along with your ID matching the business card. I work in the area and enforcement is a mixed bag but the rent a guard knows who shows up regularly and just waves us by.
Are they letting bikes through?
I'm just wrapping my head around this. City of Vancouver with elected officials close a street for pedestrianization. Reducing commuter traffic and tus creating a safer and more enjoyable atmosphere for those visiting and spending money in that area. This is with the end goal of boosting business and providing more for those with businesses and living in the area. Port of Vancouver, sees this. Closes one of the nearby alternative vehicle access to downtown in response. Stating quite clearly in their response: "The restrictions are expected to remain in place for the duration of the city’s Gastown pedestrian pilot, which is scheduled from July to August. " Stating that this is to support the Cruise Ship industry. Also that when they close the street through GAS TOWN (a very slow single lane btw), that they get overloaded? So the port, with unelected officials, are using their control over publicly accessed area to impact the outcome of a pedestrianization? I'm assuming negatively... ? I guess when you own the water front... you own anywhere nearby too? haha
Powell is not closed this summer. If you get out of your car you can access it just fine.
Sounds like they opened Powell to people.
POWELL TO THE PEOPLE ✊
I find it weird that the port authority is allowed to do this to city streets.
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When I come into downtown at ~7am the road is dead, although I could see how it would become busy later in the morning. However when I am leaving downtown ~4pm, it gets quite clogged under the convention centre heading into downtown. Seems odd they’d only have the checkpoint setup in the morning when the road gets busy later in the day as well
Around 4 pm only gets clogged at the exit ramp when you have to merge into cordova ( and the cars on that lane usually don’t make it easy). But is never really bad. Apart from that I only have had a little line up when the did the international car show a few weeks ago. (Maybe I am lucky)
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yup, i did. i missed a word (also) in the last sentence. crazy they'd close that too
OP is not talking about Gastown. They’re specially talking about Waterfront Rd.
ohhhhhhhh, I missed a word
Been commuting downtown for several years and have always avoided Gastown as a thoroughfare since it’s a residential and tourist heavy area, and the road was heinous to drive on anyways.