11 September 2026 – Time travel: you’re with me on 8 September, downtown, corner of West Georgia and Granville. I’m about to turn from the former onto the latter and notice that busy Granville is barricaded, although its sidewalks are open.
I complete the turn, expecting some kind of kerfuffle to justify the barricade — nothing major, since no sirens or emergency vehicles, but something.
I get something.
A great big metal apple, on a car-free street.
I’m surprised, but then, as I walk closer, no longer surprised. The apple fits right in.
Its reflection sparkles in Fatburger’s doorway, across the street…
and the apple itself sparkles even more, viewed from across the street.
It embraces the woman who just wants to read her book…
and it makes neighbourly conversation with skyscrapers and sky.
I walk south on this peaceful street, see some workers busy with an installation at the next corner, and ask, “Going up? Coming down?”
They give me a friendly but puzzled where-have-you-been face, and explain it’s all coming down. This stretch of Granville has been a Pedestrian Zone all summer long. As of tomorrow, the cars return.
Okay, I missed that one.
But I’m all set for Car-Free Day on Main Street, East 10th to King Edward, this very Sunday.
Warren
/ 11 September 2026isn’t Granville always closed to everything but transit? I seem to remember it was when I lived there back in the 80s….
icelandpenny
/ 12 September 2026We move away, and cities move on without us! (How dare they?) Toronto today is not the Toronto I left 9 years ago, and Vancouver today is not the Vancouver you left in the 80s. Granville now has both private vehicles and transit.
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
/ 11 September 2026Summer is drawing to a close. After all the smoke and heat of August, I’m looking forward to the coolness and especially to the days when my breath freezes ever so slightly, when there’s a microsecond of white vapour and then gone.
restlessjo
/ 11 September 2026That’s a good looking apple, and quite a practical seating option xx
icelandpenny
/ 12 September 2026it is, isn’t it? she looks so comfortable, sitting there
Bernie
/ 12 September 2026The apple is a friendly pop of colour.
icelandpenny
/ 12 September 2026yes to both — a pop of colour, and a very friendly presence on the street