Vancouver lagging in recovery of foot traffic, research shows

Cities around Canada are beginning to see foot traffic pick up again since the early days of the pandemic, but Vancouver appears to be lagging behind.

New research from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce shows Vancouver is among the worst performers when compared to major Canadian cities. Data shows a 47 per cent decrease in foot traffic in September of 2022 compared to January 2020.

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CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Bridgitte Anderson, points to remote work and public safety issues but hopes things will change with a new premier and mayor.

“There needs to be a really wholesale kind of approach to being able to solve the complex problems around public safety and crime. And all three levels of government need to be at the table,” she told CityNews.

“Seeing the very urgent action being taken by Vancouver city council and by the new mayor, as well as seeing some urgent action being taken by the new premier, David Eby. I think all of that are really good first steps.”

Safety measures lead to increased foot traffic in one neighbourhood

Executive director of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association, Annette O’Shea, says she understands why people aren’t as eager to shop as a pedestrian.

“We saw how vulnerable our social society is and I think that got an awful lot of people nervous about coming back,” she said.

O’Shea says her neighbourhood has seen foot traffic return, saying a new lighting program and increased security measures are key drivers.

“So that our stores could literally be safer, and so that could light our buildings and light our streets more so you could see where you are going, feel invited, and feel that there was somebody home,” she said.

With Vancouver moving ahead with plans to hire 100 new police officers and 100 new mental health nurses, O’Shea says it could benefit business.

“We’re really holding city council’s feet to the fire about hiring these new 100 new police officers,” she said. “We need those feet on the street so everybody city-wide feels safe.”

What has been lacking in Vancouver appears to be benefitting suburban cities, the research shows. Downtown Chilliwack, for example, has seen a 61 per cent increase in foot traffic since 2020.