Historic neighbourhood is home to the worst intersection in Metro Vancouver

One of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods can now add another title to its storied history, but it’s an ignominious one.

The busy Mount Pleasant intersection of Main Street and Kingsway and East 7th Avenue was recently voted the worst intersection in all of Metro Vancouver.

Vision Zero Vancouver, a non-profit advocacy organization for road safety, explained that they conducted the months-long poll “out of genuine curiosity and to prove a point.”

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“Terrifyingly bad infrastructure is all around us, no matter what corner of the region we live in,” said Vision Zero in its final report.

“After six rounds of voting, we still do not know why engineers and politicians keep designing unsafe roads, time and again, but we do know what 14,000 of you think is the worst intersection in all of Metro Vancouver.”

Main Street and Kingsway and East 7th Avenue was crowned The Grand Loser due to it being “truly a terrible intersection for all road users.”

It beat out Number 3 Road and Sea Island Way by nearly 30 percent in the final voting.

Vision Zero Vancouver

According to Vision Zero, the uniquely shaped intersection sees up to 128 crashes a year. That makes it the most dangerous in Vancouver in terms of crash volume when excluding bridge and highway on- and off-ramps.

The final poll results also highlighted the limited crossings for pedestrians as well as the confusing bike route detour in place for cyclists.

“It’s all the more jarring that the main intersection in the heart of a thriving commercial strip is designed not to be a great destination for people, but to funnel traffic in and out of downtown,” added Vision Zero.

“While the clock tower in the middle of the intersection welcomes you to Mount Pleasant, the built infrastructure around it is anything but welcoming.”

Vision Zero Vancouver

Mount Pleasant BIA posted a response to Vision Zero’s poll by acknowledging that the tricky intersection is “cramping our neighbourhood’s style.”

It also pointed out that the upcoming four-month full closure of a section of Broadway near Main Street for subway construction will only make things more challenging.

“Voted grand loser out of all the City’s intersections, and you know what’s going to make this intersection a heck of a lot worse? Closing Broadway to all vehicle traffic, and 8th avenue to general vehicle traffic,” posted the Mount Pleasant BIA on Instagram. “Yikes!”

March 2023 view of Broadway looking west, with the temporary Mount Pleasant Station traffic deck. (Government of BC)

Vancouver residents also sounded off on social media, adding that walking, cycling, scootering or driving through Main Street and Kingsway and East 7th Avenue is perilous.

“I use this intersection every day and it is always SO unpleasant,” said one commenter. “Drivers are confused, and honking is constant. Emergency vehicles always seem to have trouble getting through. Would love to see the city take action.”

“The turning lanes from 7th to Kingsway are incredibly tight, and even though I always try to watch the other lane, I’ve been in an accident where the inner driver did not follow the lane markers and they went straight into my door,” added another on Reddit.

“I don’t blame them, though, since it’s a super tight lane and just horrible overall.”

Vision Zero agreed that the Broadway closure at Main Street for subway construction in early 2026 will only make things worse for Mount Pleasant..

“With Broadway blocked off for months, we expect to see 7th Avenue absorb most of Broadway’s traffic, raising alarm bells for pedestrians walking in the area and cyclists using the dangerously uncontrolled crossing of the Ontario Bikeway.

“We hope that the City and Province are taking measures to mitigate these dangers, and will hold them to account if they don’t.”