A long-term resident in 蜜桃视频apphas repeatedly voiced concerns for road users, including vulnerable pedestrians, regarding 蜜桃视频appGeneral Hospital’s parking lot and its adjacent road.
Resident of 蜜桃视频appfor 12 years, Dawn Chisholm, first wrote a letter of concern to the District of 蜜桃视频appin June 2023. Though she said she received an acknowledgment from the District, she was disappointed to receive no formal response to her concerns nor any apparent relevant changes implemented.
Chisholm presented a report of grievances last month and delivered it to The 蜜桃视频app, among other outlets.
Chisholm detailed her concerns regarding the 100-metre stretch of Clarke and Behrner Drive, between Guilford Drive and the main hospital entrance, where there is a three-way intersection.
Chisholm suggested that clear boundaries ought to be introduced on the open-access site by repurposing concrete barriers and introducing traffic-calming measures like speed bumps and clearer signage, with distinct ingress and egress points. She also hopes for a formal safety review to be conducted.
She added that an “extra stress point” of increased congestion has been partially created by the EV station, installed in The upcoming development is also likely to contribute.
“I have witnessed increasingly dangerous interactions between vehicles and pedestrians,” she said, “the design of the parking lot prioritizes vehicle volume over safety, with multiple uncontrolled access points directly onto the roadway, used by cars, buses, and large construction trucks. The conditions remain incompatible with Squamish’s stated commitment to safe, active transportation.”
Chisholm said that with no barriers along Behrner Drive, vehicles often reverse or turn out of the parking lot arbitrarily over painted lines, with minimal visibility.
She added that drivers could fail to see wheelchair users due to their lower visibility.
Some vehicles may cross double yellow lines southbound into a 30 km/h school zone, and may also accelerate quickly to merge onto the often busy roadway.
According to, solid double-yellow lines may only be crossed when entering or leaving a highway, or to make space for vulnerable road users. Vulnerable road users in the hospital’s vicinity include school children on bicycles, senior care-home residents (care-home Hilltop House is also located on Behrner Drive), and hospital patients who are likely less mobile.
Although measures were taken by the District and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to construct more accessible parking spots and a more level tarmac surface, Chisholm remains dissatisfied with the amendments to the parking lot thus far.
“I was really hoping there would be a lot of construction and fixing it up,” she said. “It seems that [the District’s] priority has been about getting a smooth surface. The time for action is now, not after a foreseeable collision or tragedy.”
A District spokesperson said that the parking lot’s safety improvements were actually initiated in response to Chisholm’s initial letter, and there are further plans for improvements in the works.
Lilly Marie Peterson, media relations and content specialist with the municipality, said the District collaborated with VCH to install barriers along Guilford Drive to restrict parking lot access. The gravel shoulder beyond the bike lane on Behrner Drive was also paved to help delineate the parking spaces. This year, they plan to reduce the parking lot access points and to remove 90-degree parking on Behrner Drive, which is more aligned with Chisholm’s sentiments.
“The District is dedicated to enhancing safety zones around schools, hospitals, and community facilities to promote safer travel for all residents,” she said.
Furthermore, a spokesperson for VCH said in a statement to The 蜜桃视频app that, with the District, they have contracted a civil engineering expert to conduct a survey and make recommendations to further enhance parking at the hospital.
VCH’s statement adds that they are ‘committed to being a good neighbour in the communities where we operate, and will continue to work with local partners to address any concerns raised.’
Ina Pace is The 蜜桃视频app's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter.
This reporting was produced through the which supports original civic journalism across Canada.
