From Michael Alexander:
I got off the SkyTrain at Rupert Street to pick up a few things at the Great Canadian Superstore. Okay, I know it’s a big-box operation, but they do many things the way I like them — like encouraging customers to bring their own bags and being more environmentally responsible than most when they source many of their house products. In other words, Better, but not Great, despite their name.
So here’s the way they greet their walk-in customers. You can tell by the depth of the desire path that I have not been the only one.
There actually is a path with benches just after Rupert crosses the railroad tracks. Just doesn’t cover folks walking up from Grandview.
Correct, yvr.
Michael, why didn’t you use the direct path and footbridge in the northeast corner nearer the SkyTrain Station? Crosses the creek, etc.
Nonetheless, while it may or may not be a metaphor but it is certainly a relic of Motordom dating back to the 1980s. Someday this too shall pass, like all other vast surface parking lots in urban areas.
Along Grandview hwy they have a pedestrian entrance as well. It’s right along the face of the building. Let’s also remember this was not a new build it’s a repurposing of an old wire/cable factory. If anything this project is a template for other big boxes to use.
Have to agree with the other commenters, having visited the Superstore from Rupert Station, I’ve always been impressed with the accommodation for pedestrians.
Agree with above comments (we could add that Superstore also provides well located bike rack, something not all stores bother to do ), and I also eventually think that pedestrians could be better off if their advocates were choosing better target:
An example here:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2413419,-123.108806,307a,35y,39.43t/data=!3m1!1e3
It is the Hillcrest community center, much more accessible by car than by feet/transit…
Such design (build in the middle of the park and then surround it by parking lot) has occured in 2010 not in 1960…and that should be a serious concern for everyone.
Since it is the CIty of Vancouver which has built this, it is even more concerning: it is speaking volume of how backward we are, when it is time to “walk the talk”.
Why should we hold Superstore to a greater standard?
The bike rack may be well located, but it’s not a great one.
And Hillcrest is hardly surrounded by a parking lot. It works well in its location and it is very accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. I’ve never accessed it any other way. Not every building has to be built for Boulevard Sebastopol to be an urban building. Some variation is allowed, even with bucolic overtones.