Showing posts with label traffic diversion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic diversion. Show all posts

Cars have no business in the DTES

Posted by Unknown
[caption id="attachment_2034" align="alignnone" width="497"]The Downtown Eastside. Jewel in Vancouver's crown, or pain in the arse? The Downtown Eastside. Jewel in Vancouver's crown, or pain in the arse?[/caption]

I'd like to suggest we, the City of Vancouver, seriously consider making the Downtown Eastside a car-free zone. If you think this is a wacky a proposal, like Dr. Stu's idea for a one-cent deposit on cigarette butts, think again.

There is already a recognition that the area is a magnet for a diverse range of people marginalized, and challenged at every turn -- economically, physically, legally, and chemically. These men and women, from across Canada are, by degrees, emotionally-wounded, often almost traumatized by their past experiences, distracted, and not all so law-abiding. This area is now very much about supporting, treating, and healing this influx of walking-wounded. This is a kind of Emergency ward; cars just get in the way.