Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts?

[jhausner]

Agree 100% with you WarrenC12. People that use "low voter turnout" as an excuse to argue the elected government shouldn't make decisions seem to assume everyone that didn't show up or cast a vote would have voted against electing the government.

They go "Oh look 35% of people voted, and Vision got 55% of the vote so they really only got 19% of people voting for them!" as if they had 81% against them.

Truth is, if you don't vote you get no say in my books. People want to complain about the decisions of elected officials... GO BLOODY WELL VOTE... or shut up.

Vision has been elected into office in Vancouver and they can clearly govern the way they feel the electorate wants them to govern. If you want a referendum, ralley the troops and petition city hall. If they don't listen to you, get out and vote against them next election.

Don't use voter turnout as an excuse. Statistics have shown in other jurisdictions that when voter turn out goes up, the final results don't actually change much and in almost every instance, the same elected officials would get into office.

It's just a myth that those against elected officials drum up as an excuse. I happen to think Vision is whacko and Greggor has done more bad than good for the City of Vancouver, but he was elected into office TWICE so far, so much like George W Bush, the majority seem to think he is doing fine and/or agree with his decisions.

Back onto topic....

I still think taking down the viaducts it silly.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

"You're stupid"

That's the level of discussion around here.

As for your points, they are all opinions. You feel that the change in traffic flows will absolutely, without doubt create these effects, and yet there is no actual proof. It is a potential vision.

You also assume that the city simply foots a $100 million dollar bill for this project. Do the developers then get the land for free? Will there be no other source of funding? Once again this is all conjecture presented as incontrovertible fact.

I don't even really care to a strong degree if they get torn down so CHILL OUT.

You are right about the fact that all of the arguments have been presented on either side. People are therefore free to draw whatever conclusions they will. In the meantime, I will happily move on to more productive exchanges of ideas.

No, that's the level you are trying to pin on those who disagree with you.

It would be interesting for posters to disclose if they even pay taxes directly to the city. As someone who pays them a sizeable chunk of my income every year, I'd prefer it was not squandered on fixing something that isn't broken.

If this was Toronto or Calagary where the was a sizeable budget surplus I'd entertain it, but Vancouver is not in the same enviable financial situation.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by spm2013

They're promoting the ground level Skytrain guideway in the viaduct removal plans as a "photo opportunity" venue for tourists to get photographed beside a moving Skytrain car. Say Cheese.

And for the more adventurous, you can get your picture snapped in front of the pumping station too!

If your timing is right, the SkyTrain will be crawling past you in the background just as the camera clicks.

Woo Hoo!
a unique memento of your trip to Vancouver.

I'll say 'cheezie'

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by spm2013

You could also try just closing the viaducts for 6 months and see what the impact on the traffic network would be. Sure you wouldn't have a replacement road in place but it would be interesting to see how traffic would re-route around the closure.

They were closed for several months before, during and after the Olympics.

As far as I know, nobody bothered to study the changes in traffic flow in and around downtown while the Viaducts were restricted to Official Olympic Traffic.

or perhaps nobody wanted to know.

However, the 'results' were noted by the local media who interviewed P!ssed-Off drivers on Main St and Prior St who had lost their usual route into downtown.

[jlousa]

The viaducts weren't closed for month(s) during the Olympics but they did measure traffic on other routes during the clousure. The results though were less then conclusive as if people recall the city pressed people to take holidays during the games and not to commute to work. Transit levels and hours were also increased so that traffic patterns would be nearly impossible to relate to normal world situations.

As much as I am pro viaduct...

*Mod hat on*

Those speakingly against the viaducts deserve to be heard and treated with respect, if you don't agree with them argue against their points not against them as a perspn. There is no need to be calling anyone from either camp stupid or any other names and doing so will lead to disciplinary action.