The Cyclist's Guideto Vancouver's Downtown Transportation Plan |
|
The Cyclist's Guideto Vancouver's Downtown Transportation Plan |
|
Beach Ave. has been proposed as a westbound connection from the Burrard Bridge to the West End. It will be developed as a two-way off-street bike route, intended for commuters who wish to avoid the busy Seaside recreational route.
In early 2004, council endorsed the creation of a small commercial centre south of Pacific St. under the Granville Bridge, crossing Beach Ave. Details are available here. An open house was held in mid-October 2005 related to that commercial centre. Here's a comment related to bikes, from e-mails with the planning assistant (Hugo Blomfield):
In terms of bike facilities at proposed Granville Neighbourhood Centre, keep in mind that we are still in a very conceptual level in our guidelines. More specific details will be hashed out at the re-zoning stage. Here are some quotes from the guidelines we are working on now:
"The approved precinct plan should maximize opportunities for bicycle parking while considering other related bicycle services. Detached development sites between bridge columns identified in the illustrative plan may be suitable to provide rental, storage or repair services for bicycles."
What this means is that there will be a lot of open, "unbuildable" space in the area that could be well used as bike parking, or perhaps some kind of temporary or open-air facilities or services. I can imagine a small CRU with a bike shop that has an opportunity to occupy some of the public realm in some way.
3) Beach Ave. will have a diverter built in the west-bound direction, forcing cars to turn right on Granville St and subsequently on to Pacific St. This is explicitly in place to deter cars from using Beach Ave. as a short-cut into the West End, and improving the route for bicycles.
[excerpt from personal communication from Hugo Blomfield to David Pritchard, Oct. 28 2005. Image at right is from same e-mail [medium quality | full quality ] ]
Beach has light traffic volumes of 5 000 to 10 000 vehicles per day [DTP p. 44]. Beach has no special designation within the road network.
Beach Avenue is acknowledged and frequently used as a scenic route for car travellers, cyclists and pedestrians. A proposed extension of the English Bay bike/pedestrian system is proposed along Beach Avenue from Stanley Park to Hornby Street to provide an off-street facility from Stanley Park (West End) to Burrard Bridge.
[DTP p. 86]
A southside community bus loop is proposed to travel along Beach [DTP p. 69].
Beach is designated as a pedestrian arterial [DTP p. 79], and also as a scenic street [DTP p. 86].
This route is a supplemental route to the busy Seaside path along English Bay and may help to relieve some of the conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists on that facility. At the eastern end it will connect to the Beach Neighbourhood, including George Wainborn and David Lam Parks. At the western end it connects to Denman Street and continues into Stanley Park. The addition of rush hour parking along sections of Beach Avenue will help to calm traffic and create a buffer between moving traffic and pedestrians.
[DTP p. 90]
No impact.
No impact.
1. Normalize the intersection of Morton Avenue at Beach Avenue
The angled geometry of this intersection creates a long and awkward crosswalk for pedestrians. Pedestrian bulges can be used to "normalize" this intersection, make the crossing narrower for pedestrians and improve conditions for all users.
[DTP p. 138]
3. Improve pedestrian and cyclist crossing of Beach Avenue at Bidwell Street
This intersection is angled such that it affects visibility. Pedestrian bulges and a cyclist push button would improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians.
[DTP p. 138]
4. Redesign the intersection of Pacific Street and Beach Avenue
The Issue: The pedestrian crossing at Beach and Pacific is uncomfortable due to cars continuing on Beach Avenue where it splits into Beach Avenue and Pacific Street. An eastbound bike route through this intersection would provide a needed connection to the Burrard Bridge.
The Approach: A closure of the one leg of Beach Avenue as shown below would both increase the open space as well as improve pedestrian crossing and bike routing options. Lost curbside parking could be replaced on Pacific as shown.
[DTP p. 139]
5. Extend the Beach Avenue Off-Street Bike Route from Bidwell St to Hornby St
The Issue: Beach Avenue is 36' wide between Granville and Jervis with parking on both sides. Bike route connections are needed coming off of Burrard Bridge and linking up with the West End. In addition, better bike access between the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and the English Bay Bikeway would be beneficial.
The Approach: An extension of the off-street Seaside Bikeway is proposed for the south side of Beach Avenue in a 2-way bike configuration terminating at Hornby Street. This would provide the opportunity to link to both the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and the Burrard Bridge as shown below.
[DTP p. 139]
6. Improve the Seaside Route for cyclists under the Burrard Bridge
The Issue: A tight and limited vision corner exists at the Southwest corner of the 1000 Beach property. This busy corner has a downhill slope coming from under the Burrard Bridge. Pedestrian and wheeled- user conflicts are common.
The Approach: An alternative bike and in-line skating route could be designed through the breeze way and up into the Burrard Bridge area, by-passing the tight corner on the waterfront walkway.
[DTP p. 140]
