Things are moving quickly on the improvements to … well, let’s call it the Southside Seaside: the connections from Burrard Bridge, its southern interchange, through to York Street and on to PGR.
alexwarrior1 pretty much captured the Burrard-York improvements as of Easter weekend:
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I love the York connector going eastbound – a lovely downhill grade over five blocks (only one stop sign that I recall), beginning at Trafalgar.
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York now connects at Chestnut to the diverter through Seaforth Peace Park (map here):
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This diverter has the same appeal as the ‘Kensington Curve,’ the bike lane on Northside Seaside, from Cardero to the seawall (map here): a gentle downhill grade that curves through a copse of trees, requiring only a slight shift in weight to negotiate. Great for kids just starting to cycle.
Thank goodness this lane is on the south side of Cornwall, beyond Kits Point. I suspect residents there would have raised the same complaint as they did in Haddon Park, that building a separated bike lane somehow violates the purpose of a park.
It’s just my take but it seems to me that Seaforth Peace Park is actually improved: the long rectangular greenspace has never been particularly popular, serving more as a setback for Burrard. The bike lane now divides it into two better proportioned halves, and introduces activity without detracting from its appearance.
But I expect that depends for some on whether you see it on two wheels or two feet.
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UPDATE: In case you miss Mark’s comment below, here’s some praise for the engineering:
Beauty little bit of infrastructure! Safe, convenient, self explanatory, minimal impact on existing traffic flow. Kudos to the engineers who drew this one up.
Beauty little bit of infrastructure! Safe, convenient, self explanatory, minimal impact on existing traffic flow. Kudos to the engineers who drew this one up.
Should look great once all the construction stuff is gone and the grass has a chance to grow.
It is amazing to me how many cyclists and pedestrians are already using this new pathway while the construction is still on-going, approaching completion. The pressure is on to finish the job, for sure. Beautiful is right, Mark, and so much more functional and safe with the designated, separate pathways for cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and park users.
I rode this path today from Cypress to the Burrard Bridge, and was impressed with the progress that has been made. The intersection at Cornwall and Burrard is so much more logical than it was previously.
Gordon and alexwarrior1, thanks for the video; cyclists who have not yet tried the new York to Burrard route get an excellent idea of its grade, fluidity, safety and location from your video-ride.
Why is Cornwall to MacDonald still open for through traffic ?
Not very bike nor pedestrian friendly ..
Cornwall doesn’t go to MacDonald, it ends at Trafalgar. Do you mean Point Grey Road? And if so, from where?
Just looking at the section from Trafalgar to MacDonald, there are pedestrian and bike infrastructure improvements that are making it much more friendly.
Thomas,
Cornwall from Burrard to Trafalgar and open Point Grey Road from Trafalgar to Macdonald Street was seriously considered as a pedestrian promenade and bike route extension from the shared local and closed Point Grey Road bike route (West of Macdonald) to Burrard, but the varied needs and uses of that stretch with commerical businesses on both sides and adjacent streets, bus stops, Henry Hudson school, Kits Beach and Kits Park, access to the Planetarium and Maritime Museum, as well as the connection to the major arterial of Burrard Street, caused the City to reject the idea of closing Cornwall or installing a designated bike lane. The City chose the next closest street, York, to continue the safe bike route. Close to Macdonald Street, between Stephens and Macdonald, where the road widens and there is Margaret Pigott Park on the North side, the City is currently in the process of installing new curbing and a pedestrian-controlled light for the enhanced safety and pedestrians and cyclists. There is single-lane provision for motorists here for enhanced speed and volume control.
Incidentally, Thomas, I am uncertain as to how popular York will prove to be with cyclists due to its hilly nature and distance from the beach. It is not a route conducive to all ages and abilities. I strongly suspect that cyclists will chose to proceed from the flat, safe bike route of closed Point Grey Road to the flat, safe pedestrian-bike paths through Kits and Hadden Parks. That would be my preference.
Exactly.
Essentially an arterial highway remains defeating the purpose of traffic calming and making it more enjoyable by bike or foot.
Car access could remain, like Point Grey Road further west, but no through traffic. A major oversight.
Thanks for pointing out where Cornwall ends and Point Grey Road starts as to me it is the same street but apparently it changes its name somewhere.
Thomas, I suspect that if York proves to be a failure, Cornwall may be looked at again, but major (and expensive) changes would be needed to widen Cornwall and reconfigure bus routes. In the meantime, Kits and Hadden Parks need separated bike lanes to accommodate the increasing bicycle traffic.
“…choose”