VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver council has passed a motion from Green Councillor Pete Fry, co-submitted by Councillor Melissa De Genova, calling for Commercial Drive from Venables Street to Broadway to be designed as a Pedestrian First Commercial Street. The motion outlines several possible outcomes including:
- Slowing the street to focus on a “stop and shop” model;
- Widening sidewalks and enhancing crosswalks;
- Added space for walking, cycling and shopping;
- Supports for outdoor dining and vending;
- Community-led public art;
- Enhanced bike infrastructure, east-west bike connections, and bike share docking stations on side streets;
- Reducing the number of lanes south of 1st Avenue;
- Improving on-street parking spaces and flexibility to support local business.
“The community has come together to support a vision for The Drive to become a European-style street that promotes shared access, enhanced public space and a vibrant, sustainable local and regional economy,” says Councillor Fry. “This is a fantastic opportunity for The Drive to evolve into a more pedestrian-friendly street that is vibrant, accessible and, first and foremost, walkable while at the same time supporting business viability so that it remains a highly desirable local and regional commercial destination.”
The motion directs staff to report back on how this vision can be implemented, phased and incorporated as part of any Victoria Drive/Commercial Drive upgrades, street and traffic work, including directions from the Grandview Woodland Community Plan, Vancouver Plan, Making Streets for People program, Transportation 2040, Climate Emergency Action Plan, Healthy City Strategy, Culture|Shift strategy, Celebrating Italian Culture, and Moving Vancouver Forward: Economic and Community Recovery Strategy.
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Background
Prioritizing Commercial Drive as a Pedestrian-First High Street (Member’s Motion B.4)
Vancouver to consider slowing Commercial Drive traffic in pedestrian-first redesign, May 12, 2021
