Plan makes room for patios, people
Vancouver will introduce 50 kilometres of “slow streets” to help the city’s businesses and residents adapt to a post-pandemic life.
The move will free up parking space and travel lanes for outdoor patios at restaurants, and widen sidewalk areas, allowing pedestrians to pass lineups at businesses adhering to new physical distancing and capacity measures.
Twelve kilometres of “slow streets” have already been set up, including on Beach Avenue in the West End at the same time Stanley Park was first closed to vehicles, and in Kits Point earlier this April. Slow street barriers are also in place along Wall Street, Lakewood Street and Gladstone Street in east Vancouver.
Some neighbourhood streets will also be converted to allow local traffic only, creating more space for foot and bicycle traffic.
“We know that physical distancing will be in place for some time,” Lon LaClaire, Vancouver’s general manager of engineering, said in a statement.
“As we move through the pandemic and into a phased recovery, more space will be needed to ensure people can safely do the things they need to do like exercising and travelling to work.”
A staff report presented earlier this month reported an 80 per cent drop in transit use in April 2020 compared with the same month last year.
The report also noted a 35 to 50 per cent drop in commuter cyclists compared to recreational cyclists, which were up six to 50 per cent over the month.
These figures present an “opportunity to reallocate road space,” noted the report, in an effort to “support physical distancing, improve business access, (facilitate) health and safety of residents, (and) provide space for travel and exercise.”
The report also pointed to similar projects in Oakland, Calif., and Portland, Ore., where there has been success with “slow streets.”
The city will also simplify and speed up the permitting process for outdoor patios and restaurants, allowing eateries to add additional dining space as they are now required to implement two metres of separation in between each dinein party.
Vancouver officials are expected to release information to businesses on June 1 on how to expedite their licence applications.
“We also want to help people return to some of the things they really enjoy doing, like eating at a favourite restaurant, picking up items from local businesses or connecting with friends outdoors. We will work closely with businesses and community partners to address needs for space while also ensuring our streets and public spaces remain safe and accessible,” said LaClaire.
The city will also identify curb lanes in key areas that will be temporarily closed to parking and cordoned off for pedestrian traffic, allowing more room for pedestrians to freely move around lineups at businesses.
The curb lane project has been installed in 10 locations so far, with up to 50 other locations identified as possibilities in Vancouver.
The cost of the curb lane closures is about $5,000 to install and between $3,000 and $5,000 to maintain each month.
A number of quick-load parking spots and pickup zones will be installed outside businesses that have frequent turnover.
The zones will be installed by request, with 14 already set up and two more on the way.