Vancouver Greens on access: 30 km/hr streets, public washrooms, seniors planner

SAFETY AND WELLBEING · PAGE 30

Accessible City: what the Platform 2026 says

The Green Party of Vancouver groups its commitments on page 30 of its 2026 platform under the idea of a city that people of any age or ability can move through. The first is Vision Zero, the goal of ending traffic deaths. The party would spend on walking and cycling, accessible sidewalks, curb cuts and pedestrian bulges, which are sidewalk extensions that shorten the distance to cross. It would also expand the 30 km/hr slower streets program, which the platform describes as started by the Greens.

Public washrooms get their own commitment. The Greens call them essential city infrastructure and would plan them citywide: find the areas with too few, keep some open longer, and build them into plazas, community facilities and large public spaces. For washrooms in parks, the party says it would work with the elected Park Board to fund them properly, since that board runs Vancouver's parks.

Three items look at age. The Greens would make Vancouver an age-friendly city by building universal design, meaning design that works for people of all ages and abilities, into city planning. They would re-create the Older Persons Planner position, which the platform says was cut in recent budgets, to speak for seniors inside City Hall. For children and families, they list safe routes to school, accessible playgrounds, affordable recreation, child care and access to nature. The last item adds curb cuts, tactile surfaces that people with low vision can feel underfoot, and crossings that give sound signals.

THE PARTY'S NUMBERS

Figures in this chapter

6 COMMITMENTS

What the party says it would do

1. People-First Streets

   The Greens would pursue Vision Zero, the goal of no traffic deaths, by investing in active transportation, accessible sidewalks, curb cuts and pedestrian bulges, and by calming car traffic. They would expand what the platform calls the Green-initiated 30 km/hr slower safer streets program and speed up work to end traffic deaths.

   Who has the power

   City Council The city owns and designs its streets and sidewalks, so Council can set these rules and fund this work.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

2. Public washrooms as essential infrastructure

   The party would expand clean, safe and accessible public washrooms through a citywide strategy that finds underserved areas, extends hours where needed, and builds washrooms into plazas, community facilities and major public spaces. It would work with the elected Park Board to properly fund washrooms in parks.

   Who has the power

   City, with others Council can fund washrooms on streets and city sites, while park washrooms are the responsibility of the separately elected Park Board.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

3. Age-friendly city for every stage of life

   The Greens would make Vancouver an age-friendly city from childhood to older age by building universal design, accessibility, safety, social connection and healthy aging into city planning and services.

   Who has the power

   City Council Council directs city planning and sets how city services are delivered.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

4. Older Persons Planner

   The party would re-instate the Older Persons Planner position, which the platform says was eliminated in recent budget cuts, to speak for seniors' needs across city policies and services.

   Who has the power

   City Council City staff positions are paid from the budget Council approves each year.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

5. A city that works for kids is a city that works for everyone

   The Greens would prioritize safe routes to school, accessible parks and playgrounds, affordable recreation, child care, family-friendly public spaces and access to nature.

   Who has the power

   City, with others Council controls streets and helps create child care spaces, while parks and playgrounds belong to the Park Board and child care licensing and subsidies are provincial.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

6. Curb cuts, tactile surfaces and audible crossings

   The party would expand curb cuts, tactile surfaces that people with low vision can feel underfoot, audible crossing signals and other barrier-free features in every neighbourhood, so streets and public spaces work for people of any age or ability.

   Who has the power

   City Council Sidewalks, crossings and traffic signals are part of the city streets that Council designs and funds.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 30

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Questions about accessible city

ON THE BALLOT

The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this