Worried for the safety of his toddler, a Vancouver man is voicing his concerns about speeders in his neighbourhood.
Wilson Tran lives at Adanac and Skeena streets in the Hastings-Sunrise area of East Vancouver. It’s a 30km/h zone and there’s a park nearby frequented by the Tran’s and their neighbours.
“Adanac is not officially a major thoroughfare road, but a lot of rush hour traffic uses it to avoid congestion on Hastings Street and Boundary. So, during the peak rush hour periods, there’s a heavy amount of traffic that goes through,” he explained.
The intersection has a three-way stop with one pedestrian crossing.
“We have to hold ourselves there because a car charges through the stop sign without slowing down or recognizing that we’re there. And just the traffic, in general, is pretty terrible and dangerous, frankly,” Tran said.
“At times, I can just look out my front window and I’ll watch as, say, a senior pedestrian will be crossing, and he has to stop because a car literally charges through in front of him.”
From his vantage point, Tran says drivers almost never go the posted limit, instead opting to go around 50km/h.
“There’s actually a couple of speed bumps as well, but a lot of times I would say 50km/h, minimum 40km/h, definitely not 30 km/h,” he explained.
Tran wants increased police enforcement in the area a couple of times a week to help curb the number of speeding drivers.
“[I’m] scared for my kid’s life. He’s been such a great change in our lives to have him. He’s our first child and just knowing that drivers are going through and many times not paying attention, either they’re focused on getting to work or home on time or in a rush and they don’t watch,” Tran told 1130 NewsRadio.
“He’s my first kid. I, obviously, care a lot for his well-being and obviously our own. It’s a terrible thought that he could get seriously hurt.”
He says the number of near-misses in the area are concerning.
“I’ve been in so many near-misses that it really is a matter of time until someone gets hurt or worse.”
Tran suggests the city put up warning signs in the area to slow down.
“The 30km/h sign clearly doesn’t have any effect to something that has flashing lights or something that gets attention would help.”
The City of Vancouver tells 1130 NewsRadio it has a plan to improve the area. It says the entire neighbourhood will become a 30km/h vehicle travel zone by no later than next year.
“Speed humps on Skeena St. between Turner and E. Pender St. [will be] installed 2024/2025. Raised crossings on Adanac Street integrated into future design between Rupert Street and Boundary Road [will be] installed sometime 2026 onwards,” it shared in an email.
The city adds the overall goal is to improve safety for all road users and reduce vehicle speeds.
Tran believes having some of the changes not kick in until 2026 is too late.
“Of course, their intent is for improvement in the long-term but there’s a long two-year wait before something happens and in two years a lot of bad can happen if they don’t do something about it right now,” he said.