The newly opened pedestrian and cycling lanes on Vancouver's Granville Street Bridge present a stark and surprisingly empty picture, despite the $54 million investment aimed at transforming the city's active transportation network. The almost-too-wide pathways feel cold, spartan, and exposed, leaving early users underwhelmed.
A Bleak First Impression
Walking or cycling on the new Granville Connector can be an unnerving experience. Since the bridge first opened in 1954, its six lanes have functioned as a roaring highway into downtown, creating an intimidating environment. Although concrete barriers now safely separate the new active transportation lanes from vehicle traffic, the feeling of comfort is absent. During a recent stroll on a cloudy day, the pathways seemed barren, with very few people using them—only four pedestrians, two cyclists, and one scooter rider were observed during a 15-minute walk.
Ambitious Goals and Public Disappointment
Officially opened on July 25, 2025, the Granville Connector is one of the most significant active transportation projects in Vancouver's history, according to Paul Storer, director of the city's transportation engineering department. The project's ecological concept is sensible: to create a more attractive connection for residents and office workers in the densely populated downtown core to the rapidly growing Broadway corridor. However, public reaction has been largely hostile, focusing on the unattractive reality of the improvements compared to the idyllic and colourful original artistic renderings that depicted a festive atmosphere with vendors, benches, and families.
Hope for the Future
Despite the current bleakness, there is hope for the bridge's future. The author, a long-time advocate for cycling infrastructure since the 1990s, recalls pushing city councillors to make streets more bike-friendly. This project is a continuation of those efforts that have made Vancouver one of North America's more bike-friendly cities. Future enhancements are already being discussed, including the potential addition of bus stops on the bridge and even constructing elevators to link the bridge deck with the popular Granville Island below, which could significantly increase foot and bike traffic and bring life to the currently spartan pathways.
