We've all been there.
Whether it's being caught in congestion at the Lions Gate Bridge or Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing or anywhere else North Shore during rush hour, a new exhibit at the Museum and Archives of North Vancouver (MONOVA) might toot your horn.
Are We There Yet? The Sustainable Transportation Journey exhibit features the evolving landscape of mobility on the North Shore with archival photos and artifacts dating back to the early 20th century.
“It comes up literally every day. You can’t get through life on the North Shore without inevitably having a conversation about transportation traffic," said Zoe Mackoff de Miranda, director of MONOVA. "It’s been a really long time that people have been complaining about it.”
The exhibit showcases the construction of Lions Gate Bridge, historical maps, old editorial cartoons making light of traffic issues of the day and transit-related objects from TransLink and the Transit Museum Society including an interactive coin machine for counting change, an old “Lonsdale” streetcar sign and personal stories from local residents sharing their journey of getting around North Vancouver.
The Lions Gate Bridge and Ironworkers see approximately 60,000 and 125,000 crossings per day, respectively, an indication of the demand for transporting people and products to and from the North Shore.
“Part of it is locals trying to move around, commuters who live elsewhere and work on the North Shore, and then also North Van as a destination and a place that people want to visit," said Mackoff de Miranda.
Last Wednesday, many commuters saw heavy delays across both bridges due to multiple car incidents.
⚠️Continue to expect significant delays heading south from #WestVan and #NorthVan. Multiple vehicle incidents have resulted in heavy delays across both bridges. Remember to give yourself extra time and extra space between your vehicle and the next. pic.twitter.com/JL3HTdrTXs
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 31, 2025
Exhibit goers have the opportunity to learn about the past and reflect on the present, but also suggest how to make future transportation better.
Feedback will be sent to TransLink and transportation departments for North Van city and district municipalities, Mackoff de Miranda said.
A third crossing, more frequent SeaBus trips or additional routes and a SkyTrain extension are some of ideas suggested so far, she said.
“It’s been really interesting to see how constructive and engaged people are in really thinking about infrastructure in our community,” Mackoff de Miranda said.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced $663 million for TransLink infrastructure projects over the next decade including a RapidBus heading to Metrotown SkyTrain station in 2027.
Beyond the transit and roads we know today, the exhibit also features a collection of Coast Salish stories including the importance of the canoe.
“For Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) communities, canoes remain important for those communities today but was a way of getting around since time immemorial,” she said. “So it was important to talk about the canoe [and] recognize that as one of the first boats of transportation on these lands.”
Mackoff de Miranda said she hopes the exhibit lets people reflect on how commuters can make conscious choices when travelling to and from the North Shore.
“At the end of the day, it’s really what will make a difference,” she said.
Are We There Yet? The Sustainable Transportation Journey will be at MONOVA until March 1, 2026.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
https://bsky.app/profile/abbyluciano.bsky.social
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