Introduction: This section compares
how an exchange city fares qualitatively
against a mobility city. Simply put, a
mobility city is automobile-centric,
while an exchange city is characterized
more pedestrian-oriented streets, public
transport and urban form allowing for
greater social exchange. Two Vancouver
areas, a section along Kingsway
or Mobility
Exchange
and a section along Main Street are
examined to illustrate some qualitative
characteristics of the mobility and
exchange cities respectively. This section
gives some clues as to how an exchange
city feels and looks when Vancouver
develop as one.
Factors to Investigate and Compare:
Some factors can help us better compare
and understand how areas designed
for social exchange fares against ones
designed for automobile-centricity:
• Typology and Use
• Traffic Conditions
• Sidewalk Conditions
• Public Amenities
Mobility City
Kingsway (Gladstone to Killarney):
While Vancouver prides itself as
sustainable; there are areas where
automobile-centricity persist. The 1.43km
stretch of Kingsway, an extension of the
1A Highway, from Gladstone to Killarney
(this page) shows how a mobility city or
neighbourhood can exists in an urban
area without going to suburbs with
dendritic streets and segregated uses.
Exchange City
Main Street (Broadway to King Edward):
This 1.57km stretch of Main Street
(following page) like Kingsway is a major
thoroughfare. However, as it moves
within 2km of downtown it takes on a
different character due to its programs,
street furniture and building typology
which is pedestrian-oriented.
2 getting to minus 80. the vancouver streetcar city. 2050 and beyond.
Kingsway, a Mobility City Main Street, an Exchange City
Sidewalk Conditions: Typology and Use: Typology and Use:
• Ample parking in front of businesss • Mostly 1 to 2 storeys commercial buildings • 1 to 4 storeys mixed-use buildings with
indicate the area’s automobile-centricity. housing bodyshops, fastfood outlets, gas- grade-level commercial activities like cafes
BROADWAY
• Lack of trees, street-furniture, bus-shelters station and small offices. and antique shops, and residences above
and mid-block crossings makes walking less • A few motels, factories and big-box stores. • Few heritage buildings.
KIN
pleasurable. • Small number of single-family houses and • Small businesses staffed by locals
GS
WA
Y
low-rise condos. • Higher density RM-4, RT-6 and RS-7 zones
• Off Kingsway, RS-1 zone dominates. off Main Street provide the population that
Vancouver,
4.2
• A low mix and number of businesses here supports its socio-economic vibrancy.
MAIN STREET
do not allow locals to work locally forcing
people to travel elsewhere for work.
EXCHANGE OR MOBILITY
city?
Key Recommendations
T
EE
TR
EAST 16th AVENUE
ES
ON
• Maximize solar exposure on both
ST
AD
GL
Public Amenities: sides of a street (one in the morning,
• The Little Mountain Neighbourhood one in the afternoon) to encourage
KINGS- House, Heritage Hall and Mount Pleasant outdoor activities.
WAY KIN
GS Community Centre are anchor points.
WA
Y • Frame and tame the street with
human-scale streetwalls, on-street
ET
RE
parking and trees to closely frame
ST
AN
OC
a street and increase side friction to
SL
MAIN STREET
reduce traffic speed and volume. This
in turn produces a more safer and
walkable environment.
• Shorter blocks and mid-block
KIN
GS
MAIN
crossings places more stops in
T
EE
WA
Traffic Conditions: STREET
TR
Y
the traffic flow and reduces overall
YS
E
• On-street parking effectively reduces
RN
Traffic Conditions: vehicular speed. Also, finer grain
LA
KIL
useable 6 car-lanes to 4.
• 6 car lanes KING EDWARD AVENUE urban forms also creates greater visual
• Auto-count is 53209 in a 24-hour span • Auto-count is 29646 in a 24-hour span.
diversity conducive for walkable
• Average 320m distance between crossings • Average 150m distance between crossing
environments.
allow cars to travel more than 2 standard Public Amenities: puts more stops in traffic flow.
150m blocks without stopping • While Norquay and Slocan Parks and • Street-trees and buildings closer to Sidewalk Conditions: • Activate the sidewalks as cafes and
• Lack of trees and deep front setback (some several schools are within 400m from this the curb (~ 4m) increases “side friction” • Custom street furniture, trees and al fresco street furniture offer places of respite.
up to 10m from the curb) reduces “side stretch of Kingsway, it lacks services like prompting the driver to slow down. cafes makes Main Street more than a street The street is not “hurried through”
friction” and instigate faster driving banks, post-offices, clinics and childcare. • Bulges and neck-downs calm traffic. to be “hurried through” while walking. through but a place one dwells and
build attachment, exchanging with
others and the built environment.
• Higher, more diverse population
provides a locally-based workforce
to staff a higher mix and number of
businesses. Moreover, this workforce
can walk and/or use transit to work
rather than drive.
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