Main Street Promise

The City of Vancouver is redesigning the stretch of Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street, and they are seeking feedback from the community. More information on the project can be found here on the Be Heard Vancouver site. The link to the survey can be found here. Here are my answers to the survey questions:

  1. What is your hope for the future of Main Street?

    My hope for the future of Main Street is that it be a community gathering place that is accessible and convenient for people of all levels of mobility and modes of transportation. I do not own a car, so my primary modes of transportation are walking and cycling. While the current Main Street corridor is pedestrian-friendly, there are several improvements that can be made to be more welcoming to walkers, as well as cyclists. In order to make Main Street more welcoming to all, I offer the following suggestions:

    • Replace angled parking spaces with parallel parking. Studies have shown that angled parking results in increased numbers of vehicle collisions in comparison to parallel parking. Link to study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2399808320954205
    • Add protected bike lanes or cycle track. The additional space freed up by converting the angled parking with parallel parking would provide space for a bike lane.
    • Crosswalk redesign. I suggest the following measures to prioritize pedestrian safety:
      • Redesign all crossings along Main Street with raised crosswalks that are flush with the sidewalk to ensure that drivers traverse the crossing slowly.
      • Shorten crosswalk distance. Currently, the majority of crosswalks across Main Street have been effectively shortened through the installation of curbs and planter islands, which is good. However, many of the streets that cross Main Street have wider effective lanes which lengthen the crosswalk distances. Extending the curbs and adding planter islands on the cross streets would shorten these crosswalks.
      • Extend timing of pedestrian crossing signal at Evergreen. There is a 20 second lag from the moment the NO WALK signal activates when crossing Main until the traffic light on Evergreen turns red. This is plenty of time for most walkers to cross the street twice.
    • Temporary closures of a block or two of Main Street for street parties, especially during the summer months, would further cement the corridor as a community gathering place.

  2. When it comes to safety, accessibility and connection on Main Street, what is most important to you?

    3. It is vital that pedestrians be prioritized at all crosswalks, as this places them in the travel way of cars and can be the most dangerous area of the street. The suggested safety measures detailed in the answer to question #1 would provide a safe environment for all, no matter which mode of transportation is employed.


  3. Are there specific locations on the street that you find challenging?

    4. The crosswalks are the primary danger areas of Main Street. There are also several areas of the sidewalks that are uneven due to age and tree root activity.


  4. Are there specific locations on Main Street that you enjoy? Why?

    5. I enjoy the plaza at 7th & Main, especially when the street is closed for events, as it brings the community together without being isolated in an automobile. I enjoy the small parklets with landscaping and art sprinkled along the street. We could use more of these on the cross streets at the intersection with Main.


  5. We've heard that Main Street is an important place to recognize Vancouver's history and culture. What type of art would you like to see on Main Street? How could art celebrate the street’s rich history?

    6. Vancouver had some incredibly cool buildings that have been demolished over the years. I would like to see some exhibits celebrating these lost treasures, similar to the exhibit across from Kiggins Theater dedicated to the movie theaters that have come and gone. I would also like to see more art celebrating the different cultures in the area.

  6. Are there any specific memories, experiences or historical references that you would like the project team to be aware of? 

    7. There are some notable past residents of Vancouver that left their mark on the city that I do not think have been honored or memorialized in any way, such as Eva Santee and Day Walter Hilborn.

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