Barbie And Friends

Vancouver's Mobile Bicycle Shop: Vancycle

I've seen this vehicle around the city many times. Vancycle offers a full range of repairs and sales on wheels.  They bring their mobile shop to your location and work from their truck. A great idea.

City Council Looks At Adding More Bike Lanes

In 2009 the city of Vancouver converted one of the southbound traffic lanes of the Burrard Bridge into a bike only lane. It was started as a six month trial but due to it's huge success city councillors voted to make the separated bike lane permanent. Council is now looking at expanding it's growing number of bike lanes to include heavily used areas along Point Grey Road/Cornwall Ave. and Commercial Drive.

Tranquility Amongst The Cars

This house looks like it comes right out of the countryside.  Tricycle in the front yard, flowers blooming and a tree adding to the picturesque scene.  Yet if you step back a few feet you get the real picture. This house sits at the end of a fenced parking lot. If you stroll through the older parts of Vancouver it is not uncommon to find residential homes next to commercial businesses. Usually though they are on separate lots.

Faded Ad: Hardwood Chair Co Ltd Vancouver

Faded away and barely visible from the back lane, the Hardwood Chair Co ad still stands north of Hastings Street.  Most of these signs sometimes referred to as ghost signs or faded ads have disappeared from urban landscapes.  Painted onto brick or wooden buildings, in some cases over 100 years ago most have been destroyed as buildings are either torn down or painted over.

Frank Jump has made it his goal to photograph as many of these fading ads as possible. He's been at it for twenty years and many of the ads he has taken pics of no longer exist.  Fortunately they are preserved in his book  Fading Ads Of New York City.
I have not seen a book or even a number on how many of these ads still exist in Vancouver.

That Sinking Feeling

Some of the oldest houses in Vancouver are located in the Strathcona area. You can still see many houses that were built over 100 years ago, some going back as far as the late 1800's.  This one appears to be tilting to one side. 
Many of these houses still have the original wood siding as opposed to being covered over with stucco or aluminum siding.

Back Lanes Of Vancouver

These workers appear to be enjoying the beautiful weather, even if it's only for a few minutes.