Pedestrians crossing an intersection diagonally at the scramble crossing

Pedestrian scramble crossing debuts at Granville and Robson intersection

July 30 2024 –

Today, the City activated a pedestrian scramble at the intersection of Granville and Robson streets that will increase pedestrian priority at the location. 

The pedestrian scramble at Granville and Robson has signal phasing that offers people the ability to cross simultaneously in all directions, including diagonally, while vehicle movement is stopped in all directions.

The Granville-Robson pedestrian scramble includes accessible pedestrian signals (APS) that provide audible and vibrotactile cues to alert people who are blind or who have low vision to the walk cycle. The intersection of Granville and Robson streets was chosen for a pedestrian scramble due to its consistently high pedestrian volumes and prominent location.

Scramble benefits:

  • Increased pedestrian priority: Pedestrian scrambles, also known as “Barnes Dances,” allocate dedicated time for pedestrians to cross in all directions, including diagonally. By doing so, they prioritize pedestrian safety and convenience.
  • Reduced crossing distance and time: Pedestrian scrambles shorten the distance pedestrians need to cross because they can move diagonally. This can lead to quicker crossings and less time spent waiting at intersections.
  • Enhanced placemaking and urban vibrancy: Implementing a pedestrian scramble can create a notable place and contribute to a more vibrant and lively urban environment.

(The installation of scramble paint markings were delayed due to rain and will be installed Wednesday evening.)

City staff will closely monitor the intersection’s performance, guiding potential modifications and future implementation at other locations.

Background

In 2023, Council directed staff (331 KB) to advance a design and pilot a pedestrian scramble at the intersection of Granville and Robson streets and engage with stakeholders, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), to inform the design. 

Vancouver was one of the first cities in the world to implement a pedestrian scramble at Granville and Hastings streets that was in operation from 1953 until 1970. More recently, in 2019 the City installed an all-walk phase at the intersection of Hornby and Robson streets to stop all vehicle traffic to let pedestrians cross in all crosswalks simultaneously. However, this location does not include a diagonal crossing.