Members of the grassroots group Save Vancouver Streets said they delivered a petition with 6,517 signatures to Vancouver City Hall on Monday seeking a ballot initiative that would require voter approval to remove traffic lanes.
If the signatures are certified, the initiative will appear on the November 2025 ballot.
The group formed in response to the city’s so-called complete streets policy, which seeks to add bike lanes, sidewalks and improved pedestrian crossings. Members worked tirelessly over the past six month to gather signatures, organizer Justin Wood said. They ended up with 2,287 more signatures than the city requires, he said.
“We literally were just six people trying to do this,” Wood said.
The group jump-started the initiative after the city proposed major changes, including removing lanes, along Southeast McGillivray Boulevard, Southeast 34th Street, Main Street and other local roads. The projects fall under the city’s complete streets program, which was adopted in 2017 and aims to create a transportation network that is available to anyone regardless of how they commute.
Save Vancouver Streets argues the program makes roads more dangerous and congested. Group members say they’re frustrated by the lack of public involvement in decisions. They have complained at community forums that city councilors are difficult to contact and that the city is not taking their opinions into account.
