Metro Vancouver Bike/Pedestrian Discussion

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Anybody on the West Side would have gone out through Beach, as would most from Richmond.

I don't believe you. I used to live on the West Side and I wouldn't take that unnecessary detour for no reason.

Google doesn't even recommend cyclists take Beach to leave that parking lot if they're heading to the West Side.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by chowhou

I don't believe you. I used to live on the West Side and I wouldn't take that unnecessary detour for no reason.

I go to Stanley Park from the east side and I always used to go to and from along Beach because in my mind the west end has always been a rabbit's warren of disconnected and diverted streets. I was surprised the last time I went to the pitch and putt and Google recommended Nelson. I prefer Beach - fewer stop signs / traffic circles, an actual centre line so easier to pass oncoming traffic, fewer pedestrians crossing the street, and better views.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I go to Stanley Park from the east side and I always used to go to and from along Beach because in my mind the west end has always been a rabbit's warren of disconnected and diverted streets. I was surprised the last time I went to the pitch and putt and Google recommended Nelson. I prefer Beach - fewer stop signs / traffic circles, an actual centre line so easier to pass oncoming traffic, fewer pedestrians crossing the street, and better views.

Same I always use beach, living in East Van, Yaletown, and Olympic Village.

[GenWhy?]

Nelson is the secret quick route for cars in and out of the West End! Stop telling everyone!

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Nelson is the secret quick route for cars in and out of the West End! Stop telling everyone!

Davie in, Nelson out.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I go to Stanley Park from the east side and I always used to go to and from along Beach because in my mind the west end has always been a rabbit's warren of disconnected and diverted streets. I was surprised the last time I went to the pitch and putt and Google recommended Nelson. I prefer Beach - fewer stop signs / traffic circles, an actual centre line so easier to pass oncoming traffic, fewer pedestrians crossing the street, and better views.

I don't think there are any stop signs on Nelson, and the issue was never Beach itself, but rather meandering back through the park via Lagoon Dr which also has all the issues you're talking about. If you want the scenic route that's fine, but I don't think it was ever the more efficient route.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I go to Stanley Park from the east side and I always used to go to and from along Beach because in my mind the west end has always been a rabbit's warren of disconnected and diverted streets. I was surprised the last time I went to the pitch and putt and Google recommended Nelson. I prefer Beach - fewer stop signs / traffic circles, an actual centre line so easier to pass oncoming traffic, fewer pedestrians crossing the street, and better views.

Yeah, it depends on your familiarity with the area (not everyone uses a GPS).
I've also been frustrated many times driving in the West End and coming up against forced turns and blocked streets.
People will gravitate to the arterials like Beach Ave. because they know it's a through street, even if it is congested.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, it depends on your familiarity with the area (not everyone uses a GPS).
I've also been frustrated many times driving in the West End and coming up against forced turns and blocked streets.
People will gravitate to the arterials like Beach Ave. because they know it's a through street, even if it is congested.

Yep this is true. Now with Nav in my car I just plug in a destination and it figures it out. The route always involves a turn every block though.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by chowhou

I don't think there are any stop signs on Nelson...

Challenge accepted!

Traffic light at Thurlow, 4-way stop at Bute, traffic circle at Jervis, 3-way stop (T-Intersection) at Broughton, 4-way stop at Cardero, traffic circle at Bidwell, traffic light at Denman, (small) traffic circle at Chilco.

Uncontrolled or through intersections are in the small minority.

I used to go via Beach because my gut told me that it was more convenient, now that I've checked I know it is for sure. Of course that doesn't work so well any more because of the recent changes, but it doesn't change the fact that Beach used to be a popular route into Stanley Park.

Originally Posted by chowhou

...and the issue was never Beach itself, but rather meandering back through the park via Lagoon Dr which also has all the issues you're talking about. If you want the scenic route that's fine, but I don't think it was ever the more efficient route.

It's not clear to me what the distinction is between arriving at the park via Beach and via Nelson is with respect to Lagoon Drive. Both of them get you to Park Lane and Beach used to have a pretty convenient connection to N Lagoon Drive which takes you to the rest of the park. Nelson, if anything, is more convoluted than Beach used to be.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Challenge accepted!

Traffic light at Thurlow, 4-way stop at Bute, traffic circle at Jervis, 3-way stop (T-Intersection) at Broughton, 4-way stop at Cardero, traffic circle at Bidwell, traffic light at Denman, (small) traffic circle at Chilco.

Uncontrolled or through intersections are in the small minority.

Yeah, you're totally right, I meant to say there's no stop signs between Park Ln and Denman, but that's obviously not what I said.

I used to go via Beach because my gut told me that it was more convenient, now that I've checked I know it is for sure. Of course that doesn't work so well any more because of the recent changes, but it doesn't change the fact that Beach used to be a popular route into Stanley Park.

It's not clear to me what the distinction is between arriving at the park via Beach and via Nelson is with respect to Lagoon Drive. Both of them get you to Park Lane and Beach used to have a pretty convenient connection to N Lagoon Drive which takes you to the rest of the park. Nelson, if anything, is more convoluted than Beach used to be.

I don't know about anyone else, but I was never talking about entering Stanley Park, the original discussion was about leaving Stanley Park, no? After all, you can still enter Stanley Park via Beach.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by chowhou

I don't know about anyone else, but I was never talking about entering Stanley Park, the original discussion was about leaving Stanley Park, no? After all, you can still enter Stanley Park via Beach.

I always left via Beach as well, to avoid the traffic on Denman.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Yeah, you're totally right, I meant to say there's no stop signs between Park Ln and Denman, but that's obviously not what I said.



I don't know about anyone else, but I was never talking about entering Stanley Park, the original discussion was about leaving Stanley Park, no? After all, you can still enter Stanley Park via Beach.

You can only enter via Beach by way of Denman then making the awkward turn onto Morton.

[Vantage]

As a cyclist I always use Beach when leaving downtown. Just my $0.02

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vantage

As a cyclist I always use Beach when leaving downtown....

Yes Nelson is a little narrow and cars like going fast up that hill-not user friendly for cycling.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Conrad Yablonski

Yes Nelson is a little narrow and cars like going fast up that hill-not user friendly for cycling.

Luckily Nelson is right next to Comox, which is a designated cycling slow street.

Speaking of Comox, the other day I noticed that Comox between Cardero and Bidwell is closed to cars during school pickup and drop-off hours, and I absolutely love that!

[Aroundtheworld]

For those urbanists here who want to see Downtown Vancouver be redesigned for people, Downtown For The People is doing a Jane's Walk on Water Street this Saturday, December 17th at 11:00 AM.

You can learn more about the project here.

[Jimbo604]

First big section of temporary bike lane in Stanley Park now removed - Kenneth Chan Dec 29 2022, 1:57 pm


"As of Wednesday, the first major section of the controversial temporary bike lane on Stanley Park Drive has been removed.

The Vancouver Park Board states the bike lane segment within Stanley Park’s northwest sector — between Prospect Point and Third Beach — is no more. This two-km-long segment was the simplest section for the work underway to remove the bike lane on Stanley Park Drive’s entire nine-km counterclockwise route on the park’s perimeter. ...

The more complex work to come to remove the rest of the temporary bike lane will be achieved by early April 2023.

The entire cost of the removal is estimated at about $400,000 due to the permanent-like fixtures installed between April and July 2021 elsewhere on Stanley Park Drive, which replaced the 2020 configuration of traffic cones and delineators with concrete barriers. Over $700,000 was spent on installing the temporary bike lane."

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

"As of Wednesday, the first major section of the controversial temporary bike lane on Stanley Park Drive has been removed.

I eagerly await the construction of the "new improved" separated bike lane that is supposed to start being constructed this spring. Surely they won't forget that part of the plan...

[logan5]

I'm all for bike lanes, but I don't understand this big outcry over losing that bike lane. You can't see any of the nice views, and it tends to get cold when you are deep in side a heat insulating forest, and they don't a commuting purpose.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I eagerly await the construction of the "new improved" separated bike lane that is supposed to start being constructed this spring. Surely they won't forget that part of the plan...

Given the recent king tides the Parks Board's first priority should be coming up with a plan to futureproof the seawall route.