Evaluating pedestrian priority street potential in Yaletown, Vancouver, B.C.

This capstone project evaluates the potential for a pedestrian priority street in Yaletown through the analysis of two case studies – New Road (Brighton, England) and Strædet (Copenhagen, Denmark). Interviews with members of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association (BIA) were conducted to determine concerns with both the current state of the 1100 block of Mainland St. as well as with a possible pedestrian priority scheme for the block. Five concerns were identified and subsequently used to guide the case study investigations. Each case study involved a combination of direct field observations and interviews with local planning experts and business people. The case studies addressed all five concerns of the BIA and supported the potential for a pedestrian priority scheme to improve Mainland St. This research concludes by suggesting ways in which a pedestrian priority scheme for Yaletown could be successful including the discussion of a suitable implementation process.