Trip Planning
I have to go get my second vaccine shot today at the Vancouver Convention Centre at Canada Place. So I used Translink’s trip planner to examine the alternatives.
So it would appear that the quickest way to get a bus to the Canada Line. But the comparison is flawed. When you look at the diagram the walking route from our buidling’s front door to the nearest #16 bus stop is remarkably indirect on this map. That is because a footpath, shown on this map as a very thin green line, is missing. The reality looks more like this.
I estimate that the direct walk out to Arbutus at Nanton NB bus stop is at least 3 minutes less than the trip planner shows. And actually the only really awkward thing is that I have to get across Arbutus at a push button activated crosswalk. It is remarkable how often I am still waiting for that to show the white walking figure as the bus I want to get on blasts by.
Actually that happened again today. As I got to the crosswalk the bus was in the intersection. Fortunately traffic was light so I ran for the bus and the operator waited for me. I was downtown in 30 minutes.
Stephen Rees's blog 
There are many mistakes on Google, sometimes it tell you to walk instead of taking a bus.
nathanarticulated
June 18, 2021 at 12:53 pm
there ought to be a way to crowd source frequent route directions from people like yourself as a complement to their existing system. google maps, strava maps and almost of all of them get walking, transit and bicycling directions wrong
Administrator
June 19, 2021 at 5:22 pm
I do put some pictures on Google maps. And I contribute Open Maps too (which is now Flickr’s choice).
I also think that the Trip Planner should put a penalty on transfers – especially when there is a change of mode. Getting off the bus at King Edward Station means crossing two six lane stroads – Cambie and King Ed – to get the Canada Line.
Stephen Rees
June 19, 2021 at 5:54 pm
That is another reason we need a bus stop that was taken away in the 500 block of West King Edward, so you only have to cross one 6 lane street instead of two.
nathanarticulated
June 20, 2021 at 7:56 am
This is the reason we need a station entrance on more than one corner!
Stephen Rees
June 20, 2021 at 8:53 am
agreed, in most other cities they have multiple entrances. All of Metro Vancouver Stations are inferior compare to Stations in other Canadian Cities.
nathanarticulated
June 20, 2021 at 9:40 am
I have been trying to highlight this and other inferior designs of the new Broadway Stations..1It is up to MOTI to design and build the up to date modern Stations similar to standards available at new stations in Ontario. We do not want the interior design of the Evergreen Extension.
2. Need two elevators per platform ( they are proposing one ) The reason is very simple if one elevator is broken we can use the 2nd.
3. Elevators to be big enough to hold 2 or 3 bikes plus 5 people.
4.Whenever possible one direct elevator from street level to the required platform. { At some present stations you need 2 or 3 elevators to reach the platform)
5.Bike ramps should be constructed beside stairs to make it easier and faster for bikers to move around.
6. Need to have stairs and escalators as some people do not like to use escalators.
7.Bike parkades and lockers at all stations now, not 20 yrs from now, if needed buy the extra property.
8. Prefer centre platforms vs split platforms for all stations, if not possible provide an overpass between the platforms like in NW Stn.
9. Convenient power outlets to charge e.bikes/scooters, cell phones while waiting for trains.
10. providing additional bypass tracks so that a semi-express train service be available similar to other train systems. Need additional tracks to short turn some trains.
11. Public washrooms ( They propose that riders will need to call to get the washrooms open)
12. Construct the tunnel to VGH now not in the future.
13. Some of the proposed emergency exits could be converted to extra entrances.
14. TransLink proposes no new bus loops at Broadway and Main, Cambie, Oak, Granville, but they might be needed especially when the train breaks down and for short turning late buses.
15. Bus route #99-B Line; They propose to only run the bus from Broadway and Arbutus to UBC. Most Vancouver riders do not agree and want EXPRESS bus service east of Arbutus to Burnaby TAB Mall. ( Brentwood Stn) ( A new petition will be launched in 2021 )
16. No new bus service is proposed on Arbutus St. North of Broadway to Kits Point.
17. The decision on extending the M-Line to UBC has to be made NOW not in 2025, cost savings and other opportunities might be lost. ( In Ottawa as soon as stage 1 LRT was open work continue to stage 2 and stage 3 has been approved a few months later)
18. Need safety platform screen doors ( also known a platform edge doors. ) They are widely used in newer Asian and European metro systems.
19. Many proposed station improvements depend on adjacent developments, however, we do not want to wait a long time for them. ( eg we had to wait for 21 yrs for Granville Station to have a proper accessible entrance from Dunsmuir St.)
20. Need more benches at the platforms at present most platforms have on average only 4 seats. need at least 10 seats.
nathanarticulated
June 20, 2021 at 9:45 am