When a residential street feels like a shortcut, drivers will treat it like one.

That is exactly what is happening on Triumph Street between Semlin Drive and Nanaimo Street (2000 to 2300 blocks) and it’s putting people at risk.

 

What’s the Problem?

This stretch of Triumph Street lacks basic traffic calming and safety design. As a result, it serves as a path of least resistance for commuters using it as a cut-through in an attempt to avoid nearby arterial routes like Dundas Street and Hastings Street.

Residents and neighbours regularly experience:

• Vehicles driving up the wrong way on one-way streets and alleyways
• Speeding, shortcutting, and disregard for traffic signs
• Zero marked crosswalks and poor pedestrian visibility at intersections
• Collisions, near misses, and unsafe interactions between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists

This is not occasional or accidental behaviour - it’s predictable, repeated, and enabled by lack of road safety measures.

Personal anecdote: On January 24th, I was scraping the ice off of my vehicle which was parked near 2056 Triumph Street. I was nearly hit by 2 back-to-back SUVs that were speeding up the wrong direction on the one-way street. The 2nd SUV was a close encounter, and escalated when the driver exited his vehicle, verbally assaulted me, and shoved me backwards down the hill onto the icy road. The VPD is unable to do anything as there is no photo or video footage at this time.

Why This Matters!

Between 2020 and 2024, there were 36 reported crashes along this four-block stretch of Triumph Street. 15 of those accidents involved casualties. (Source: ICBC crash statistics)

This is a residential street used daily by families, seniors, cyclists, people with disabilities, pet owners, and drivers. It should not feel dangerous to walk, park, or cross.

Traffic signs alone don’t create safe streets. Street design shapes driver behaviour, and the signs only determine who will be at fault once unsafe behaviours inevitably occur. This is why traffic calming infrastructure is essential - it prevents incorrect actions by making safe behaviour the only option for drivers.

 

We Call on the City of Vancouver To:

Prioritize Triumph Street (2000–2300 blocks) for a traffic safety review
Include it in the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Program
Work with residents to implement traffic calming measures that:

• Reduce speeding and short-cutting
• Prevent wrong-way driving
• Improve pedestrian visibility and/or crossings
• Protect the safety and comfort of people walking, biking, and rolling

 

Why Sign?
Traffic violence is preventable. Safer street design saves lives and keeps our community members safe.

We need real change in road safety for Triumph Street. Sign this petition to help make our road safer for everyone.