Today is My Friday

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: 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 parki...

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and this is an issue that is very important to me as an avid walker. I live on the north side of downtown Vancouver, and I walk several miles every day. There are some street crossings in the city where I do not feel safe as a pedestrian due to excessive speed and lack of attention by drivers. Typical transportation design in our country is focused on moving cars quickly and efficiently through the roadway network. Driver speed and convenience is often prioritized over pedestrian safety. Vancouver is no different from other American cities in this regard; however, an exception to this is the Uptown Village section of Main Street. Automobile drivers are more likely to travel at high speeds when there are fewer constraints on the road. Conversely, when structural limitations are added to a roadway, drivers will slow down. This article notes a correlation between lane widths and crash fatalities. Taking a look at Main Stre...