Vancouver Greens on transport: 30 km/h streets, Broadway bikeway, 11% road reclamation
The Green Party of Vancouver would expand 30 km/h streets near parks and schools, add bike lanes to Broadway during subway construction and convert at least 11% of city streets from car use to community use. It would also push for a binding timeline for rapid transit to UBC and work with TransLink on faster buses.
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH · PAGES 8 TO 10
Transportation: what the Platform 2026 says
Street safety comes first in the transport chapter of the Green Party of Vancouver platform. The party says lower speed limits on residential streets have been one of its main causes since 2018, and it would extend 30 km/h limits to more residential streets and some arterial roads, in particular near parks and schools. It would also end the time and day limits on school zones, support School Streets, which are car-free areas beside schools, and add signals that give people walking a head start at crossings.
The Greens want a connected cycling network. The platform names the Major Bikeway Network and the gaps in South and East Vancouver, and it asks for bike lanes on Broadway while the new subway is still being built there. It would reduce parking requirements near frequent transit and turn some parking into plazas, bike lanes and green space. The largest single target is "11% Road Reclamation": the party would convert at least 11% of Vancouver's streets from car use to community use, such as trees, parklets, dog parks, food gardens and green space.
The city owns and designs its streets, so Council can change speed limits, crossings, bike lanes, curb space and parking rules on its own. Buses and SkyTrain belong to TransLink, a regional body the city does not control. The Greens' plans for faster buses, late bus service, cheaper fares for low-income riders and a SkyTrain line to UBC therefore depend on working with TransLink and other governments.
THE PARTY'S NUMBERS
Figures in this chapter
Year since which, the party says, slower residential streets have been a signature Green initiative
The party's figure, page 8Time the party says it took before Slower, Safer Streets was approved city-wide
The party's figure, page 8Speed limit the party would expand on residential streets and select arterials
The party's figure, page 8Minimum share of Vancouver streets the party would convert from car use to community use
The party's figure, page 1015 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Slower Safer Streets
The platform says reducing speed limits on residential streets has been a signature Green Party initiative since 2018, and that the city-wide bylaw was approved nearly eight years later after work with Council and the provincial government. The Greens would expand 30 km/h limits on residential streets and select arterials, in particular near parks and schools, and continue education and enforcement.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council sets speed limits on city streets through its Street and Traffic By-law, while enforcement is done by the police.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 8
Pedestrian-first priorities
The party would set targets and funding for safer pedestrian crossings. It would add new and retrofitted Leading Pedestrian Intervals, a signal that lets people walking start crossing before cars get a green light, and audible crossings, and review crosswalks and intersections without traffic signals in an ongoing pedestrian safety audit.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city owns its streets and traffic signals, so Council funds and approves crossing upgrades.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 8
Permanent pedestrian zone infrastructure
The Greens would give stable funding and equipment, such as retractable bollards and placemaking, to seasonal and year-round pedestrian zones. These would run in partnership with local residents and business improvement areas (BIAs), which are local business groups.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council funds street equipment and decides when a city street closes to cars.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 8
Add more safe routes to schools and school streets
The party would remove time and day restrictions on school zones and give priority to safe routes to and from schools. It would support and expand School Streets, car-free zones next to schools for walking, cycling and play before and after school.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city owns and designs the streets around schools and sets their traffic rules.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 8
Complete active transportation infrastructure
The platform would connect safe cycling and rolling routes into a network of AAA bike routes, meaning routes safe for riders of all ages and abilities, and slowed streets. It focuses on completing the Major Bikeway Network and the incomplete and under-connected parts of South and East Vancouver.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city owns and designs its streets and bike lanes, so Council approves and funds the network.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 8
Broadway Bikeway
The Greens would add active transportation lanes to Broadway for shoppers, couriers and commuters while the corridor is still under construction for the new subway. The platform says the subway will reduce road traffic and that without these lanes Broadway will be a mediocre street at best.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Broadway is a city street, but the subway under it is being delivered by the Province with TransLink and the City, so the timing would need their cooperation.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
Open streets as a celebration and connection
The party would hold special events on calmed streets and active transportation routes to connect neighbourhoods and use public space. It names South American Ciclovía events and Portland's Sunday Parkways as its models.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city issues street event permits and decides when its streets close to traffic.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
Car light, car right
The Greens would plan neighbourhood parking for actual demand, give access to residents, businesses and visitors, and separate the cost of parking from the cost of housing, allowing paid off-street parkades for residents where appropriate. They would reduce parking requirements near high-frequency transit and replace some parking with public plazas, cycling infrastructure and green space.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city sets its own parking rules and the parking that new buildings must include.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
Expand multi modal share parking and docking spaces
The party would expand shared mobility, including public bike share, as a cheaper and lower-emission choice. It says new facilities would be fitted into communities with care, limiting any negative effects, and would serve the last part of trips in frequent transit areas.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city controls street space and parking, so Council decides where shared bikes and their docks go.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
UBC subway expansion
The Greens would work with partners to set a binding timeline for a rapid transit extension to UBC.
- Who has the power
- Regional body TransLink, a regional body the city does not control, plans the SkyTrain extension to UBC, so the city can only press for a timeline.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
Better transit
In partnership with TransLink, the party would put bus reliability, speed and connections first through transit-priority measures such as bulges, bump-outs and bus priority lanes. It would expand late bus service and low-income transit discounts.
- Who has the power
- Regional body The city can build bus lanes on its streets, but TransLink, a regional body, runs the buses and sets service hours and fares.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 9
Commercial curb access program
The platform proposes a program to manage curbside space and demand for commercial access, and refers readers to its Economic Development section for the details.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city sets the rules for loading and parking at the curb of its streets.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 10
Manage congestion with smarter intersection management
The Greens would add protected left-turn signals at selected intersections, queue-jump lanes that let buses move ahead of traffic, and smart traffic systems with signal timing that adjusts to traffic.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city owns and runs the traffic signals on its streets.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 10
Better roads, safer streets
The party would target upgrades to aging road surfaces, potholes and pavement markings. It would build curb cuts and accessibility into all new and renewed infrastructure.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves the capital plan that pays for street repairs.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 10
11% Road Reclamation
The Greens would convert at least 11% of Vancouver streets from car use to community use. The platform lists more tree canopy, parklets, dog parks, active transportation, places to grow food, and green spaces for children, families and seniors.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city owns and designs its streets, so Council can decide to use street space for other purposes.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 10
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about transportation
What would Vancouver's Greens do about the Broadway bikeway?
The Green Party of Vancouver would add active transportation lanes on Broadway for shoppers, couriers and commuters while the street is still under construction for the new subway. The platform says that without them Broadway will be a mediocre street at best (platform, page 9).
What is the Green Party of Vancouver's 11% road reclamation plan?
The Greens would convert at least 11% of Vancouver's streets from car use to community use. The platform lists tree canopy, parklets, dog parks, active transportation, places to grow food and green space for children, families and seniors (platform, page 10).
Does the Vancouver Green Party want 30 km/h speed limits?
Yes. The Green Party of Vancouver would expand 30 km/h limits on residential streets and select arterial roads, in particular near parks and schools. The platform calls slower streets a signature Green initiative since 2018 (platform, page 8).
Would the Green Party of Vancouver cut parking?
The Greens would plan neighbourhood parking for actual demand and separate the cost of parking from the cost of housing. The platform would reduce parking requirements near high-frequency transit and replace some parking with plazas, bike lanes and green space (platform, page 9).
What do Vancouver's Greens promise on SkyTrain to UBC?
The Green Party of Vancouver says it would work with partners to set a binding timeline for a rapid transit extension to UBC. TransLink, a regional body, plans that line, so the city can press for it but cannot build it alone (platform, page 9).
Can Vancouver City Council improve bus service as the Greens propose?
Only in part. The Greens say they would work with TransLink on bus lanes, bulges and bump-outs, late bus service and low-income transit discounts. The city can build bus lanes on its own streets, but TransLink runs the buses and sets service and fares (platform, page 9).
What does the Green Party of Vancouver propose for school zones?
The party would remove the time and day restrictions on school zones and give priority to safe routes to schools. It would also support and expand School Streets, which are car-free zones next to schools (platform, page 8).
ON THE BALLOT
The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- Platform 2026, Green Party of Vancouver (72-page PDF, last updated September 29, 2026) SAYS SO ITSELFGreen Party of Vancouver · pages 8 to 10 · published · checked
- 30 km/h speed limits coming to local streets (Street and Traffic By-law) City of Vancouver · checked
- Broadway Subway Project: delivered by the Province with TransLink and the City TransLink · checked
- Millennium Line UBC Extension TransLink · checked