Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Why Seattle Is the Opposite of Every U.S. City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mElYsvaXFiY
Seattle’s Downtown Isn’t Coming Back the Same https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLRMYCSm1Cs&t=95s
Seattle’s Mega Transformation by 2030 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=014ctHVOCTs
A New Supertall Skyscraper could be Rising in Vancouver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0JAcGSwrMk
While Vancouver has allowed a couple residential towers to have at least 60 stories, no office tower has been permitted to have a 40th floor. While buildings over 200m have been allowed in Sydney and SF, slow provincial Vancouver has been very restrictive to allow big city symbolism.
Monday, April 27, 2026
Melbourne Mega City Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96I2ligRTg
Melbourne's Getting Lots of New Trains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pqjJHBMIro
Melbourne Airport Rail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttbzC2jDK8k
Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Q08RfuJss
Old Pattullo Bridge and its Still Narrow Replacement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_mNfn4zjcI
Even in the 1930s there should have been some type of a big city vision, but with NW being so small and Surrey being so out of the way, this part of BC was on the urban periphery. Apparently, there was no concept of an emergency lane on the Pattullo Bridge. Still, in addition to the 2 narrow lanes each way, there should have been 2 lane for horses and wagons. Then, by the 1950s the PB could have had 3 wide lanes each way, pulse a strong traffic divider. Instead, the narrow PB was stuck with only two lanes each way, no safety divider and only 1 narrow sidewalk.
For most of its history, NW just saw it self as a provincial backwater. The lack of a big city vision in the early 1900s meant that it never bothered to absorb what would become the Tri-Cities. For most of its history, Surrey never considered that it could eventually become the largest city in BC. Of course now that has changed.
Despite being so small, NW has become a Metro Vancouver regional transit hub, because of the New_Westminster_station.
Scott_Road_station is a transit hub for the South_Westminster area.
Surrey and NW really should have had a proper big city size bridge.
This is how the new road configuration could have gone for what should have been a 10 lane bridge, not another 4 lane BC joke. Even if it can eventually have 6 lanes, there is no provision for a lower deck for trains and busses.
This shows how existing key roads could have linked into a 10 lane bridge, all without having to widen the surrounding roads. Thus, no need for any major land expropriation.
2 lanes from Royal Avenue onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto Royal Avenue in New+Westminster.
One lane onto and one lane off linking the bridge to the South_Fraser_Perimeter_Road in Surrey.
2 lanes onto McBride boulevard and 2 lanes onto the bridge from McBride in New+Westminster.
From Columbia_Street_in New_Westminster, 1 lane onto the bridge, as well as 1 lane off the bridge.
2 lanes from King_George_Boulevard onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto KGB in Surrey.
2 lanes from Scott Road onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto Scott_Rd in Surrey.
Things weren't properly explained to the public as to how important a wide big city bridge could have been possible and without having to widen the roads connecting to it.
Unfortunately, all of this is being funneled into just 2 lanes each way. Its as if someone symbolically wanted the new bridge to open without any bus and HOV lanes. That's how BC bottleneck and chokepoint planning works.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Valley
Some day, the BC Lower_Mainland should be planned and developed to function more like a proper big urban area.
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Is this The Largest Building on Earth?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wCJz0CPkCI
Mecca Clock Tower : The Most Expensive Skyscraper Ever Built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AM-mh4xq9s
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Gateway landmark condo and hotel tower proposed beside Granville Street Bridge in Downtown Vancouver
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/601-beach-crescent-vancouver-condo-hotel-pinnacle-international-tower-revised-concept "The proposal now envisions a 650-ft.-tall, 67-storey tower..."
While this would be the 2nd tallest in Vancouver, in several other cities it would just be an average tall building.
Friday, April 24, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
As Cuts Loom, Vancouver Rejects Plan to Fund Beach Lifeguards
https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/23/Vancouver-Rejects-Funding-Plan-Beach-Lifeguards-Cuts-Loom/
For some reason Vancouver was unable to get other cities to reduce their lifeguard staff.
Actually, a lot of strange or bizarre things that are normal in Vancouver just aren't acceptable in properly run cities around the world.
Since Vancouver is already cold for half of the year and spring doesn't always get that warm, its become difficult to properly fund enough lifeguards for the summer.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-lifeguards-popular-beaches
The 3 months of summer go fast in Vancouver and sometimes some cold and crappy weather still cuts into it. Indeed, from mid May to mid September there is no guarantee that Vancouver can have 100 to 120 warm to hot rain-free days. There should be a goal to have enough funding for lifeguards for 3-4 months of the year. The rest of the months just get too cold and damp in Vancouver.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Temporary stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge closure will impact all traffic this weekend for construction
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bridge-temporary-closure-surrey-new-westminster
Lets open a bridge without 2 wide emergency lanes or 2 wide shoulders. Especially make sure that it didn't open with enough space for 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Of course don't design the Bridge to have a potential lower deck for trucks and trains. Its an instant classic BC bottleneck chokepoint!
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview Just like the SkyBridge, apparently, there was no need to open it with 2 bus lanes, despite the train not running 24/7.
Unfortunately, the Bridges_over_the_Fraser_River in the BC Lower_Mainland just weren't designed to have proper bus lanes. Its so strange that the narrow SkyBridge was_for_SkyTrain only.
Just like the new tunnel between Richmond and delta, there is no provision for 2 train tracks. While there are 2 bus lanes, there won't be any exclusive HOV lanes. Eventually, there will have to be a proper train and rapid bus bridge or another tunnel beside it.
https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/project-overview-frt "The Fraser River Tunnel Project includes a new, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that will replace the existing George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99. The new tunnel will have three vehicle lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction, with a separated active transportation corridor for cyclists and pedestrians."
Given that this is supposed to be a major port region, a train and rapid bus crossing needs to eventually be there. A train connecting YVR to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal and 2 rapid bus lanes. Then the main tunnel could still provide 3 general lanes each way, plus a HOV lane each way. https://www.infrastructurebc.com/project/fraser-river-tunnel-project/
Unfortunately, proper big city size infrastructure is a difficult thing to achieve in backwards BC. Since the decision was made to not have a rail component in the new highway99tunnel, the middle 2 bike lanes should have been wide enough to eventually become 2 rapid bus lanes. Then a new bridge or parallel tunnel could have a YVR to ferry terminal train, plus 2 truck lanes, 2 bike lanes an 2 sidewalks.
This is what a proper big regional port crossing should be like, but for backwater BC, its a different set of priorities.
Metro Vancouver Regional District
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-regional-district-awareness-service-survey
Perhaps some day it might be elevated to something like a county status.
The Rise and Fall of Marina Bay Sands — Singapore's Iconic Landmark is Empty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J6oY19OIGI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Bay_Sands
Singapore’s Skyline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BkzeP8cupk
https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/marina-bay-sands-2030
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/woh-hup-to-build-las-vegas-sands-new-marina-bay-project
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Monday, April 20, 2026
A record number of British Columbians are leaving Canada
Despite its overall land area, Canada has less than 1% of the worlds population. A crappy economy in recent years and cold weather for half of the year helps to keep Canada from ever having 1% of the worlds population.
Texas has more people than Australia and California has more people than Canada.
Potentially record-breaking heat in Vancouver's forecast (WTH?)
BC, or any part of Canada hardly gets hot for half of the year.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v6c/april-weather/53286 So far, only April 20 was the only day to get above 21C. It actually just barely got above 70F, reaching 22C.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/anchorage/99501/april-weather/346835
Its been difficult for Vancouver to get above 20C so far this year.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/whitehorse/y1a/april-weather/51876
Perhaps if April weather in Vancouver is compared to Anchorage and Whitehorse, then it might seem like a heatwave to those places.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/seattle/98104/april-weather/351409 Seattle has only had 3 days in April above 21C, so far. That's just 3 days in the low 70s.
New ferries to Bowen Island and Sunshine Coast from Coal Harbour
Vancouver has been so slow and lacking in having a proper regional ferry service. Just like there isn't a series of regional rapid bus bridges.
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/travel/vancouver-ferry-service-bowen-island-gibsons-12153260
How can a city have such a multigenerational problem with providing proper big city transportation infrastructure? If its not part of a conscious agenda through the decades, then its like there is something like a Vancouver Mind Virus (VMV) which prevents the city from thinking and building on a big scale.
Fortunately, nothing like a VMV even made it from backwards BC to NSW.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Sydney_Harbour_ferries#2010s_and_2020s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Sydney_Harbour_ferries#1990s_and_2000s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Sydney_Harbour_ferries#1980s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Sydney_Harbour_ferries#1970s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Ferries#Network
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parramatta_River_ferry_service
Sunday, April 19, 2026
The Auckland Harbour Crossings
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waitemata-harbour-connections
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge
https://infrastructurepipeline.org/project/additional-waitemata-harbour-crossing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Harbour_Crossing,_Auckland
https://www.reddit.com/r/auckland/comments/1smxwo7/i_really_like_this
Saturday, April 18, 2026
New Zealand's First Metro Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKfTpPA3s5s 9 car trains planned for future capacity. This is possible, because NZ is so far away from the backwards BC mentality.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Rail_Link#Capacity_forecast_forces_platform_enlargements
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_railway_electrification
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland#Transport
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/04/15/for-the-avoidance-of-diesel-and-doubt/
Friday, April 17, 2026
Eight more Mark V trains are now in service on SkyTrain's Expo Line
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-mark-v-trains-incoming-arrivals-april-2026
While the Montreal Metro can run 9 car trains and Auckland is planning to eventually have 9 car trains, the 1st Skytrain line can only run 5 car trains. The 2nd and 3rd Skytrain lines are still only running 2 car joke trains.
Combine that with mostly narrow regional bridges, and BC is clearly maintaining its congestive transportation agenda.
Ironworkers Memorial Bridge is Metro Vancouver's most congested crossing
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ironworkers-memorial-metro-vancouver-bridge-traffic-volumes
Had the-bridge been designed with 2 wide emergency lanes and 2 wide shoulders, things could have been gradually modified and improved. The Iron Bridge could have become an 8 lane crossing for general traffic, plus having 2 express bus or rapid bus lanes.
Unlike the Queensboro_Bridge in NYC, or the Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge and the Sydney_Harbour_Bridge, this bridge wasn't designed with future rail rapid transit in mind.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Ironworkers+Memorial+Bridge
Edmonton Light Rail Transit history and future
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens-Duewag_U2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_LRT#Stations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_LRT#Lines
https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/lrt-network-plan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_LRT#Expansion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens-Duewag_U2#Variants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens-Duewag_U2#Gallery
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Highway 1 pedestrian bridge linking Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake trails
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burnaby-lake-overpass-highway-1-pedestrian-cyclist-bridge Of course Burnaby would have such a fine bridge before backwards Vancouver would.
Ironworkers Bridge now most congested in Metro Vancouver
https://globalnews.ca/news/11804426/ironworkers-bridge-most-congested-traffic-metro-vancouver/
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/04/14/local-leaders-call-b-c-fix-congested-ironworkers-bridge/
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Ironworkers+Memorial+Bridge
An early spring morning in the Port of Vancouver
https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1slv8lc/early_spring_mornings_in_the_port_of_vancouver
While several cities around the world have highway and railway tunnels under their harbors or rivers, Vancouver is very late to the party.
Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit Study lists crossing options https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020TRAN0144-001729
Third Auto-oriented Crossing of Burrard Inlet https://council.vancouver.ca/010313/tt2.htm
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Toronto vs Chicago and NYC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQwIyx1O_0
Working from home can be great, but big cities still need some office towers.
Unlike Chicago and NYC, Toronto has no 100 story office towers. However, it does have residential towers over 100 floors like Melbourne.
Provincial Vancouver hasn't permitted any office tower to have 40 floor, let alone 50 stories.
Asnières railway bridge, Paris
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_ferroviaire_d%27Asni%C3%A8res "With its ten tracks, this railway bridge is one of the widest in Europe."
Pont Ferroviaire d'Argenteuil, Paris
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_ferroviaire_d%27Argenteuil "It consists of two parallel structures, each carrying two railway tracks."
Vancouver-convention-centre-floating-hotel-approved
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-bc-floating-hotel-approved-9.7164665
https://globalnews.ca/news/11802600/floating-hotel-vancouver-harbour-approved/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/vancouver-council-approves-250-room-floating-hotel/
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Monday, April 13, 2026
The New St. Paul's Hospital at False Creek Flats
https://www.thenewstpauls.ca/en
https://vancouversun.com/feature/vancouver-st-pauls-hospital-of-future
New St. Paul's Hospital to open in early 2027 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIfWMPQdjMw
https://helpstpauls.com/stories/topped-out-new-st-pauls-hospital-marks-major-milestone/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-st-pauls-hospital-false-creek-flats-vancouver-city-council
https://helpstpauls.com/why-give/new-st-pauls-hospital/
https://connectla.ca/press-release-new-st-pauls/
https://bcbusiness.ca/real-estate/whats-next-for-the-new-old-st-pauls-hospital/
https://www.constructioncanada.net/bc-approves-1-9b-hospital-building-plan/
https://building.ca/rfq-issued-for-vancouvers-new-st-pauls-hospital/
https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/new-st-pauls.aspx
The future of the old St. Paul's Hospital site
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/st-pauls-hospital-concord-pacific
https://heritagevancouver.org/top10-watch-list/2015/2-stpauls-hospital-burrard-building/
https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/location/1081-burrard-st-vancouver-bc/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1157-burrard-street-vancouver-tower-approved-community-garden
https://www.urbanyvr.com/davie-street-tower-grows-another-four-storeys-to-47-storeys Not 67, only 47 floors.
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2022/08/08/1157-burrard-dp-2022-00461/
Guy's Hospital, London
At 148.65 metres (487.7 ft) high, Guy's Tower (now called the Tower Wing) regained its tallest hospital building in the world status in 2014. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%27s_Hospital#Facilities
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Shard+Tower+in+London
Vancouver General Hospitals 10-Phase Campus Redevelopment Plan
The new Vancouver General Hospital campus would include over 3.2 million sq. ft of modernized healthcare space across buildings up to 24 storeys. https://storeys.com/vancouver-general-hospital-redevelopment-application
The main VGH campus should eventually be on the scale of something like the Texas_Medical_Center. However, BC has been under a backwater mentality since its inception. Thus, its still difficult for proper big city planning to be established.
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/ubcx-no-brainer-council-motion-is-a-brain-test/
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
Vancouvers Plan For New "Civic District" City Hall Campus
https://storeys.com/vancouver-city-hall-civic-district-redevelopment/
At least the early concept of-a-new-civic-district-around-the-Vancouver-City-Hall looks closer to a proper big city size development.
https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/city-hall-campus
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/megaproject-rapture-ubcx-ottawa-letter-johnston/
City of Vancouver moves to rezone 2,348 properties for rental housing and hotels
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-c-2a-rental-housing-hotels-zoning
https://storeys.com/vancouver-hotel-development-policy-changes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hotel-shortage-2026-world-cup-1.7117696
https://storeys.com/metro-vancouver-regional-district-housing/
New Zealand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand#Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand#Infrastructure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand
While the North_Island is more populated, the South_Island is the largest one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand#Listed_by_size
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Island_nationalism#21st_century
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch
Quebec
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_sovereignty_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec#Economy Canada should have become a commonwealth of independent states similar to Australia. However, since Canada is right next to the US of America, some thought that it might be too confusing. Alberta as well as Quebec, should become fully recognized states within Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia
Alberta
The Alberta Secession Movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LiCuWV2D9g
Alberta within Canada should have become something like a commonwealth independent state similar to Australia. However, since Canada is right next to the USA, some thought that it might be too confusing, back in the day. As each provincial district wants to become more like an independent state within Canada, that should become possible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia#States
Saturday, April 11, 2026
124-148 East 6th Avenue hotel tower proposal would demovict apartment building under Broadway Plan
Decades ago, Vancouver should have considered something like a Company_town approach, but for temporary housing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_town#Model_company_towns
Thus, when a developer buys a residential property for redevelopment, the current residents need temporary accommodations elsewhere. Then, either when the new development is open, a special section is reserved for the displaced residents. Or, if the developer is allowed to build a larger project, they are obliged to provide decent housing compensation at another location.
So, if there were something like a pool of temporary company_town like housing provided by the city, the people would always have somewhere to live until the redevelopment is complete.
Perhaps the renoviction approach was favored so as to add to the homeless numbers.
https://www.tomorrow-building.com/richest-european-countries-more-social-housing/
https://www.iut.nu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Social-Housing-in-Europe.pdf
It should be in the best interest of the city to try to retain and maintain people that exist on various levels of income.
Friday, April 10, 2026
Value for Money – Vancouver-Style
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2026/04/09/ucs-93-value-for-money-vancouver-style/
This Vancouver ME$$ is the result of generations of inept urban planning.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Shard Tower in London
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard , https://www.the-shard.com/viewing-gallery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard#Similar_structures
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/guys-tower-regains-title-worlds-tallest-hospital-building "the Tower is now 148.65 metres high including the artwork." (488 Feet)
https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/guys-tower/9666
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy%27s_Hospital#Facilities
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guy%27s_Hospital_tower_-_geograph.org.uk_-_221742.jpg
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy%27s+Hospital%2C+London
The Top of the Transamerica Tower in SF
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transamerica_Pyramid
Some San Francisco Neighborhoods you should avoid in 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzWJA2v6EYk
TransLink's R2 RapidBus to be extended from North Shore to Metrotown this September
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/r2-marine-willingdon-rapidbus-metrotown-bus-route-translink
http://www.transitdb.ca/route/R2
A Boundary+Road Bridge over the inlet could have had a couple of Rapid Bus lanes and relieved some of the traffic on the inadequate Iron+Bridge. Had The+Iron+Bridge been originally designed to have 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes, then it could have been gradually adapted to accommodate 4 general lanes each way and 1 Rapid Bus lane each way. Instead, busses, trucks, cars and motorcycles are all squeezed into 3 lanes each way.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=R2+RapidBus
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Boundary+Road+Corridor
TransLink to expand bus service on 42 routes across Metro Vancouver this spring
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-metro-vancouver-bus-route-changes-spring-2026
While more frequent bus service is great, unless there is a proper regional bus+and+bike+bridge network, the transit system will still be lacking in its efficiency.
The Almost Empty California City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzByVHZw8bQ
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/california-city-unbuilt-suburb
https://www.homes.com/local-guide/california-city-ca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrRvsSlZFbs
https://laist.com/shows/california-city
https://data.census.gov/profile/California_City_city,_California?g=160XX00US0609780
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
B.C. orders West Vancouver to implement plan to build more homes and meet its target
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/04/07/b-c-orders-west-vancouver-build-more-homes/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/land-covenants-1.5442686
https://globalnews.ca/news/7182842/vancouver-councillor-racism-bc-real-estate/
https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/a-short-history-of-racism-in-b-c-and-globally
https://thelaurier.ca/discriminatory-covenants , https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qlgyR3x73iQ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_segregation_in_Greater_Vancouver
https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/kkk-history-vancouver/
https://equity.ubc.ca/news-and-stories/debunk-myths-about-the-history-of-black-people-in-b-c
Despite the worlds population consisting mostly of nonwhite people and in spite of generations of multicultural immigration in Canada, BC is still slow to build big for the larger overlapping community.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Vancouver#Minority_representation
The Lions+Gate+Bridge is a 3 lane joke of a bridge that should have been relieved with a 7-8 lane tunnel decades ago.
The YVR-Canada+Line is a joke of a line with only 2 car trains, not 5-6.
Monday, April 6, 2026
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Road transport in Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_transport_in_Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridges_over_the_Brisbane_River#Major_bridges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Jones_Tunnel 4 lanes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_Bridge 6 lanes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Story+Bridge A nice 10 lane crossing.
In comparison, the 3 lane Lions+Gate+Bridge still hasn't had a parallel relief tunnel. If a 7-8 lane tunnel is ever built, then the LGB could be for express or rapid busses.
World Expo 88 in Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88 This city was able to do so much after their expo, because they didn't have the same restrictions imposed upon them like what Vancouver has.
https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/1988-brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Tourism_and_recreation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Transport
It would be disastrous if Brisbane took the Vancouver approach to things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busways_in_Brisbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Schonell_Bridge Unfortunatly, such a nice bus and bike doesn't exist in backwards Vancouver. The whole region could greatly benefit from a proper bus and bike network. Most of the bridges in Greater Vancouver are so narrow, there isn't enough room for separate bus lanes. Most of the sidewalks and bike lanes are also too narrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translink_(Queensland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridges_over_the_Brisbane_River#Major_bridges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Brisbane#Tallest_buildings
How Seattle Built the Fastest Growing Transit System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBKLLFWip2s
Crosslake: Seattle's Keystone Transit Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqO4MU5q1Ok
Transportation infrastructure after Expo 86
https://buzzer.translink.ca/2021/04/35-years-of-expo-86-re-learning-lessons-on-transportation/
In the decades after Expo 86, Vancouver and the metropolitan area are still lacking a proper level of regional transportation infrastructure. So many classic BC bottleneck-chokepoints remain uncorrected.
40 years after Expo 86
https://bcanuntoldhistory.knowledge.ca/1980/expo-86
Unlike Brisbane, Vancouver doubled down on its various restrictions. Ideally, any tall building in Vancouver had to be shorter than what Brisbane allows. The bridges kepet narrow and unduplicated than what Brisbane allows. The trains are to be shorter than what Brisbane and most cities allow.
It was almost as if since Vancouver couldn't build a wall around the city to keep people out, a strong level of symbolism was imposed instead. This urban symbolism was all about keeping things small & backwards whenever possible.
Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey have all started the process to allow for taller buildings than what Vancouver permits. That's because they are bound by the same restrictions that Vancouver imposes.
Vancouverites have some of the longest commutes in Canada
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-longest-commute-canada
With most of the regional bridges being too narrow, there isn't enough space for proper express bus+lanes or BRT lanes. Plus, the first 2 Skytrain lines only have the potential to accommodate 5 car trains. The Canada (Embarrassment) Line wasn't designed to eventually have 5 car trains, only 2.5 car trains. Narrow bridges and short trains are all part of the symbolic reluctance towards having proper big city size infrastructure.
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=bus+and+bike+bridge
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Forest Hills station (LIRR)
The best kept secret in NYC real estate is under 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXqsb-alGEg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Hills_station_(LIRR)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Line_(Long_Island_Rail_Road)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road#Passenger_lines_and_services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_station#Station_layout
Friday, April 3, 2026
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Major upgrades to busy Queensborough Bridge will close lanes until 2027
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-lane-closures-new-westminster-richmond
When the Queensborough_Bridge opened in 1960, there wasn't any serious consideration for future capacity. The QB should have had 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes. Then, by the 1980s 2 bus lanes could have been opened. Then, by around 2000 the QB could have had 3 lanes each way, plus 1 bus lane each way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough_Bridge Unfortunatly in 2026, the QB remains as a 4 lane funnel. Just 2 lanes each way as its another classic BC bottleneck-chokepoint, by design. There is enough space east of the bridge for a new northbound bridge to be built.
New_Westminster has always been a small city, because it never absorbed what would become the Tri-Cities. Thus, a narrow QB fits in with such a little provincial backwater. However, as part of the BC Lower_Mainland its part of a region with over 3 million people. This puts NW in the position of being a regional hub city.
https://604now.com/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-richmond-new-westminster-2026-2027/
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-new-westminster-richmond
https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/alas-queensborough-bridge-works.html
http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/24422 , http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/99415/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough,_New_Westminster , https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/rte/122554-QB.PDF
Bike+bridges aren't a problem in many Australian cities and around the world. However, as usual, its more difficult to get such things done in backwards BC.
https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Q2Q_Bridge_Brochure_2015_02_02.pdf
https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/connecting-qb-to-quay.html There should have been a proper bike and foot bridge between Queensborough and downtown NW, decades ago.
https://www.newwestcity.ca/planning-building-and-development/projects-on-the-go/articles/3475.php
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge
The Pattullo Bridge replacement, so far
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/bridge-opening/
There are still months of finishing touches.
https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/current-works/
Over the course of the year, many more people will start to realize that despite there being adequate bike lanes, there are no bus lanes, no wide shoulders and especially no emergency lanes. Its currently still too narrow for all of that.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1omufv6/the_new_pattullo_bridge_will_gradually_open_to/
In fact, the bridge was deliberately designed to be so narrow that there is only enough future deck space for either 2 bus lanes or 2 emergency lanes, but not both. For now, its just another 4 lane BC funnel.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Westminster,+BC
No lower deck for a potential truck connection between Surrey and Front Street and especially, no lower deck for a future LRT crossing.
It seems that whenever its possible, a 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint is all that's necessary.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1rb4nmd/bus_connect_surrey_and_coquitlam/
It really would be a good idea to eventually have a couple of bus lanes on that bridge, especially since the Skytrain doesn't run 24 hours a day.
Its still amazing how the SkyBridge (1990) was never built with 2 bus lanes, 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks. Such is the narrowminded planning methodology that is backwards BC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyBridge_(TransLink)#Details
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Pattullo+Bridge+replacement
https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
List of crossings of the Fraser River on the South Arm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River#South_Arm
The Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have opened with 8 lanes with enough width to eventually have 10 lanes. Plus, 2 wide bike lanes and 2 footpaths. A wide emergency lane or wide shoulder that could have eventually become 2 bus lanes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Fraser_Bridge So, instead of an ultimate design of 10 lanes with 2 emergency lanes and a provision for a lower deck, everything was squeezed into only 2 lanes each way. There wasn't even enough planning logic to have a wide shoulder or wide emergency lane on each side in the first phase of construction. It was an instant classic 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint.
Fortunately, there was at least a provision for it to eventually accommodate 6 lanes and ultimately, a 7th lane was squeezed in. Its still a far cry from being 12 lanes wide or having a lower deck.
The British_Columbia_Highway_91 should have been properly been built as an effective bypass to the joke that is the 4 lane George_Massey_Tunnel chokepoint. The H-91 and the Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have had 4 lanes each way, plus a bus lane each way. Especially, since there is no train along that corridor and there still isn't enough government interest to have a train next to the George_Massey_Tunnel-Replacement. While the new tunnel will have a bus lane each way, there is no provision for a train tunnel or bridge. This isn't just another case of BC planning shortsightedness, its indicative of the BC Mind Virus.
The BCMV isn't supposed to be real, but something like it always seems to show up whenever there is a chance to build some proper big city size infrastructure.
George Massey Tunnel Replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement 3 lanes each way and a bus lane each way.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-new-replacement-potential-cost-increase
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/massey-tunnel-design-team-chosen-1.7273022#
https://www.highway99tunnel.ca Of course the new tunnel is missing the crucial train section.
While a 10 lane bridge would have allowed a provision for a train to eventually run between Richmond and Delta, such a train would go against the congestive planning mentality that is BC.
Of course a train tunnel or bridge will have to eventually link Richmond and Delta, someday. Despite an opportunity to improve regional rail transportation, the BC government just doesn't see it as important enough of a project yet.
Monday, March 30, 2026
The Chicago ‘L’ train is an icon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hdGK2Y_bqc
The $444 Million Reconstruction of Chicago’s State & Lake Station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVwnpRgDIs
The Massive Transit Fix Chicago Desperately Needs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrCsytmZK4U
Its Not Just About Bus and Bike Bridges
Bike bridges might not be able to totally solve the transportation mess that is Vancouver. However, its quite odd how Vancouver Cycling_Infrastructure is missing a crucial bit of transportation infrastructure. Indeed, many cities will build least 1 proper bike bridge. The Vancouver approach is to take traffic lanes away from existing bridges, or not even bother to build a bike bridge next to a congested bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River#North_Arm There should have been several bus and bike bridges in just this section alone.
https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2024/08/08/striking-perth-bridge-crosses-key-construction-milestone Unfortunatly, such a nice bike bridge in Perth isn't allowed in backwards Vancouver.
https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/projects-initiatives/all-projects/metropolitan/causeway-path/
https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/projects/perths-boorloo-bridge If you are visiting Perth from Vancouver, you might cry when you realize what WA can do, simply because its not influenced or limited by the backwards BC mentality or mind virus.
https://www.destinationperth.com.au/listing/boorloo-bridge/3706 Unlike in backwards Vancouver, many cities build bike bridges so that they don't have to remove traffic lanes.
https://dissingweitling.com/en/project/swan-river-causeway-bridge
https://www.buildingfortomorrow.wa.gov.au/projects/boorloo-bridge Unfortunatly, properly building-for-tomorrow is much more difficult in backwards BC than it is in WA.
A bike+bridge in the right spot can make a huge difference. A bus+and+bike+bridge can be a huge improvement, especially in the case of Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Region.
The Arthur_Laing_Bridge, Oak_Street_Bridge, Knight_Street_Bridge and the Queensborough_Bridge all could be improved simply by building a bus+and+bike+bridge next to them. These bridges are simply too narrow to accommodate 2 bus lanes, 2 wide bike lanes and 2 wide footpaths.
The narrow North_Arm_Bridge for the very short Canada Line trains, is another lost opportunity. There should have been 2 express bus lanes, since the little train doesn't run 24 hours. There should have been 2 wide bike lanes as well as 2 sidewalks.
Perhaps it was designed to be in the tradition of the narrow SkyBridge between NW and Surrey. Unfortunately, the SkyBridge wasn't designed to help the old Pattullo Bridge by accommodating 2 bus lanes, 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks.
While the Pattullo_Bridge_replacement opened with 2 nice bike lanes and 2 footpaths, there was a deliberate decision not to open it with 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Especially, no wide emergency lanes or wide shoulders. Its another instant classic BC bottleneck-chokepoint.
Somehow the Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District still hasn't realized that a regional network of bus and bike bridges can really help the region's mostly narrow bridges. Plus, proper big city long trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_Line_(SkyTrain) Only started to run some 5 car trains in 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Line Still usually only 2 car train with the option to run 4 and the potential to eventually run 5 car trains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTrain_(Vancouver)#Canada_Line Despite a building cost cutting measure, this joke of a train and its short stations still could have been designed with enough level clearance to allow for 5 car trains eventually. Unfortunately, this line was designed to ultimately just have 2.5 car, 50m trains. Since 2009, this line is still only running 2 car trains.
Multigenerational congestion planning is all by design in backwards BC.
Is Adelaide Is Becoming Australia’s Most Advanced City?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Wol0Q3zDg
Still seems pretty small and quaint today. Nowhere close to the scale of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, but a good rival to Winnipeg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Economy Its already set to have many more tall buildings than cold Winnipeg.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide#Transport Busses, trams, subways and commuter trains, all can help to provide people with more options than just driving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_in_Adelaide#Mid-century_decline_and_closure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_in_Adelaide#Renewal_and_expansion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramways_revival_in_Adelaide#Developments_since_the_2018_election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_in_Adelaide#Lines Wow, perhaps backwards Vancouver might have as many lines, someday.
London just got a new bikes-only bridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVIr4faD2ag Sometimes its just better to repurpose an old road bridge to be for bikes.