Metro Vancouver Walkability Map Doesn't Make Sense

I was reading the latest Metro Vancouver Regional District's Regional Planning Committee agenda and noticed a report called the Walkability Index Update. The report has a map that shows the walkability of neighbourhoods throughout Metro Vancouver. When we ask people what they love the most about living in Langley City, walkable is always at the top of the list.

I was surprised when the map showed Willoughby and Clayton as more walkable than Langley City. As someone who doesn't own a car, this doesn't align with my lived experience in this part of Metro Vancouver.

2021 Walkability Index Map. Select the map to enlarge.

How is this map created? It combines residential density, commercial floor space, the mix of uses, intersection density, and sidewalks.

When looking at the map of intersection density, it started to make sense why the map is off. The following is a map of intersection density from the report.

Map of Intersection Density in the Urban Containment Boundary, 2021. Select the map to enlarge.

It shows that Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Langley City have low intersection density while places like Pitt Meadows, Clayton or Willoughby have high density.

Living in Langley City without a car, I've always felt I can easily walk where I need to go without going out of my way. Langley City has a lot of walkway connectors.

Another metric missing on the map is access to other modes of travel. Having good transit access improves the walkability of a neighbourhood. Road design also factors in. For example, walking along 200th Street differs significantly from walking down the Fraser Highway Oneway.

I appreciate a walkability map, but this map from Metro Vancouver doesn't seem grounded in lived experience. The map shows White Rock as being less walkable than South Surrey and Clayton as being more walkable than Langley City.

Mark Your Calendar: Langley City Connects Open House Events

Langley City's neighbourhood meetings are back and are rebranded as Langley City Connects Open House. The format is the same as last year. All Langley City departments and the RCMP will be at the open house events. Langley City senior staff, Council, and the RCMP will be available to answer your questions and listen to your feedback.

We will be able to address any topics that are the responsibility of municipal government, including policing, bylaw enforcement, transportation, emergency management, fire protection, recreation, cultural activities, parks, garbage/recycling, libraries, land use planning, and water/sewer utilities.

There will be additional information at the open houses about:

Langley City's Zoning Bylaw Update
Our New Urban Forest Management Plan
The SkyTrain Project
Our Proposed Transportation 2050 Plan
The Langley City Emergency Program (Including Volunteer Opportunities)
The Work We Are Doing to Address Social Challenges in Our Community

Each open house will have the same information, and you can attend any open house; no RSVP is needed.

The details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Simonds Elementary - 20190 48 Avenue

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Nicomekl Elementary - 20050 53 Avenue

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Coast Langley City Hotel and Convention Centre, 20393 Fraser Highway

72% of Metro Vancouver Residents Say Transit An Important Election Issue

While transit may not be the number one issue this election, 72% of people living in Metro Vancouver say it is a very important or important issue for this provincial election. Transit gives people an affordable transportation option and a way out of congestion.

The Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation, one of the two governing bodies of TransLink, recently released a survey on transit that was intentionally dropped during the provincial election campaign period.

The following graph shows sub-regional views on the importance of transit.

72% of residents believe transit is an important issue in this provincial election. Select the image to enlarge.

It is not surprising to me that the North Shore is where transit is flagged as very important or important by 77% of people who live there. I've taken the speedy RapidBus on Marine Drive and had the misfortune of being stuck in a car along that same corridor during the afternoon peak period. Transit is the only way to get people out of congestion on the North Shore. That being said, support is consistent across sub-regions in Metro Vancouver.

While people in our region understand that all governments have a role in transit service, they have flagged the provincial government as having the most responsibility for transit in Metro Vancouver.

Residents believe the Province has the greatest responsibility among all levels of government to fund transit. Select the image to enlarge.

This survey was done before the BC Unity Party disappeared, but transit is not a partisan issue. The majority of BC Conservative, BC Green, and BCNDP supporters believe that transit is an important issue in this election.

When asked if public transit is an important issue in this election, a majority of supporters from ALL political parties answered YES. Select the image to enlarge.

71% of people in Metro Vancouver are also concerned about potential transit cuts, which I posted about last week. You can learn more by reading the September 26, 2024, Mayors' Council agenda.