Transforming the Granville St. Bridge

[@overthecounterbeanie]

"I'm not putting much work into it." - Literally better researched and higher production than most news stories.

[@Wiwiwab]

If this is your standard for a video with "not much work put into it", you deserve way more views than you have. Informative, thanks.

[@bryanleon1584]

i agree,

[@AboutHere]

Aw shucks thank you! It was basically just a day of filming and a day of editing so I thought it might show in the quality of the video. But also, I'm a bit self-conscious haha.

[@neom123]

Great videos. Well research and presented. Hope there’s going to be more in the future.

[@Johnnysixpac]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@bike105bike]

@@AboutHere Yes your whole series is candy and I recommend it to all my friends. Sorry I don't have many friends. Your development of context is your forte.

[@kdids]

That greenway is actually a smart idea.. especially the elevator, holy smokes that's genius. If you're worried about less lanes then get rid of the sidewalks on the sides. They would be redundant at this point. Problem solved. This channel is so good. I really like the topics and the style the videos are presented. Great Job!

[@SuperGreyWardens]

It would also stop people from jumping off the bridge, though jumping into the water is rarely fatal on the Granville bridge, sometimes people jump onto the island. Totally for this greenway and I don’t even live in Van. I’m in Kelowna

[@eugenetswong]

It would be so noisy. I wouldn't enjoy being there...I think.

[@GoalGuys]

This is such an awesome video! I always feel like I’m one ankle roll away from falling into traffic when I run on the Granville bridge.

[@AboutHere]

Thank you :D. And frig yea I can relate now haha

[@AmokCanuck]

Dude you're from Vancouver?! Love your videos they're super inspiring.

[@GoalGuys]

That one Canuck yessir! Appreciate that mate.

[@joshuataylor3550]

@@AboutHere I literally can't believe this exists in one of the premier cities of a developed country in the 21st Century. It's utterly negligent.

[@glalhh]

@@AboutHereyou need to look up old London Bridge

[@agntdrake]

I too also love the idea of creating a "space" on Granville Bridge, however, I'm not convinced putting it down the center is the right place. Why would you want to walk on the center with views of cars whizzing by you on both sides when you could be on either edge with a view of Burrard Inlet or a view of False Creek?

[@thomasr1051]

I love this idea

[@tintin_999]

If you put bike lanes/pavements down the sides of the bridge, you'd still need to put a tent over the car lanes in the middle to contain the noise.

[@lesliehubernyc]

Architect here, moving to Vancouver soon. My idea: elevate a new mezzanine structure for the greenway on either side, with the view of the cars underneath it, parts of it cantilevering over the sides of the bridge. This way no lanes have to be taken away, problem solved. It just becomes a bigger structural challenge and more expensive 😏 I need to sketch it out! I’m going to have an interesting commute going over the Granville bridge living in West End or Yaletown to an office just under the bridge on the other side of Granville island at West 3rd. Walking right over would be so much better if this greenway was built, connecting both sides of false creek to pedestrians.

[@agntdrake]

​@@lesliehubernyc The Granville Bridge is kinda different than other pieces of infrastructure in other cities in North America. It's an 8 lane bridge built the 1950s for a freeway that never got built because people realized running a freeway through your city was a terrible idea. The result is it's mostly empty and cars drive way too fast. It's over capacity by at least 3-4 lanes.

[@valho9]

This reaction is SO Vancouver. It's such a car culture in Van. Having grown up in Vancouver but lived in NYC for the last 18 years, my observation is that so many people in Vancouver don't understand how valuable walkability is to community and quality of life (unless they already live downtown, or off of commercial or main st). Most Vancouverites grow up with cars and single family housing so it's just what we know, and therefore can't envision anything different. In NYC, I only commute by bike and subway. Most things I need are within a 1-2 block radius or on the way home. When I come home to Van, I hate being so car dependent....but there are few convenient alternatives. The city design practically deters walking...and the resident have also bought into this mentality, as evidenced by the knee-jerk reaction to this plan over Granville bridge. And that is what i mean by "so Vancouver".

[@spiriten]

How car-dependent is Vancouver? I guess this just makes me realize how extreme my city's car dependency is. Nothing like this could even be proposed here and I guarantee that bridge would be backed up at all times of day despite us having only 1 million people.

[@Qwijebo]

Clearly you don't understand that Vancouver isn't New York nor is it some hippie haven for sandal wearers with man-buns and vegan cyclists, it's Canada's western most commerce center with business centers, some shitty tourist traps and of course high rise condos for people with BMW's and who do not walk. The Vancouver core is a tightly-controlled nexus with very few entry and exit points. Stupid ideas will result in stupid problems.

[@TD-gc5tq]

Uytae: Google maps, how do I cross the Granville bridge. Google maps: Yeah… just don’t.

[@Wpdhsx]

There’s construction going on the bridge right now. 4 out of the 8 lanes are closed right now and traffic isn’t an issue. (I’m a bus driver) lol

[@johnnyboyvan]

Hey man, I just discovered you this week in 2022 and love your journalism and sense of humor. You remind me of one of my grade 12s. Well done. You are a star 🌟.

[@arrbos]

I hope they add some kind of awning structure, so that we can cross easily in the rain. Drivers would get pretty resentful if they saw it empty in the winter, and that could backfire.

[@I.____.....__...__]

Drivers need to stfu. I'm sick and tired of drivers constantly whining and whining about _any_ attempt that cities try to make to improve things for pedestrians or cyclists and blabbing out their fat mouths about it being useless as if their fat rears have ever walked or biked in their lives. 🙄 North American drivers have gotten incredibly spoiled from decades of being catered to by the auto-industry's bribery and terra-forming. 😠

[@uchidaoginome]

I saw you appear in a City Beautiful video on Vancouverism and just started watching your channel. I work in hotels and I've read so many great things about Vancouver over the past couple years that I've been trying to convince the wife and kids that I should search for a management job there so we can pack up everything, including the kids, and just go! But, wait! Your videos have brought me back down to Earth. It isn't that Vancouver isn't great but most of the previous info I'd read didn't talk about the wealth disparity, the displacement of some older communities and the contention that causes in your city council. No one's getting rich, or even too comfortable, assistant managing the front office if a hotel, believe me! So it's not like I'd be living so high on the hog that I could just money my way through any unforeseen problems. I still want to visit and it's high on my "move to" list but it's better to know the good and the bad about a place than to not know, so thanks!

[@TheNewTravel]

Always enjoy your videos. I hope the bridge redesign goes through

[@AboutHere]

Thanks so much!

[@danielborbe4613]

Found your channel through City Beautiful! You're repping Vancouver well. Great content, quality and research. Opinion pieces like this are great, keep it up!

[@rosskgilmour]

It’s 2023 and this project is finally going to get underway.

[@bradcomis1066]

Casually opens a tub of Hagen-Daaz mid sentence. Hahaha. Subbed!!

[@straitgate]

I've always wondered why there are no staircases down from the Granville and Burrard Bridges the way Cambie has one on its south side. It makes sense for the Burrard Br. since I'm sure there is already a staircase built in to the structure that simply needs to be opened up (and perhaps renovated). And it would make it so much easier for pedestrians to reach the sea wall on the south side (and north side for that matter) of Burrard Bridge. But it makes even more sense for the Granville Bridge since it would give pedestrians easy access to Granville Island, if the stairs came down there. Granted there might be some casualties with the boat taxis in False Creek but...I think overall the positives for the city would far outweigh the negatives.

[@jgcaba3173]

I love this Op Ed format! It's more personal and we really get to see your quirky personality show through compared to your more journalistic/informative videos Also if you do plan on doing more Op Ed styles, the slightly dangerous hosting location + ice cream make amazing combinations

[@deang7035]

Well done, bud. I thought this was a terrible idea at first sniff, but my opinion has changed based on well-presented arguments such as this.

[@AboutHere]

Well shucks thank you, I definitely have my own opinions about these kinds of issues but the best I can hope for is to help folks make an informed decision for themselves :)

[@mnjohnst]

This walkway over Granville bridge would be an excellent way to connect Granville Island with downtown. I've been asked by tourists about getting to Granville Island and I've directed them over the Granville bridge but immediately felt bad because its sketchy and you still need to do some funny jogs to get to the island. Great video!

[@ketch_up]

Great video! I'm here thanks to the reference from City beautiful. I hope you keep creating more Vancouver specific content!

[@MotiveCap]

You have some good insight into urban design, and Vancouver is one of my favourite cities. Thanks for the upload.

[@diegoubierna1524]

I'm from Spain, I've never been in Vancouver but I'm amazed by how good your videos are. Great job, please keep uploading.

[@downtofun]

I love this video - I'm re-watching it rn as I fill out a City of Vancouver survey about feedback on the current proposal. Thanks for making this relatively easy to digest and follow and for making a great resource when thinking through my own opinions on the Granville Bridge upgrades. About Here is the best!

[@AboutHere]

Your comment made my day Jeremy! Always humbled to hear that a video I made helped someone else form their own opinions and participate in these sort of matters.

[@glalhh]

@@AboutHereold London Bridge

[@vinmin]

I really appreciate the work you're doing! We need more Canadian youtubers discussing urban issues

[@uchidaoginome]

Thanks for the "heart". Also I bike to work. Been cycling since high school. I'm from NYC where we've created lots of new bike lanes over the last 15 years and any place I go has to be bike friendly. Toronto is definitely one of those places.

[@rickdabear2011]

A big wave from Atlanta...Love your channel

[@skraddle]

Awesome. You're standard for "not much work" is quite high. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@dandaan]

Saw this vid 3 years ago. Now this project is actually going somewhere !

[@MickLoud999]

I used to live next to Granville Island. My condo was like 100 yards from the Hemlock on ramp. It's a crazy ride that swerves to the right at the last minute right where that unmarked crosswalk is. I walked across that bridge but never dared to use that crosswalk. That's a death trap for sure. Anyways some evenings I would hear screeching so I would go sit on my balcony and watch the fun ensue. There would be an accident in the area of that cross walk as idiots would race one another down Hemlock onto that ramp. The real fun is watching people realize they have to stop suddenly or else join the pileup! Never forgot the popcorn!!! The only thing the city did in the last 25 years is put traffic signals at Hemlock and 6th Avenue. Imagine there was zero traffic control there for decades?!?!?!?!

[@finnmeiklejohn7012]

This is exactly what our city needs - more urban spaces for activity and enjoyment similar to those in other larger metropolitan areas.

[@barvdw]

Not sure it would work, though, it's not very enjoyable to sit in the midst of traffic whizzing by, on both sides no less. I'm not familiar with the place, but would probably prefer such a zone to one side, so you can enjoy the views better without them being obstructed by traffic, or even hanging under the bridge, like the Pont Adolphe in Luxemburg city (just look it up, it's pretty spectacular).

[@sandorski56]

@@barvdw Especially ICE powered cars would make it unpleasant. However, in the coming decades that will no longer be an issue.

[@barvdw]

@@sandorski56 it wouldn't change the traffic, though. Noise level is only slightly less, even if you're no longer in fumes.

[@Habib_Osman]

If huffing vehicular waste is something you really enjoy, it does sound like an excellent idea. Very true.

[@Habib_Osman]

Please leave minors out of it though, truly stupid decisions should be exclusive to those of mature age.

[@ChourPower]

You deserve more views with the amount of work you put in. Great video, keep it up!

[@0TheMovieMonkey0]

I love this idea. One example it reminds me of which you didn't touch on is the High Line walkway in New York which is build on an old train line. It has similar public seating and gardens as well as spaces for vendors etc.. Only difference being no cars adjacent to the walkway which could be an issue for Vancouver's plan, but we should make the most with what we've got!

[@AboutHere]

You're right, great example! Thanks for mentioning it :).

[@ThePaas]

I didn't realize you did a few videos on CBC Vancouver : About Here. I just randomly came upon them today. Great job! Love your videos!

[@Scottieguru]

Looks promising for a green space strip down the middle. Good on Vancouver if they get it done. More beauty to a great city.

[@supamaxy]

Thanks a lot for making this video. I'm happy to learn about the plans to change Granville Bridge, as well as that I'm not the only one who is feeling uncomfortable when walking on that bridge. I'd love to see it becoming more human-friendly. I can recall only two bridges that have great social space: Rialto in Venice, and Galata in Istanbul. However, those two have been built with people in mind in the first place.

[@supamaxy]

Just recalled another one - Ponte Vecchio in Florence, however, it's pedestrians only, the same as Rialto. Probably Galata is the only bridge where cars and people can coexist comfortably for both.

[@alexandrek97]

I always thought a pedestrian and cycling path in the middle of Granville bridge was needed. I hope it will bring more life to Granville street as well. Lets hope car drivers understand that those lanes are useless but I really doubt it

[@cpF01]

Looks like a great plan! In general, people don't like change and will initially push back. But that doesn't mean it's a bad idea.

[@DemPilafian]

Kudos to the creator for standing on the dangerous side of the walkway so that pedestrians and cyclists can pass on the safe side. It's refreshing to see someone put the safety of others before their own. 👍

[@sirhxgh4721]

The new building looks great

[@mattfromyvr]

Great work on this! I really like this new project. Looking forward to more videos.

[@DamienMalakay]

i really like this guy and his team, they touch subjects that are very important to our city. On this topic I WELCOME all these new bike lanes . All the not so smart commuters who drive into downtown I leave you with this: A DEVELOPED CITY IS NOT ONE WHERE EVEN THE LESS FORTUNATE CAN AFFORD TO BUY A CAR TO DRIVE INTO WORK, A DEVELOPED CITY IS ONE WHERE EVEN THE WEALTHY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

[@slam5]

the idea of elevator to granville island is brilliant!

[@colinwatt00]

The first time I visited Vancouver I stayed downtown and thought I’d walk to Granville Island as a fun day trip. That bridge was terrifying. I took a boat back.

[@ktowniecity7269]

Anyone that has walked on the Brooklyn Bridge, would want this in Vancouver! Nothing like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge

[@vroomkeys]

Stumbled across your channel, very cool stuff. Good niche

[@vancouversworstdrivers]

Great video!

[@katiebedford9143]

I love these About Here videos. Please keep 'em coming

[@rivershannon5054]

Love the idea of a greenway. Hate the idea of elevators. You gotta work to go to Granville Island! It's a journey!

[@heleenmollema2973]

Nice video! I think you also show how in many cities only cars are considered traffic and not cyclists and pedestrians. By giving the last two groups more space on the bridge you actually increase traffic capacity through a shift to different modes.

[@fallenshallrise]

It's so obvious that a bunch of people walking or cycling or on a trolly or bus are therefore not in their car and are not more cars clogging up the lanes devoted to cars and taking up all the parking spots downtown. Why can't some people do simple math? If you love driving you should love more transit, more trains, more bike lanes, more people biking and walking, less cars on the road.

[@trent6319]

That bridge is terrifying good luck on improving it.

[@kentokyo]

Please make a video about traffic on Lion Gate bridge, Kingsway and road to the border.

[@AboutHere]

Ohhh I'll think about it! I've been thinking about making one about mobility pricing for a while now which would propose tolls on the bridges as a solution to traffic. It's a super contentious issue and I'd love to try making a balanced piece on it.

[@JunSian1001]

@@AboutHere I do not think a "balanced piece" is very important and doing that can take too much time. I think most of your audiences only want to know about your opinions and at the same time learn some new perspectives.

[@AFWoodFloors]

Well made video my man! And I had a knee jerk reaction but youve changed my mind. Id like to buy you a beer to thank you.

[@beerenmusli8220]

I love this channel.

[@davemason1079]

this is a solid addition to the conversation about sustainability and livability in the city. Bravo sir. Seriously, if this is a "no effort video" ima subscribe.

[@theoneswhosucceed]

I honestly don't think your intro about "not putting much work into" the video was necessary. This was super high quality, great work!

[@xaiano794]

0:55 - that is a nice building behind you. Kudos to the architect.

[@Landyachtz]

1:16 that looks like a lot of fun 😏

[@stealther1401]

fancy seeing you here

[@chrisgravel7157]

Hats off this was an excellent video and much need rational input on the discussion around what to do with this bridge.

[@QiChu223]

That pedestrian crossing without light is just crazy

[@albert275]

Thank you so much for these videos! I want to know how I can help deliver more of these to the city.

[@faba6292]

Love the idea of making the bridge more people friendly! Though I wouldn't particularly hangout in the middle of the bridge for a more than I should, not a fan of breathing car exhaust.

[@TheMrPits]

Dammit Vancouver I love you. You can still have mostly civil dialogues about how to make a city work. Down in the states we look at you with envy and wish we had your problems.

[@khoichau8316]

You've changed my mind. I was initially against this idea due to concerns about traffic flow being negatively impacted, AND, due to seeing how so many bike lanes in Vancouver have been executed poorly. But the point, and proof, about how it is physically not possible for the Granville Street Bridge to come close to meeting capacity sold me. Let's make this happen!

[@Qwijebo]

You seem to forget that it rains 6 months out of the year and no one in their right mind is going to forgo a nice comfy ride in a warm dry car to slosh it out competing with the other bikes out there based on some hippie ideal of a ridiculous utopian agenda. People love their cars, especially in the rain.

[@Rodrigob94]

Your channel is amazing. I'm definetely subscribing. Keep up the good work!

[@jonathangleed2374]

Love your videos man! More please! And more often PLEASE!

[@Xondar11223344]

I hope the pedestrian/bike path with the elevator and everything gets built on the Granville Street Bridge.

[@bryanleon1584]

Saw this on reddit, really enjoyed this video... :)

[@MrClintM]

This video and types like this are great. It's been a few years since I've been to Vancovuer, and possibly this has already been implemented. However, I want to share my two-cents. I used to walk across this bridge, myself and didn't like that particular crossing--so, I can relate. It was tough to see on-coming traffic around the bend in that section. Yet, the problem with pedestrians walking in the middle is that they won't be able to enjoy looking over the bridge on either side. From the top view it looks good in the scetches, but in reality, you are basically surrounded by traffic. So, I'm not sure I would have that as a "destination" or expect to use it for getting an icecream, etc. It likely is the only logical way to construct this for the safety of pedestrians, of course. The forward scenery towards the downtown might look cool, though. Ultimately, I would simply use it as a faster way to cross to the other side.

[@envoy3]

Those crosswalks are horrendeously designed. Takes a half dozen cars before everyone even stops. Really hope they go through with the redesign, all of your points are incredibly valid.

[@jcrockett001]

In Indianapolis, IN, certain roads that cross Interstate 465 contain sidewalks in the median section of the bridges at the same level as traffic instead of on the sides. It’s the first of its kind in Indiana. But this is on a smaller scale than what Vancouver is proposing.

[@threemad]

cool

[@jasonlau8049]

Didn't expect to see you here lol, forgot that you live in Vancouver too

[@paularchidesign]

I like to walk on the Granville Bridge because I can look down directly to the shores and I have an elevated view on the bay which would not be the case with a central pedestrian/bike lane where I would be able to admire only the passing cars and trucks both sides and just see a thin line of the the horizon plus I would have to endure the passing traffic noises in stereo... One idea would be building an elevated pedestrian / bike lane on a steel structure in one side of the bridge. Both car owners and pedestrians will be happy with it (no car lane removal + pedestrians are less disturbed by the vehicle traffic). Or just building a steel extension to the existing pedestrian sidewalk outwards on the Downtown bound-side of the bridge. This later design would be relatively cheap and the traffic could be maintained as usual during the construction.

[@thim0]

Great journalistic work!

[@birchtree5884]

My knee-jerk reaction was to the design, because I think a median multi-use pathway looks odd. Otherwise, very good idea to upgrade the pedestrian situation on the bridge.

[@shivb5279]

Fantastic work!

[@18thVariation]

Great video (and excellent timing... haha). Thanks for letting us know about the redesign proposal and the survey! :D

[@AboutHere]

Well frig, that's really nice of you to say. Thank YOU!

[@glalhh]

Old London Bridge

[@autokss]

Because melted ice cream is the best. Also your videos are underrated. Post more regularly!

[@kevingregory-evans2904]

You are right, Granville Bridge is never busy because it's part of a highway through the city that never got completed. It needs to change to something that is wanted.

[@ThePetrockers]

Awesome! Totally support this project for all the reasons you summarized. My only question for the city: When can we have some shovels in the ground?

[@diegocasillas2979]

Bro we need more informative videos of vancouver. We love your content ❤

[@hammertimee777]

I lived in one of the buildings downtown by the water and the Granville bridge. I always take the Granville bridge when i go anywhere because it is never congested. Though, I also do take running routes on Granville Bridge and it is not that scary. These videos are awesome. I really like them!!! If you ever read this, I hope you make a video about a topic I have always been wondering about. When they do remove the two viaducts, what will happen to the two cliffs? That is something me and a lot of people have wondered.

[@ochjoo77]

Considering Vancouver not long ago wanted to become the greenest city in the world, they have a long way to go from downtowns glass concrete and asphalt horror.. greenways would be a good step. Changing mindsets of solitary car/SUV/truck commuters would be another, probably harder to achieve one..

[@samshntrash]

Great video. Love your content.

[@shawnyt6368]

Vancouver is very capable of pulling this off. Bring on the greenway. This would be a no brainer in Denmark.

[@murraymeehan]

I love the idea of this bridge park and I loved this video

[@Vancovermycity]

Your very right and great video

[@Christoph877]

Damn, that project would have a tremendous impact on connecting both sides of the bridge neighborhoods/attractions, and foot/bicycle traffic overall. I'm a driver, and have experienced the impact of lanes being taking away to lend for bicycles, but I like this plan. The elevator would just be cherry on the cake, or shall I say ice cream in this case 😋. Your videos are great bro. Have you any about all the parking problems being exaggerated by changes in recent years? This city is NUTS about parking downtown, with parking maids seen on every street block at any given time it seems, ready to pounce on anyone at the very second their time runs out.

[@hunterrogersmusic]

I love it how you just casually eat a tub of ice cream..

[@TeddyB3ARGaming]

I think Vancouver should just stop listening to those opposers and start taking risks. It’s a good idea. Why not do it? I’m pro on expanding Vancouver into a true mega city

[@adamwithers]

So interesting! I came from CityBeautiful By the way :) Keep it up!

[@paultauriainen]

That is how I heard about this channel too

[@musamohannad1598]

youre back!!! dont leave again pls

[@Afrahr]

In response to 4:15: Mexico City is actually full of pedestrian/bike walkways in the center of the road.

[@johndelong5574]

You have the best bookcase prop onY.T.

[@focusedeye]

It's good to see I'm not the only one who considers that part little tub of Haagen Daz is indeed a "single serving". My "go to" is Pralines and Cream.

[@leotard2536]

Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC has a new center-bike lane!

[@wernerrietveld]

In Barcelona I cycled on some big boulevard with a cycle lane in the center. I did not like it at all. It feels awkward, because I am so used that the faster you go, the closer you go to the center of a road. And you also have the droning sound of the traffic from 2 sides. And you miss the interesting stuff that happens at the sides of the streets when you are in the middle, being restaurants and shops, or in case of a bridge a riverview, becaused it is blocked by x lanes of traffic. I would advice the designers to put a big 2-way cycle/walkway at one side of the bridge.

[@graham1034]

It seems like every time the city has replaced car lanes with bike lanes motorists have been up in arms only for traffic flow to either stay the same or actually improve. So at this point my knee jerk reaction is always to assume that any new pedestrian and/or cycling will improve things. Not to mention that we don't want to encourage more cars to be downtown anyway. The problem isn't getting into downtown, it's that there are already too many cars there causing insane congestion. Can't wait for a congestion charge for entering the downtown peninsula.

[@djbigp1]

Awesome video! Keep it up. I commute both on bicycle and car and love this idea. With car automation in the near future i believe this is the right choice for us. With our growing economy we cant sustain the uptick in traffic for much longer. We must consider our future and Go GreeN!

[@slam5]

this will be like robson between hornby and howe. people love it.

[@kristianekstrom3387]

Once again...great video!!