About 60 per cent of trips in Vancouver are now made by car. By 2040, the city wants that to be 40 per cent. In spite of the never-ending debates about cycling, cycling represents the smallest portion of the various modes of locomotion that exist now and that will exist even in the foreseeable future. [...]

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For those who care about such things, in the agenda for tomorrow’s Metro Vancouver intergovernmental committee meeting: That the Board authorize the Chair to appoint Metro Vancouver Directors to participate in the following 2012 international conferences in accordance with the approved 2012 budget and current travel policy: · ICLEI/Metropolis Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference Melbourne, Australia, November [...]

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For at least the last year, every time I call up a commercial broker to talk about office leasing, I’ve been hearing the same story — tenants want buildings on transit. It’s been anecdotal until now, but one company decided to do a more thorough analysis about those preferences and found that it’s more than [...]

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Andrea Reimer’s been having a rough go healthwise. She was off for several weeks earlier this year with an infection, but seemed to be back and her usual energetic, tweeting self. Now she’s out again for several more weeks, I see from this Mike Magee note circulating around city hall. As word will get out [...]

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Rowhouses are a feature of most European and eastern North American cities. But they’re oddly missing in Vancouver — Vancouver, the city, that is. As it turned out when I started doing the research for this story, there are lots of rowhouses — or a facsimile of them — being built in many of the [...]

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The first open house for the viaducts (4-7 Tuesday in the Woodward’s atrium) was packed. Another one today and then Saturday. Here’s what the proponents are saying that taking down the viaducts will do: create one great street instead of two half-used semi-highways, improve the park space, bring a grand ceremonial street (Georgia) down to [...]

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In case you missed it elsewhere, the report that recommends keeping the current separated lanes downtown. No surprise. I couldn’t imagine anyone ripping out bike lanes anywhere without being branded a Rob Ford-loving troglodyte. The power of momentum. Plus, in spite of complaints from all and sundry that the lanes are frequently “empty,” they are [...]

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They cost $20,000 to $45,000 apiece. They’re built on some of the most valuable real estate in the continent. What are they? Parking stalls, of course, which a Metro Vancouver study examined in depth. (And I wrote about here.) Some of my acquaintances have mocked me for writing what they claim is the most boring [...]

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City Plumber was out of commission for a few months, for personal reasons that I think many of you reading this blog are aware of. But the Plumber is back and panting to answer questions! The latest Q and A has just been posted. I’ve answered a few other questions the last several weeks either [...]

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Others may waste their time raising children, tending gardens, or hiking the Coast Mountains, but for true urban wonks, there’s nothing more satisfying than seminars, open houses, and lectures about urban issues. A treasure trove this week. June 5, 7 and 9: Open houses to look at the Vancouver city staff recommendations on removing the [...]

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