https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bike-lanes-cleared-pedestrian-walkways-snow-vancouver
Very typical of an inept city that is so bent on pushing bike lanes above everything else. Footpaths or sidewalks & streets have to adequately be cleared as well. There always seems to a kind of upside down or backwards approach that Vancouver likes to take.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seabus-flooding-waterfront-station-december-30-2021
By now, there should have been a Seabus sailing every 5 minutes in both directions. Of course that would mean ordering more of them to be built. At the same time, the city is so stubborn about building a transit tunnel or any new bridges that are actually wide enough to have bus & HOV lanes in general..
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/534-550-cambie-street-vancouver-victory-square-tower-approved
This DH article provides a good explanation as to how extreme the building restrictions are in Vancouver. Only 22 stories, not 44 and certainly not 66 stories in Vancouver. Vancouver has always bee against tall office buildings. Never-mind a 60 or even a 50 story office tower, Vancouver still won't permit any office building to even have a 40th floor. Of course Vancouver can't stop Calgary or Seattle, so they have long since had office towers well over 40 and 50 stories for decades.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-immigration-population-growth-q3-2021
The power-structure still isn't likely to allow Canada to contain even just 1 percent of the worlds population, any time soon.
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/canada-immigration-population-growth-q3-2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgFVjCL21WI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam
Rotterdam: the City Rebuilt for Cars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ovt1EMULY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam_Metro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam_Metro#Rolling_stock
Why Many Cities Suck (but Dutch Cities Don't)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4kmDxcfR48 , https://www.youtube.com/c/NotJustBikes/videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUjaIQVjjXc
Greater_Vancouver will eventually require a proper train loop, not just the half-assed one in Burnaby.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#/media/File:Vancouver_Rail_Transit_Map.png
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Rolling_stock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Future_expansion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wehsz38P74g
Of course if someone has a few homes, they don't have to be living in them all of the time. Its just that with so much wealth & opulence in a world of growing homelessness, it seems to be an ongoing status symbol to have large empty homes.
https://dailyhive.com/seattle/seattle-second-international-airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle-Tacoma_International_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaTac/Airport_station
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle-Tacoma_International_Airport#Future
"Rainier Square Tower is a mixed-use skyscraper in the Metropolitan Tract of downtown Seattle, Washington.[4] The 850-foot (260 m) tall, 58-story tower is located at Union Street between 4th and 5th Avenues adjacent to the existing Rainier Tower; it is the second-tallest building in Seattle." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Square_Tower
"Rainier Tower is a 41-story, 156.67 m (514.0 ft) skyscraper in the Metropolitan Tract of Seattle, Washington, at 1301 Fifth Avenue." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_Tower
"Telus Sky, (also stylized as TELUS Sky) is a 59-storey, 222.3 m (729 ft)[1] mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At completion in 2019, the structure building became the third-tallest building in Calgary behind Brookfield Place East and The Bow." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telus_Sky
This building should have had 75 stories, at least 65.
https://www.constructioncanada.net/dialog-develops-system-to-build-105-storey-hybrid-timber-towers
There is a mindset that no building should ever rise above 100 stories, simply because its Canada. That's not the case in Australia, the USA & especially Asia.
https://www.dialogdesign.ca/stories/dialog-files-global-patents-for-hybrid-timber-floor-system
Australia couldn't wait for Canada to catch up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Tower
After more than 2 decades since Australia allowed its first building to have more than 90 floors, Canada will finally have its first building with over 90 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacle_One_Yonge
Of course Australia allowed its first building over 100 floors long before Canada will.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_108
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Canada
Chicago was the first city outside of NYC to allow a building to have 100 floors.
The John_Hancock_Center opened in 1969.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Chicago#Tallest_buildings
If cities can continue to have more density & be economic engines, then more of the countryside & wilderness can be left for nature. However, there seems to be some that would like most of the human population to just disappear.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-forward-to-the-end-of-humanity-11592625661 (Was this written by an A.I. program or a fascist human?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/doomsday-math-says-humanity-may-have-just-760-years-left-11561655839
https://www.wsj.com/articles/empty-planet-review-a-drop-in-numbers-11549497631
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY-XHAoVEeU
Although so much of London is near sea level, innovations such of this help to keep the city intact and running.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_Crossing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrard_Bridge
https://www.urbanyvr.com/burrard-bridge-pedestrian-cyclist-improvements
If Vancouver had just built a proper bike bridge, then the Burrard_Bridge could still have 6 lanes. The city would rather create more congestion by reducing an already narrow road network.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/keltic-canada-development-richmond-oval-redevelopment
Las_Vegas and Boston have much taller buildings that are close to their airports.
https://www.urbanyvr.com/keltic-richmond-land-sale
However, little Richmond will likely continue to have short, stumpy buildings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Vancouver#Politics_and_government
Vancouver & Richmond could easily have Boston & LV size buildings close to YVR, but the small town BC mentality keeps getting in the way.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/trump-tower-vancouver-paradox-hotel
A new name for the 2nd tallest building in the city.
https://www.urbanyvr.com/new-hotel-trump-tower-vancouver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Hotel_and_Tower_(Vancouver)
The current tallest is the Living_Shangri-La tower. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Shangri-La
This is the potential new tallest building in Vancouver.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hudsons-bay-parkade-vancouver-holborn-group
https://www.urbanyvr.com/bay-parkade-redevelopment-concepts/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver#Tallest_buildings
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/12/115481-austins-tallest-tower-rising-quickly
Not just tall by Austin standards, but it would be among the tallest buildings in Houston & Dallas.
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/12/115487-san-diego-trolley-extension-launch-rousing-success
Unfortunately, Vancouver, BC was one of the first cities to get rid of its streetcars or trams. Then, never followed up with a comprehensive road network. That doesn't mean to put freeways everywhere, but a good set of major streets & highways, with a provision for the return of trams.
Obviously, SD was able to do what Vancouver didn't. SD just wasn't a dense enough region to have something like BART or an LA Subway. Instead, SD allowed for the rebirth of its streetcars, in the form of a modern tram train or as its officially called, the SD trolley.
In contrast, stubborn Vancouver seems to be set to be one of the last cities to allow for the return of trams. Fortunately, Melbourne, Toronto, Boston & SF..., never totally got rid of theirs like Vancouver did.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-approved-2022-budget-property-tax-hike-635
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-council-votes-to-approve-climate-tax
As Vancouver continues to get even more expensive, you will still get more for your money if you live in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary & Edmonton...
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-climate-emergency-action-plan-approved
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-fully-reopens-highway-1-between-abbotsford-and-hope-1.5697980
BC has already been far behind constructing the level of infrastructure that's common in Quebec, Ontario & Alberta.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/money-bc-cost-catastrophic-flood-damage
So even after eventually recovering from all the flood damage, BC will still be lagging.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-secured-rental-policy-srp-housing-affordability
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/seattle-vancouver-rental-housing
https://landlordbc.ca/rental-housing-where-seattle-thrives-vancouver-stumbles/
https://www.sightline.org/2017/08/14/why-seattle-builds-apartments-but-vancouver-bc-builds-condos/
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-add-100-km-new-bike-lanes
Unlike Vancouver, Toronto and most other real cities wont have to remove key traffic lanes. Indeed, unlike the Vancouver approach, most cities are able to construct bike lanes & bike bridges without having to reduce lanes for traffic. Of course in some cases its inevitable, but the Vancouver approach seems to be about creating more congestion. Just like having the first 2 Skytrain lines with only 80m stations, when the the Montreal Metro has 152m long stations. The 3rd line that goes to Richmond & the airport, only has a provision for 50m stations. Its another fine example of how Greater Vancouver refuses to properly plan for higher future capacity.
The later half of the 20th century put an emphasis on personal cars, highways & freeways. Even the widest expressways will eventually get clogged up at times. So unless there is a comprehensive system of human powered vehicles, electric bikes as well as cars & buses & especially trams & trains, its gridlock.
Some see a future without any need or reason to have a personal motorized vehicle (PMV). However, that seems to be an extreme approach. A PMV just might not be as necessary with more affordable rental vehicles available.
https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/115457-book-review-autonorama
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-ranking-58-out-of-100
That's the problem with the backwater BC mentality. Why have Skytrain stations longer than the underground Edmonton LRT stations or even at the same length as the Toronto subway stations? Vancouver really should have allowed a provision to have 500 foot or 152.5m stations like the Montreal Metro has. Vancouver opted to have narrow bridges so that it's almost impossible to have proper bus & HOV lanes.
Fortunately, Vancouver, BC wasn't able to stop Seattle & Portland, Calgary & Edmonton from having a zoo within their city limits. Of course Vancouver made sure that it never had a proper big city zoo within its city limits like equally small Boston & San_Francisco did. Boston, SF & Vancouver are all less than 50 sq.mi. or 130 sq.km in area. Yet, those cities were allowed to do so much more than Vancouver.
The lack of proper big city museums & art galleries fits right in with the small city mentality of Vancouver.
Its as if there has been a multi-generational mentality to keep Vancouver small & backward since its early years.
"The first viaduct was completed in 1915, extending what was then called Harris St over the CPR Beatty St yards to connect to Georgia St. At that time, Harris St was renamed East Georgia, and the viaduct called the Hart McHarg bridge, but it was more commonly called the Georgia Harris Viaduct. It was poorly built and plagued by difficulties from the beginning; It was not uncommon to see sagging sections, timber propping it up, and concrete falling to the ground below. In anticipation of the viaduct and the planned streetcar providing easy access to the city centre, apartments began popping up in the area in the preceding years, including the heritage building called the Jackson Apartments at 660 Jackson St/501 E Georgia. Although a track was laid for the Georgia Streetcar to offer service across the viaduct, there were immediate concerns about its ability to hold the weight, and the plan was abandoned." https://www.placesthatmatter.ca/location/georgia-st-viaduct (A fine example of inept Vancouver planning & development. So many other cities were actually able to build a bridge for streetcars or trams, as well as cars & trucks.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/this-week-in-history-the-great-georgia-harris-viaduct-opens-in-1915 (Why properly build infrastructure for long-range durability & future capacity?)
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/before-demolition-of-old-georgia-viaduct-30-9-70-4 If done properly, the original viaduct should have been built to be strong enough to have 6 lanes with 2 streetcar tracks & bike lanes. Then a lower deck provision for another rapid transit line with bike lanes. Fortunately, Vancouver wasn't able to stop other cities from getting rid of their streetcars or prevent the rebirth of tram trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Viaduct#Demolition Some people believed that with proper strengthening & maintenance, they could have remained for several more decades. Perhaps even past 2070.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/06/27/Vancouver-Inner-City-Slum-Clearance-Repair (While the cancellation of a freeway through East Vancouver was a good idea in the 1960s, since the 1970s viaducts were built, they should remain for several more decades.)
To allow Vancouver to have the infrastructure of Montreal or Seattle would mean to fully accept becoming a major metropolitan area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Bridge_(Montreal,_2019-present) An 8 lane bride with a provision for a rapid transit train. https://dailyhive.com/montreal/montreal-light-rail-train-rem-video
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_90_floating_bridges Seattle has this as an 8 lane crossing with an LRT line as well. Unfortunately, such big city infrastructure just isn't allowed by the small city mentality of Vancouver.
If Vancouver, BC was allowed to become a major global city like Sydney, Australia or SF, California, the local power-structure would have to give up on its stunting agenda.
A national power-structure has made sure that Canada has yet to even contain 0.005% of the worlds population. It just so happens that most of the world is non-white, but as long as Canada doesn't officially have a, KEEP THEM OUT agenda, the worlds 2nd largest nation won't even have 40 million people, when the world reaches 8 billion.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-snow-plan
Getting ready for the return of crappy cold weather.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alex-fraser-port-mann-bridge-cable-collar-ice-bombs
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/via-rolling-out-brand-new-trains-for-windsor-quebec-city-route-photos
Of course no one in W.Can. seems to be seriously planing for a semi-high-speed passenger train loop that would go from Vancouver, BC to Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Prince George & back down to Vancouver.
Then a prairie express train from Calgary to Winnipeg, with a few stops in between. Then a Toronto to Winnipeg express. It all just seems like pipe dreams, for now.
At least there is some initial high-speed train planning from Portland to Seattle & to Vancouver, BC.
After all these decades, planners are only now realizing that BC is notorious for heavy rain at times.
Its not that the Trans-Canada_Highway in SW BC had to be all elevated through the Fraser_Valley_Regional_District. but it should have been on built up land.
https://globalnews.ca/news/8417722/abbotsford-bc-flooding-latest-evacuations/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1#Lower_Mainland_section
"The Interior section of Highway 1 is considered sub-standard when compared to other highways with similar traffic volume in the U.S. or other parts of Canada." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1#Future
However, the inept highway has met the sub-standard requirements of BC for several decades.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1_between_Hope_and_Yale Just having the paved over equivalent of 2 wagon-roads was challenging enough for BC to attain.
Its difficult for BC to achieve a quality similar to that of Alberta, Ontario or Quebec...
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/aerial-look-jackass-mountain-highway-1-closure
The mountains in Switzerland don't prevent good highways from being built.
There should be Brentwood_Town_Centre or Coquitlam-size buildings around there, given the high land costs in Vancouver.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/396-southwest-marine-drive-vancouver
In Las_Vegas & Rio_de_Janeiro, they allow tall buildings much closer to the airport, simply because they aren't under Vancouver & Richmond type zoning and building restrictions.
Look at how close the 40, 50 and 60 story buildings are to the McCarran_International_Airport_(Las_Vegas).
Its striking to see such high-rise development so close to the airport. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Las_Vegas_strip_panorama_1.jpg
Of course Rio_de_Janeiro has never used its scenic setting to hold back the scale of the city to the extent that Vancouver has.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont_Airport#/media/File:Santos_Dumont_city_airport.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont_Airport#/media/File:Santos_Dumont_by_Diego_Baravelli.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacarepagu%C3%A1_Airport#/media/File:Aeroporto_de_Jacarepagu%C3%A1.jpg
Quebec_City could some day become a big city like Montreal.
Of course people should be fairly treated in an y place.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-city-police-officers-suspended-1.6268340
https://www.britannica.com/topic/police/The-development-of-police-in-Canada
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/11/115410-once-san-franciscos-grandest-boulevard-van-ness-almost-done-another-makeover (Certainly, there is a benefit to try to get more transportation efficiency out of a wide street.)
I have always been fascinated with wide streets. Wide streets have been around long before the motorways & freeways.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/renfrew-rupert-station-skytrain-area-plan
High-rise density makes sense around transit stations.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/victoria-bc-cruise-ship-season-2022
For some reason Victoria & BC in general, never seemed to build up its tourism industry as much as it could have in the good old days.
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/350-cruise-trips-expected-to-return-to-victoria-in-2022-1.5687427
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-butterfly-first-baptist-church-restoration-revery-architecture
https://www.urbanyvr.com/first-baptist-church-renovation
https://www.urbanyvr.com/butterfly-westbank-first-baptist
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1059-1075-nelson-street-vancouver-tower-rezoning-approved
Although these 2 towers will be tall by Vancouver standards they will still be shorter than the Marina_City towers in Chicago.
Why does that matter? Its just that what is considered big in Vancouver is usually small in other cities.
#/media/File:Vancouver_Rail_Transit_Map.png){kind=link}
#/media/File:Vancouver_SkyTrain_track_diagram_v3.svg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
,_Allegiant_Air_AN1531779.jpg){kind=link}
