Can we afford to decrease traffic lanes on another Vancouver bridge? Well that’s what the City of Vancouver has indicated in their last conceptual plan for the Granville Street Bridge. Their conceptual illustration shows a pedestrian mall built down the middle of the Granville Bridge with people walking and biking on this pedestrian island better taking advantage of the space. The ultimate goal of this concept is to reduce vehicle traffic in and out of Vancouver’s downtown core by converting two thirds of trips to cycling, walking and public transit.

Given Vancouverites healthy lifestyles and the city’s quest for sustainability, I’m excited about this new proposal. It will help create a more urban city that allows for a larger population but with less congestion. European cities with dense populations have used this formula for years and they have seen a great deal of positive results.

Not only will this bridge appeal more to non vehicular traffic, but it will also help better connect SouthEast False Creek with Downtown. With the additional plans that the City of Vancouver has proposed for the new Downtown South with the removal of the Granville Loops and increasing walk ability in the neighbourhood with a new grocer, seasonal vendors, food cards, extended sidewalks, patios and cafes – this neighourhood will be the next big hub of Downtown. You’ll be a few short blocks away from the seawall, Yaletown, Granville Island and the Downtown entertainment district.

It is a great sign when the City of Vancouver shows proactive ways of improving the Downtown core as well as extending some of the amenities which makes our downtown core so vibrant. Many have stated that Vancouver’s Downtown is about to burst from the seams with development and population. However with plans like this followed by new gateway residential developments like Maddox by Cressey in Downtown South, the borders of Downtown will only be extended and be that much more appealing for new residents.

Irshaad Ahmad