Davie Street Project

Anyone who drives through the West End knows how frustrating traffic has become. Between congestion on Robson, Davie, and Denman, finding parking, and trying to get in and out of the neighbourhood, getting around is already difficult enough.

Now the City is moving ahead with its Davie Village: Space for People project, which will widen sidewalks, remove some street parking, and change bus stop locations. I’m opposed to this plan because I’m concerned it will make an already congested neighbourhood even harder to navigate.

The City says the existing through-traffic lanes will remain, but that doesn’t mean the changes won’t affect traffic. With fewer places to park or pull over, where will delivery vehicles, taxis, and people picking up passengers go? Will drivers end up circling the neighbourhood looking for parking, or will more vehicles end up blocking traffic while loading and unloading?

I’m also concerned about the decision to remove bus stops. The City says fewer stops will make buses faster, but what about seniors and people with mobility challenges who depend on those stops? A shorter bus trip doesn’t help much if someone has to walk farther just to catch it.

The City held public consultations, but consultation needs to mean more than collecting survey responses. Residents raised concerns about parking and transit access, particularly older residents who opposed removing bus stops. Those concerns deserve more attention before permanent changes are made.

For years, we’ve seen changes to Vancouver’s streets that have made driving and parking increasingly difficult. We’ve already experienced changes along Robson, and I don’t want to see Davie become another source of frustration for West End residents.

I believe City Hall should be focused on helping people move around Vancouver efficiently, whether they’re driving, taking transit, or walking. We can improve public spaces without making everyday travel more difficult. That’s why I oppose the current Davie Village redesign.