The stretch of Hornby street between Pacific and Dunsmuir is a vibrant hub in the heart of downtown Vancouver, bustling with pedestrians going to work or enjoying the various cultural attractions lining this strip. Unfortunately, this area became the site of tragedy when a driver mounted the sidewalk striking a father and killing his 23-month old daughter.
Several additional incidents have occurred in this area when drivers mounted the sidewalk, striking pedestrians:
- A mother and child were struck by a driver that drove onto the sidewalk at Hornby and Nelson.
- A driver crashed their vehicle through the front of a business on Hornby between Helmcken and Nelson, resulting in one injury and structural damage to the building
- Two pedestrians were injured when a car reversed across a bikelane and onto the sidewalk on Hornby between Drake and Davie.
We’re not sure what it is about this stretch of Hornby, but something about the design leads to drivers frequently ending up on the sidewalk. Sometimes it ends in tragedy, and when it doesn’t, it’s only by sheer luck. Unfortunately, the pattern suggests it’ll happen again.
This begs the question: when tragedy strikes, how do we respond?
When similar incidents have occurred in other jurisdictions officials have responded by adding bollards to sidewalks to physically separate pedestrians from vehicles.
- Following a 2017 incident in New York City where a driver mounted a sidewalk, killing one person and injuring 20 others, before a traffic bollard stopped the vehicle preventing further casualties, the city installed more bollards in the area to prevent future tragedies.
- New York City’s default strategy for securitizing pedestrian areas from vehicle attacks is to use crash-rated Bollards.
- After a 2022 crash in which a driver mounted a sidewalk and drove through a storefront, killing one person and injuring 16 others, bollards were installed on the sidewalk to protect pedestrians and storefronts.
To date, no changes have been made to improve pedestrian safety along this stretch of road.
We’re asking that the City of Vancouver undertake a pilot project, installing bollards along Hornby to protect pedestrians from vehicle traffic. If the pilot is successful, bollards can be added to additional high-risk areas around the city.
How can you help?
- Have you experienced a near miss or accident on this stretch of road? Share your story on social media. Tag us so we can amplify it! @visionzeroyvr (Instagram) or @visionzerovancouver.ca (Bluesky)
- Contact the Vancouver mayor and city councilors:
Ken.Sim@vancouver.ca,
CLRbligh@vancouver.ca,
CLRmaloney@vancouver.ca,
CLRorr@vancouver.ca,
CLRdominato@vancouver.ca,
CLRfry@vancouver.ca,
CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca,
CLRklassen@vancouver.ca,
CLRmeiszner@vancouver.ca,
CLRmontague@vancouver.ca,
CLRzhou@vancouver.ca
Vision Zero Vancouver 