West Vancouvers new bus shelters have received a cool response from some residents concerned theyre blocking the sidewalk and pushing pedestrians towards the road.
Crews began installing the new bus shelters last week, starting with a shelter at 19th Street and Marine Drive and another at 18th Street, as part of a deal with advertisers Pattison Outdoor to pay for 36 new shelters throughout the district.
Brian Merth was immediately concerned about space issues when he saw the bus stop being built on 19th Street.
This poses a number of problems for safety and access to buildings, which are very close.
Merth is worried that people walking behind the shelter will trip on the uneven pavement, while in front there are conflicts with passengers getting on and off the bus.
One block away on 18th Street, Dairy Queen owner Dan Baker has the same concerns. At the stop near his business, there is only a small passageway in front of the bus stop and a concrete wall to the rear of it. An indentation in the wall where the previous bus shelter was built sits empty.
When youre walking up the street you cant see whats ahead of you, Baker said. You could be walking right into somebody and pushing them over.
West Vancouver roads supervisor Gary Watt said while the sidewalk is thinner than before, at 1.3 metres wide its still a safe width.
A normal sidewalk is 1.5 (metres). Theres plenty of room there, he said, though acknowledging two people might have trouble walking side-by-side.
The minimum safe width for wheelchair accessibility is about 0.9 (metres).
As well, while some previous shelters were built on private property, he said all the new structures are located on public land, meaning some spots are noticeably tighter.
In the long run, Watt said its the districts intention to bump out the sidewalk at bus stops so the bus doesnt pull out of traffic, as has been done on 11th Street.
