TEAM position on traffic-calming barriers in East Van

salrobinson6

3 days ago

2 min read

VANCOUVER (Sept. 8, 2026) - TEAM for a Livable Vancouver supports the removal of most of the traffic obstructions installed in the area south of the PNE (Hastings-Sunrise – Adanac Overpass area).

Although these obstructions have been installed in the name of “traffic calming” – an understandable ambition – they have generated more problems than they solve.

TEAM does not take a blanket approach for or against “traffic calming” initiatives in the city. Rather, we evaluate them on a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood basis, consistent with our pledge of “Respect for Neighbourhoods” and listening to residents.

In our engagement with residents of the Hastings-Sunrise area east of Renfrew, TEAM heard these concerns:

The obstructions installed to deter non-local traffic generate routine delays and complications in every car trip taken by local residents, sometimes bordering on the absurd.
Instead of calming traffic in the whole area, the barriers often simply divert traffic from one street to another, meaning that many blocks have seen an increase in rat-running, rather than a reduction in traffic.
Most worrying is the dangerous and aggressive driving resulting from driver frustration, especially the consistent use of laneways to navigate the obstructions. Residents report serious concerns about children’s safety in back lanes.

A large majority of residents told TEAM that they wanted the barriers either mostly or completely removed. We will listen to those residents and address their concerns.

TEAM pledges to work with all residents in the area, block by block, to establish a better way to deal with non-local traffic, including more speed bumps, four-way stops and designated pedestrian crossings at key intersections, and rigorous policing of speeding and dangerous driving, especially around schools and during rush hours.