vancouver’s transportation woes
i posted this just now at the Society for Community Development’s online forum. [link to post]
I recently read in the Vancouver Sun that the Gateway plans such as twinning the Port Mann and widening Hwy 1 have been cancelled (or something to that extent). now, they could at LEAST widen Hwy 1 south of the Port Mann by adding HOV lanes in both directions. wouldn’t that be smart? i don’t think it would draw more traffic into the city, which is what they’re concerned about. i think it would encourage perhaps less cars on the road because people would want to use the HOV lane, and it would relieve to some extent the horrible congestion that happens there. there is intense environmental damage and waste of money + gas that happens because of the traffic buildup at the south end of the port mann (northbound) all the way to… wherever it extends. i think, however, if adding an extra lane on at least one side of the highway will disrupt the other lanes during peak hours, it may be more trouble than it’s worth. but i think it’s worth considering… that and a skytrain line down the middle.
my dad was mentioning that it’s really about the trucks not the commuters, that they’re trying to open it up for trucks when those are the guys damaging the roads most and driving slowest (except for the occasional person going much slower than the speed limit). in the end the problems are too much growth in the city, too many cars, and too few options. i don’t mean too few roads.
translink has an incredible commitment to public transportation in the city and they’re seeing an increase in ridership. i live in cloverdale now, where it’s pretty good but it still takes a long time to get certain places that are not far away, and a long time to get to far away places thanks to 15 minute waits or infrequent service or long bus rides. i think while they’re paying attention to vancouver/south vancouver, coquitlam-pocomo, they’re forgetting the other end of the city that is expanding quite rapidly… surrey, langley, and beyond. i will never live in aldergrove so long as the bus goes there every hour… i guess there just isn’t the demand… so out there, out here, people drive cars. one day that’s going to snap back at them very badly. [edit: there is a commitment to development in surrey/white rock/langley but needed improvements may not be seen as soon as it is in other places, eg. 2009 RAV and Light Rail … moreover, there seems to be less talk and publicity about this area.]
people also don’t realise the true cost of driving. i’d like to find some kind of breakdown based on VANCOUVER’s price of gas, which is much higher than other cities, the costs of driving versus transit and other methods (walking, biking, even carpooling). i’d like to see it based on minimal driving, regular driving, and daily maximum driving.
the cost of an electric bike is about equivalent to a year’s INSURANCE alone. it has the convenience of a car: leave whenever you want. it can go places a car can’t, and it gives you great exercise. it costs less, is less stressful, and more enjoyable. how much can YOU cut down on driving in exchange for walking or riding a bike? can you do your grocery shopping more frequently with smaller loads and not take the car?
