Granville Street stays car-free through Labour Day with council approval

Vancouver will keep Granville Street car-free and maintain temporary patios and public realm expansions through Labour Day on Monday, September 7, city council voted on Thursday, July 2.

The decision extends what the city describes as an overwhelming success. Since the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone launched during the World Cup, the street has become, in the city's words, "one of Canada's busiest and most vibrant public spaces."

Mayor Ken Sim emphasized the shift in how residents are experiencing downtown. "Vancouver has rediscovered what's possible when we put people at the heart of our city," he said. "Granville Street has been full of energy, local businesses are seeing more customers, and residents and visitors have told us loud and clear that they want this momentum to continue."

During a walking conversation with residents on the car-free street, many expressed enthusiasm for extending the pilot. The city says the pilot expansion allows local businesses to capitalize on their investments in outdoor spaces created for the tournament, while also letting the city gather data on pedestrian activity, transportation, business performance, and public safety during both major-event and typical summer conditions.

The extension passed despite opposition from Councillors Pete Fry and Rebecca Bligh.

City council is also considering reactivating the zone in November for a potential Christmas market and to gather additional data on seasonal viability.