I am writing concerning the city of Vancouver’s plan to reduce Southeast 34th Street from four lanes to two and add a “mobility lane.” While I appreciate the city’s efforts to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, sidewalks are already on both sides and there are unused bike lanes on Southeast 20th Street.
On top of existing traffic, development on 34th Street will add 25,000 to 28,000 daily trips into the area. Instead of improving the roads to handle this traffic, the city’s response is to reduce lanes and add bike paths. By reducing lanes and increasing congestion on 34th Street, we will force drivers to take surface streets through residential neighborhoods. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially for families who live here.
No city official had biked to the city information event to discuss this change. They’re more interested in making decisions for us without actually experiencing the consequences themselves.
While Vancouver, at one point, seemed like a nice suburban place to raise a family, it has now transformed into a perplexing mix of strip malls and apartment buildings next to detached houses. Regrettably, the city has fallen short regarding enhancing safety and overall quality of life, particularly on the east side.
