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.
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.
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
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
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/
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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."
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_ferroviaire_d%27Argenteuil "It consists of two parallel structures, each carrying two railway tracks."
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/
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
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/
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
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
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/
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/
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transamerica_Pyramid
Some San Francisco Neighborhoods you should avoid in 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzWJA2v6EYk
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
