We asked Vancouverites what they love or loathe about their city, and boy did they deliver!
Rants and raves are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of Westender (duh).
West End
The anti-downtown atmosphere is amazing. Forget the craziness of Granville Street... There are so many fantastic restaurants and entertainment venues down in the West End to be explored. And who doesn’t love being so near the ocean! Check out the Bayside Lounge...a quaint, hidden gem above Starbucks on Davie and Denman. DJs every night, cheap drinks, no cover, and an amazing panoramic view of English Bay. Best viewing at sunset!
–jrdnlcrx
The area is too crowded all the time, with very expenisive up-town snob type stores and restaurants. Not enough smaller family-oriented restaraunts.
–Roy and Tia
Hey you, cyclists! Please get off my sidewalk! Especially if you’re just a few metres from the seawall.
–vcinbc
Plethora of small stores packed with interesting goodies,
will definitely need a few smoothies.
–Domo Arigato
Robson Street is busy people! Walk on the “right” side and remember there are OTHER people on the sidewalk with you!
–westcoastnerd
When parking in a permit parking spot people park too far ahead or too far behind the permit parking border and it wastes part of a parking spot.
–bacall77
Living in one of the cheaper buildings, I HATE how other residents have no respect for the common spaces! Your trash does not belong in the hall!
–cj
Robson is great for shopping! And people watching!
–drewski74
Parking meters have too short a time limit.
–Lisette Peterson
Permit parking: I just hate arriving home late in the evening and seeing cars parked over two spots so permit parking is full. We will turn into something similar to Boston as locals are afraid of using their cars in case they lose their parking space. Asking at the permit office, they admit they oversell permits, so the number of permits sold are way over the actual number of parking spots. Ride share programs didnt help buying up parking spots.
–SM
Without any skytrain lines heading this way it seems so far from the rest of downtown! Despite a myriad of amazing restaurants, bars and even nightlife, the crowds are reluctant to make the journey.
–jrdnlcrx
We live in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the world. Mountains and ocean together. Truly magnificent.
–Queenie
Hey, gardeners who claim those West End roundabouts for big, tall plants – people crossing the street are hard enough to spot now, what with all the trees and turn signs. If I see one more dog walker or kid on a bike almost mowed down by a car that didn’t spot them among the big, lush, groovy flowers, I might just whip out my clippers. Lush and low! Colourful creepers, people!
–Christina
Summer and the beach, it can’t get much better.
–Jessica
Snooty attitude on Robson. I miss Robsonstrasse.
–zipodoug
We have to shut up before 10pm, so not so funny after 10pm.
–sara galli
Everything is close by – I LOVE that I can walk to get anything and everything I need.
–cj
People should be proud of where they live and refrain from throwing garbage, coffee cups and cigarette butts on the ground.
–Queenie
If people are to get out of their cars and they choose to walk, they better walk at a fast pace and have a definite destination because public washrooms along the way are sparse to non-existant.
–Klaus Ganske
Love all the improvements and highlights the city is putting into our West End. This is nothing to do with being gay, straight...but the fact that it’s culturally open. Although do love the rainbow crosswalk. Miss the parking benches. And love the running street lights. Keep it up.
–Kev
Downtown
I love how there are so many trendy restaurants in Yaletown. My girlfriends and I always have new places to go. I also love how Yaletown has upscale grocery stores and everyone has a puppy!
–Samantha
Dogs off-leash or on-leash but attached to owners who use up the entire width of the sidewalks.
–westcoastnerd
Although it may not be the popular opinion, I love the bike lanes, they keep those that live downtown out of their cars and on their bikes! So well designed for Urban Living - many people who live and work downtown are riding their bikes exclusively now rain or shine! Thumbs up!
–Madalena Corsi
Awful setup, impossible to find a great bar right outside Rogers Arena and Yaletown is too far away for it to be a convenient location. Lets not even start on the parking!
–Cory B
East Side
All the great places seem to be slowly disappearing to make way for new developments, which is sad!
–Jessica
Explosion of great local craft beers.
Couple rounds of cheers.
–Domo Arigato
To the few cyclist who have reflective gear, lights, and helmets, THANK YOU! To the many cyclist out there who ride around in black clothing, no reflective gear, no lights on their bikes, AND no helmet...get off the road! (And stay off the sidewalks too!)
–Sam
My neighborhood of East Village is so up and coming and a great place to live. Everything is here you have no need to go anywhere else! Great coffee shops, great food, and everything in between!
–Shawneesand
Street people that can inform you of all the gossip going down in my hood. They know who’s moving into businesses, who to watch out for, and keep an eye on your car.
–Stephen Bonner
Commercial Drive will always be my favourite part on the East Side!
–drewski74
Why are we moving all the homeless shelters and social housing to the best areas of town? We worked hard to get where we are and yet some people are gifted these
–Ian Y
I live in the Gastown/Crosstown area bordering on Chinatown, we have a young toddler and a teenager. Our neighbourhood has an eclectic mix of residents, never a dull moment! I thoroughly enjoy walking my dogs and young son and discovering our ever changing hood, there are so many new and exciting local businesses opening on the regular. I probably wouldn’t have bothered to walk around Chinatown a few years ago, but if you haven’t lately I’m sure you would be pleasantly surprised! Great coffee, food, local designers and pop up shops and much more!
–Erin Rocco
I’m a big fan of supporting local businesses and the Main Street area is where a lot of them thrive. From craft beer pubs like Brassneck to niche boutiques like the Soap Dispensary, Main Street offers a diverse line up of fun, hip businesses. Rent is relatively affordable compared to the downtown core and there are great pockets of green space. I can guarantee the best coffee can be found in the hood with 49th Parallel, Matchstick and JJ Bean within blocks from each other. I vote for hipsterville, Mount Pleasant!
–Christina Florencio
West Side
Kitsilano needs a microbrewery. We are losing hold of our last frayed wisps of rope in the tug of war with East Van over night life. We know we will never come close to winning, but to not be able to play the game altogether?...That sucks.
–Dr. Z
I like the location of my neighbourhood, as it doesn’t take too long to travel to other areas in Vancouver and to nearby municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby and New Westminster.
–Vancouver Guy
Housing prices, traffic congestion, overcrowding on the 99 B Line Express.
–zipodoug
Too expensive!
–bjh
Too pricey to live in!
–Sonja Starke
Too many trees!
–Chuckie
Hooray for bike lanes. Contrary to what a lot the retirees and multi-millionaires of Kits believe, our bike lanes will not bring anarchy and will not destroy our wonderful neighbourhood.
–BM
We have so many young kids on the street who will not take shoes when they have none or bottles in exchange for money when they are asking for it...[I] feel more and more that we are enabling instead of helping when we are giving money to those who are not willing to work for it and are able to work for it.
–Winnie Upton
I absolutely love living in the West Side! There’s nothing better than waking up to a beautiful beach and being able to jump on your bike and ride along the seawall. There are so many amazing restaurants, big and small. There are tons of really great bars! You can find so many awesome activities including lots of yoga studios and bike shops. Shopping on West 4th is fantastic.
–Andy M
Beautiful area – nice and cozy up against the mountains with a view of the ocean and Stanley park.
–Roy and Tia
Traffic congestion during rush hours linger,
And the usual idiot that gives a finger.
–Domo Arigato
I live in the gap. Not the clothing store but the non-neighbourhood of mostly renters that deserves an identity. We are a square north of the rich area of Shaunessey, south of Broadway, west of Oak, and east of Hemlock. The outdoor shopping mall for the rich known as “South Granville” has disowned us, and no longer services us since removing any decent food, grocers, or affordable stores. We are not part of Fairview slopes, as we are not on the slope. Even the city has multiple names for us and we have no park.
–Steve V.
So many absentee home owners willing to pay above what the market demands.
–Bro D
I just discovered a new neighbourhood, Wesbrook Village in UBC. It is such a lovely neighbourhood right beside Pacific Spirit Park. You feel like you are in Whistler with tons of green streets, parks and playgrounds. I love that I can park there (for free), grab a coffee and walk through the park with my dog.
–Vancouver Resident
Nothing beats May at Wreck Beach. During weekdays there is no one around and the weather is gorgeous.
–Dr. Z
I just have a total pet peeve about trend things... I drank coffee before it was trendy to do so. If you think about it...it’s just coffee...no big deal really! Now there’s a coffee shop on every corner of the street! It bugs me to no end to think people just drink coffee to fit in and feel good about themselves! Sad really!
–drewski74
What is with all the laneway houses?! Our neighbourhood is becoming worse day by day! The neighbourhood is pricey for a reason.
–Ian Y
I love how close I am to the hospital. When I have to wait six to eight hours in the emergency I can cross the street for food breaks and reading material. Other than that I’m not sure if there’s a perk.
–Angela
Meter parking is too expensive. You want business in Vancouver but you deter people to shop local by gouging the customer.
–Karey
To the few cyclist who have reflective gear, lights, and helmets, THANK YOU! To the many cyclist out there who ride around in black clothing, no reflective gear, no lights on their bikes, AND no helmet...Get off the road!! (and stay off the sidewalks too!)
–Sam
1. I’m angry as hell at people who use their phones while driving; they are putting all of our lives at risk! 2. I’m tired of people complaining about the bike lanes. They are here. Embrace them. Get on a bike. Embrace it.
–Ben
I live off 18th and Cambie. Its a nice area but I get sick of all the yuppies in nice cars shopping at choices market growing kale in their gardens and playing tennis.
–Caelin
So many cars driving by. My window sills are constantly layered with soot and I’m not even on the main road! Evenings filled with the sounds of cars, ambulances and the occasional car crash to add to the mix.
–Angela
Too much tidy and clean.
–sara galli
Why are you biking on West 4th when there are bike routes north and south of this always busy street? There should be streets closed to through traffic and there should also be streets closed to cyclists. If a cyclist gets hit on 4th they will blame the driver and not their bad judgement. Even if it’s totally the cyclist’s fault it still ruins the driver’s day. Don’t be selfish and don’t give cyclist’s a bad name.
–BM
Westside is more neat and tidy... better kept than the East Side!
–drewski74
I’m loving the number of good restaurants developing around this area of town.
–Ian Y
Parking is a nightmare.
–alynne
