Driving & traffic, Vancouver

by Ann75
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Traffic lights in
downtown Vancouver

If you rent a car and drive around in Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia then it's a good thing to be aware of some traffic rules.

Unless there is a sign to the contrary, you may turn right at a RED traffic light. You must always come to a complete stop and check that the way is clear before making a right turn on a red light. And always watch out if there are specific right turning traffic lights, then you have to wait until you can turn.

To turn right at a Red traffic light is common for North America, but it might be a good thing to know for travellers from Europe and other parts of this world where this rule doesn't apply.

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	Driving & traffic: Watch for the One Way street signs Tip Rating:

By Ann75

on August 26, 2004

by Ann75
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White arrows by street signs
and traffic light

If you are planning to drive in downtown Vancouver, it might be a good idea to get a good map and figure out your drive before you are going.

I am telling you this because a bunch of streets in downtown Vancouver are ONE WAY streets and you have to be careful that you don't turn into one of these and go the wrong way.

Just keep your eyes open for the white arrows by the streetname signs and traffic light. It will show you which way you can go or not...if there are no signs you can go any way you want to.

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	Driving & traffic: Don't leave any valuebles in the car Tip Rating:

By Ann75

on August 17, 2004

by Ann75
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Our car parked at Jericho
Beach

If you rent a car in Vancouver for your travels, then make sure where ever you park that you don't leave any valueble things in sight. The best is to stick everything in your trunk or just take it in with you.

From the moment you leave things in sight, you might get robbed. So be aware of this and keep everything out of sight.

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	Driving & traffic: Parking Tip Rating:

By Jyrki

on July 9, 2003

by Jyrki
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Get used to seeing this if you
drive downtown

Parking in the downtown core is to say the least, unpleasant. The closer you are to important areas of downtown the number of available parking spaces declines exponentially. My recommendation is to take the bus into downtown and stop somewhere central (Granville & Robson) and explore the downtown core by foot. This will save you the headache and frustration of finding an open spot not to mention more than a few dollars that can be better spent elsewhere.

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	Driving & traffic: Vancouver's Granville Mall Tip Rating:

By rmdw

on May 22, 2005

by rmdw
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What's odd about this street?

If you look at the photo for a moment, do you notice something strange? It's the middle of the day, there are lots of people around, yet . . . ??? In the distance you see two buses. But where are all the cars? Did I get lucky with this photo? Were they filming a movie? Nope. This section of Granville Street downtown is called "Granville Mall". Regular vehicles are not allowed, except for buses, taxis, and emergency vehicles.

The street was changed over this way in the 1970's, with the aspiration of it becoming a European style pedestrian mall. Instead, it has become a North American style scumbag zone.

In the past few years it has slowly improved, but does not come close to shining like the once glamourous street it used to be.

So, before you turn down this street with your car, observe the signs to see if its permissible. As a tourist you may not get a ticket ... but there are no guarantees!

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	Driving & traffic: Don't Go Through Red Lights! Tip Rating:

By rmdw

on May 13, 2005

by rmdw
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Red Light Traffic Camera

I'm fully aware that in some cities it's common practice to ignore amber traffic lights and treat red one as a "suggestion". If this is the way you drive then change your habits when you get to Vancouver!

Throughout the city are a number of special cameras like this one that photograph every vehicle that enters the intersection during a red light. You WILL get fined and it will cost you a bundle, so don't do it!!

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	Driving & traffic: They need to go back to traffic planning school!! Tip Rating:

Updated By spartan

on October 2, 2002

by spartan
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Oh so good!!!

The Road Network is Horrible - ladies and gentlemen, I usually don't complain when I visit other cities and other countries, but the road system that they have in Vancouver is terrible. There is construction all over the place, signs guiding to you to the place you need to be are absent, and traffic is a nighmare. Please note that if you need to be somewhere at a certain time, allow 2 hours to get there! Vancouver is a wonderful city, but the traffic planners must have graduated from another planet to setup a system like this. So do as I did...find a nice place to eat and enjoy your surroundings!!!

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	Driving & traffic: The top 10 accident locations,... Tip Rating:

By Psychokiwi

on August 24, 2002

The top 10 accident locations, as supplied by Vancouver Police Traffic Services Department:

1.) Stanley Park Causeway
2.) 49th Avenue at Knight Street
3.) Burrard and Georgia Streets
4.) 33rd Avenue and Knight Street
5.) Cambie Street at Marine Drive
6.) 100 East Hastings Street
7.) Broadway and Clark Drive
8.) 49th Avenue and Oak Street
9.) Burrard Street and Pacific Blvd.
10.) Broadway and Rupert Street

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	Driving & traffic: Left Turn onto one way while red is legal!

By SlayerJohn

on August 9, 2005

I would just like to add that in BC, I don't know about any other provinces, it IS legal to turn left onto a one way street while red but you must use extreme caution. The common sense rule of thumb here is, if there is only one direction of traffick to watch out for, then it is ok if you adhere to strict safety precautions. If there is an accident, then you are at fault in most cirmcumstances.

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	Driving & traffic: If you're driving, be careful...

By bellatrix

on August 26, 2002

If you're driving, be careful - I find drivers in Vancouver to be very unfriendly!