Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Data also shows a mild decrease or stagnation in autos entering / exiting downtown, while population and jobs in the Metro Core increase. There are more people living in the Metro Core and traveling within (area has the highest number of folks walking to work), while the number of folks entering downtown has increased and by means of alternative modes aside from the car. Most present commuting data is pre-Evergreen Line.

Suburbanization suggests de-population of Vancouver and them relocating to areas like Surrey or PoCo, which is not the case for Vancouver for population and employment steadily increase. It's also a positive factor that Vancouver has the highest ratio of residents that live and work in their city. In fact I think, statistically speaking, suburbanization is on a large decline in the Lower Mainland in general.

There is a difference between people coming into the city for work and getting out fast after, and those who are lingering or coming in to play and use the services during and after work hours. There may be more people coming in to work, but downtown should have a good balance of entertainment, culture, recreation, retail services, etc, in order for the core to stay vibrant. Sadly we are fast losing that. Robson Street, Chinatown and Gastown are good examples.

Suburbanization does not mean that the core is losing population. Therefore your de-population theory is flawed because urban sprawl actually means the suburbs gaining more population, and not the other way round. We are turning downtown into a bedroom community, and although gaining population, is losing its capability to be the vibrant centre that it ought to be.