TransLink is recovering from pre-pandemic trip decline

Good morning,

Sometimes I really struggle to make this intro as creative as possible. Today is one such day. So let’s not belabour this with an awkward joke (because, trust me, they’re awkward) and let’s get to today’s newsletter.

Today’s edition includes:

• A breakdown of transit ridership and future problems 🚎

• The downtown core’s slow recovery 📉

• And the final few days of testimony in the Myles Gray case ⚖️

Let’s go!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout writer

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WEATHER

Friday: 23 🌡️ 13 | ☀️

Monday: 16 🌡️ 9 | 🌧

Tuesday: 22 🌡️ 12 | ⛅

Wednesday: 21 🌡️ 12 | ⛅

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

Watch your water: Water restrictions begin today across Metro Vancouver. Even-numbered addresses can water lawns on Saturday morning and odd-numbered addresses can do so on Sunday mornings. There are also time limitations, so be sure to check the rules. [City of Vancouver]

TRANSPORTATION

TransLink leading transit recovery

After a slow recovery from the pandemic, TransLink says ridership is up across the region, to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to TransLink’s yearly transit service performance review, as reported by CBC.

What happened: There were 193.6 million trips across the network, which is a staggering 48 percent increase since 2021.

Zoom in: Unfortunately Vancouver had the lowest level of recovery, with 73 percent of ridership recovery. Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge had the most at 98 percent, followed by Surrey and the surrounding area at 93 percent.

Vancouver accounts for the majority of total ridership in each region, with 47 percent in total.

Problem: Ironically, while overall ridership is down, overcrowding is expected to be a problem in fast-growing areas outside of Vancouver, as existing route infrastructure cannot account for the increased ridership. RapidBus expansion is expected to account for the demand.

What it means: The report identifies funding shortfalls, resulting in overcrowding for fast-growing communities. The B.C. government recently provided $500 million to the system to account for shortfalls and the final line of TransLink’s report acknowledges more stable funding is required.

• A story by the Vancouver Sun explored how the system could face a death spiral, as declining gas revenues and inflation pressures eat away at TransLink’s funding. Yet as the federal government faces its own cost constraints, it’s hard to imagine how much funding could be available for TransLink in the near future.

You can read the entire report here.

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

380,000: The number of people who used TransLink each weekday in the fall of 2022. [TransLink]

355 minutes: The amount of time the Vancouver Whitecaps have not been scored on while playing at home. The most recent game was a 0-0 tie. [The Canadian Press]

5th: Where Vancouver ranks in the number of transit boardings across Canada and the US transit system, this is despite having the 24th largest population. [CBC]

BUSINESS

Downtown core recovery lagging

According to a new study, Vancouver ranks low for downtown core recovery after the pandemic, coming in at 47 out of 63 cities across North America.

The study: The study looked at cell phone activity before and after the pandemic, with data from 2019 and 2022, according to Business in Vancouver.

Comparison: The numbers aren’t great across Canada. Smaller cities perform better than bigger cities, with Quebec City, Winnipeg and Ottawa placing higher, while Calgary, Toronto and Montreal placed lower.

• Zoom out: The study also says that within cities, downtown cores are recovering from the pandemic-related decline in visitors at a slower rate than the surrounding areas. Canadian cities also generally had a much lower recovery than American cities.

Another factor specific to Vancouver may include feelings about crime. A poll in early April indicated that people outside the downtown core were very worried about safety and crime in the area, according to Global News. That may weigh on people’s decisions to visit.

• Let’s also not forget the increased rate of working from home. Retail vacancy continues to be a problem, with areas downtown like Robson and Gastown, and outside downtown like Kitsilano with higher commercial vacancy rates, according to Business in Vancouver.

Suburban living: Contrast that with suburban shopping centres that have an extremely low vacancy rate compared to their downtown counterparts. If anyone’s been to Metrotown lately, they’ve seen it firsthand.

What it means: Maybe it’s time to shift away from the work-centric nature of our cities and focus more on livability. The city has already made a focus on improving places like Chinatown and Granville a key priority, which is a good start. If fewer people are coming for work, then locals need another reason to visit.

NEW JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Vancouver

• Brand ambassador, operations at Canada Goose

• Director of operations at Shangri-La Group

• Senior account executive at Hootsuite

• Growth marketing manager at ABC Fitness Solutions

• Director of marketing at Hiive

POLICE

Inquest into Myles Gray’s death ends today

The jury of the coroner's inquest into the death of Myles Gray, after he was beaten by police, were not allowed to view images of Gray’s body at the scene of the arrest, according to CBC.

Background: The family of Gray had wanted the jury to see the injuries, while the lawyers for the Vancouver Police Department opposed it. The family wanted the jury to understand the impact of the injuries he experienced at the hands of the police.

How he died: It was confirmed last Thursday that Gray died of a cardio-pulmonary arrest, “complicated by the actions of police officers who caused blunt-force injuries, compressed his neck, pepper-sprayed him, and handcuffed him behind his back while forcing him onto his stomach, all while his heart and lungs were under stress,” according to CityNews.

An ethics expert had harsh words for the police for the handling of the case, criticizing them for not taking notes, dragging the case on for seven years, and the officers in question facing no disciplinary action. Criminal charges were also recommended by the prosecution service, but were not pursued.

• The police justified the use of force against Gray claiming he was using threatening behaviour and had difficulty restraining him.

Reminder: Gray’s beating by police left him with a ruptured testicle, a fractured eye socket and nose, among other injuries, according to CTV.

QUOTE

“If I were a citizen of Vancouver I’d be desperately concerned about what appears to be the excessive use of force and violence and this complete failure of accountability both internally and externally.” Arthur Schafer, founding director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, in response to the police’s actions surrounding the arrest and death of Myles Gray. [CityNews]

THE AGENDA

⛺ Unions who represent shelter works and employees who were part of the East Hastings encampment sweep have condemned the city and the police for their actions. [The Tyee]

🪧 Most of the Public Service Alliance of Canada federal workers who have been on strike for more than a week are heading back to work today. The union said it had a tentative deal with the government that would give workers a 12.6 percent raise over four years, as well as language about remote work. Union members still have to ratify the deal. [PSAC]

☕ Coffee is about to get oh-so-slightly cheaper. The single-use cup fee of $0.25 will end today. Council voted to end the cup fee, as critics claimed it did little to reduce single cup usage. [Urbanized]

🚆 Rupert SkyTrain Station was closed on Saturday after a body was discovered. The cause of death is not yet known. [Global]

🥵 Yes, it was hot this weekend, so hot in fact that over a dozen daily maximum temperature records were broken across B.C. Lytton was the hottest city in the province. [CTV]

🚍 An off-duty bus driver was the target of a racist attack last Tuesday and now the union representing transit operators is calling on better security. [Global]

🚢 The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is hinting they may restart looking at the feasibility of a new cruise ship terminal. The problem is new ships are too tall to fit under the Lions Gate Bridge, and cannot dock downtown. And no, a drawbridge is not an option! [Urbanized]

🗳 Indigenous leader Joan Phillip has won the NDP nomination for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant after no one else ran. There is no date set for the byelection. Don’t expect it to be close, Melanie Mark won it for the NDP with 67 percent of the vote. [Business in Vancouver]

🔥 Vancouver’s major crimes division is now investigating the fire at the Kitsilano Showboat. A GoFundMe has raised more than $50,000 for the Kitsilano Showboat Society to help them recover. [Global]

EVENTS

Art Vancouver | Vancouver Convention Center West | May 4-7 | Western Canada’s most prestigious art fair, some see artists from across the world | Tickets $17

Patty Pass | Multiple restaurants | Now until August 31 | Get 50 percent off a featured burger if you purchase a pass. Restaurants include Between2Buns, Downlow Burgers, Miller’s and Fries, Pourhouse and others | Pass is $15

Free Vancouver Art Gallery Admission | Friday | Attend the Vancouver Art Gallery for free in their inaugural “Free First Friday Night” | Free!

Drive my Car | VIFF | Today and Thursday, afternoons | A philosophical drama about a theatre director who lost his wife, nominated for Best Director | Tickets $15

Family Storytime | Central Library | Tuesday, 11:15 am-11:45 am | Ongoing program for parents and caregivers with kids, with songs, rhymes and stories, suitable for young kids | Free

Vancouver Tech Morning Coffee | The Coffee Bar | Tuesday, 8 am-10 am | Networking event for people in tech in Vancouver | Free

VIDEO OF THE DAY

YouTuber Nic Laporte has created a deep-dive video exploring the truth about Vancouver’s bike lanes, or lack thereof.

AROUND THE WORLD

This Twitter thread explores how Paris shifted from a car-dependent city to leader in sustainable urban development, such as biking. The takeaway? Converting roads and parking into bike infrastructure increased bike usage. You might say it’s one reason why it’s such a world-class city.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A new documentary called Big Fight in Little Chinatown explores the history and future of four Chinatowns across North America. Watch it at the Documentary Film Festival. [CBC]

• If you’re a Maple Leafs fan, local bar The Regal Beagle is where you’ll want to visit. [CBC]

• The sales portal for Recreation Vancouver is getting an update, and it should be easier to book activities. [Vancouver.ca]

• Don’t think an SUV should be driving here… [Twitter]

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Start your day off with some good news:

A team of UBC researchers believe they’ve discovered a new way to prevent blood clots. The process was tested in mice to great effect and uses a molecule that helps with blood clotting, without causing thinning of blood which is a common side effect of anti-clotting medication. [Vancouver Sun]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Did any readers enjoy the sun this weekend? Send in your photos and we’ll share them in the newsletter.

GAME TIME

The answer to Friday’s Wordle was WATER.

Today’s quiz question will be easy for anyone who reads the newsletter. There’s a less-than-popular fee that ended today. What was the fee and how much was it? Reply with your answer to be featured in the newsletter.

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