The Cyclist's Guideto Vancouver's Downtown Transportation Plan |
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The Cyclist's Guideto Vancouver's Downtown Transportation Plan |
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This route [Georgia/Pender/Dunsmuir] is the main east-west connection between the Lions Gate Bridge and the Adanac Bikeway (Union Street). At the westerly end, eastbound and westbound bike lanes are being provided along Georgia Street as part of its reconstruction. [...]
An eastbound bike lane could begin at Georgia Street and travel along Pender to the existing bike lanes on Pender between Cambie and Carrall. A connection could then be made via Carrall, Keefer and Columbia to connect to the Adanac Bikeway on Union Street. The implications of this bike lane include the removal of parking on the south side of Pender between Nicola and Jervis, the creation of a permanent parking lane on the south side of Pender between Jervis and Thurlow, the creation of a permanent parking/loading lane on the north side of Pender between Howe and Cambie, the relocation of westbound buses from the proposed one-way section of Pender, and the removal of some parking on Carrall, Keefer and Columbia.
A westbound bike lane could begin on Union at Main and would offer two potential routes. One is along the proposed westbound bike lane across the Dunsmuir Viaduct, along Dunsmuir and Melville streets, connecting with Pender Street at Jervis. For the majority of its length, existing parking and travel lanes would be maintained, with the exception of Dunsmuir Street between Richards and Burrard, where parking would be need to be removed because of the narrow street width. The parking removal will help to improve traffic flow and safety in this narrow section of Dunsmuir. The alternative westbound bike route is to use Columbia, Keefer, and Carrall streets to connect to the existing bike lanes on Pender Street. Westbound cyclists on Pender Street would then head southbound on Beatty to reconnect with the westbound bike lanes on Dunsmuir.
[DTP p. 98]
The city is also considering an eastbound bike lane along the full length of Georgia Street. This proposal has gone to staff for input from stakeholders and further consideration
An eastbound bike lane along the Georgia Viaduct, accomplished largely by restriping the existing traffic lane lines, is recommended in the Downtown Transportation Plan to facilitate cyclists travelling out of the downtown peninsula. Currently, only the proposed bike lanes along Beatty Street lead to the bike lanes on the Georgia Viaduct. Additional opportunities for bike lane connections to the viaduct bike lanes were explored along Georgia Street.
Georgia Street is a major arterial street in the downtown and is a part of the regional Major Road Network serving both local and regional traffic. The Downtown Transportation Plan recommends that Georgia Street between the viaduct and Burrard be added to the truck route network to provide direct access across the peninsula and to reduce truck impacts to emerging residential areas in Downtown South. Georgia Street generally consists of three traffic lanes in both the eastbound and westbound direction, with some parking on the curb lanes that is restricted during the rush hours. This configuration changes as it approaches the viaduct to match the four eastbound traffic lanes on the viaduct. Two westbound traffic lanes begin at Cambie Street.
Given the existing width of Georgia Street, it was determined that an eastbound bike lane on Georgia Street may be added if the curb lanes on both sides of the street are convertedto full-time parking lanes. Full-time parking lanes require less space than moving traffic lanes and therefore help to create the space required for the bike lane. A preliminary review suggests that it may be possible to create an eastbound bike lane, east of Homer Street. Further review is required to ensure that traffic flow on Georgia Street will not be impacted. Any new full-time on-street parking spaces created would benefit surrounding land uses, including Library Square.
[Administrative Report of Transportation and Traffic Commitee, July 8, 2003, CC #5560-1]
The main section of Georgia in the bike network (Stanley Park to Pender) has very heavy traffic volume, over 40 000 vehicles per day. Georgia is designated as a Major Road, and as an important circulation street.
No impact.
Georgia is designated a Ceremonial Street, but is not part of the major pedestrian routes / greenways.
This street has been selected as a ceremonial street because of its historical and symbolic importance to the city. It connects Stanley Park, the Hotel Vancouver, Library Square, the Art Gallery, QE Theatre and a series of plazas and forecourts. Georgia Street has historically been the street of major processions, celebratory and community events and already has an approved public realm design treatment.
[DTP p. 86]
Georgia is a major trucking route from Denman to Pender [DTP p. 105]. Tour buses, airporter buses and express buses use Georgia [DTP pp. 110-112].
No impact.
42. Normalize the intersection of Georgia and Pender Streets
The Issue: The intersection at Georgia and Pender has one of the longest pedestrian crossings in the City. Cyclists require a safe connection between the bike lanes on Georgia Street and the bike lanes on Pender Street.
The Approach: A significant public parkette that both increases green space and improves pedestrian connections could be created. Bike lanes will be incorporated into a redesigned intersection.
[DTP p. 156]
The Georgia Street route has been completed, including the section along the Stanley Park S-Curve. The size of the lanes looks good, although there are definitely some conflicts with stopping buses. There are also some street sweeping issues, mostly on the westbound lane near Denman, but these should be resolved once landscaping work next to the route is completed. The engineers have been quite creative in one section: the eastbound transition from Denman onto Pender. They haven't quite followed the diagram in the spot improvement above; instead, the cyclist route crosses Nicola, and then curves into a north-facing bike box on Nicola to allow cyclists to reach a pushbutton and cross Georgia to reach Pender. It's creative, and it looks like it should work. The only real issue is keeping cars out of the bike box, but traffic here is light enough that it's unlikely to be a real problem.
The spot improvement hasn't been done yet, and probably won't happen for quite some time; engineering had no particular plans for it when I spoke to them in June 2004. It will be quite valuable for improving the intersection for pedestrians, but won't have much impact on cyclists.
