Imperfections Of A Perfect City

What is wrong with Vancouver?

While traveling the world I`ve visited hundreds of different cities. From a tiny ones with only a thousand inhabitants to a gigantic ones with a population equal to a big county. Beside the general traveling experience, I was curious about how livable this cities are for adventurous guy like me.

After deserted Dubai, tropical Panama City, southernmost Ushuaia, antient Rome and densest Manila I found that the most comfortable place for me so far is somewhere in Pacific Northwest. My priority is a natural beauty with a diverse outdoor activities and Cascadia, another name for the Pacific Northwest, is incomparable to the rest of the world. Ocean, lakes, mountains, glaciers and volcanoes, the bursting wild life and chilled climate, all of it is the perfect match for me.

The major cities in this region are Portland, Seattle, Vancouver in US and Canadian Vancouver. After multiple visits in Seattle and Canadian Vancouver I chose the last one and moved in.

Most livable city

My choice is not surprising, as Vancouver is a constant participant in various list of the most livable, most beautiful and safest cities. Mild climate and the generosity of the nature attract people from all over the world. Even the, allegedly, constant rain, which I am personally don`t mind, is not scaring away new immigrants. The growing economy, multi-industrial job market, developed infrastructure and various leisure activities are important contributors to the high quality of life in this Cascadian city.

So, what could ruin the perfect image of a “dream city”? Well, there are few factors that you noticing after almost a year in Vancouver.

Low disposable and discretionary income.

I wouldn`t go deep into this topic as this is quite subjective. Vancouver is well known as one of the most expensive cities in the world. High Canadian taxes, bubbled housing market with a high rent and ridicules real estate pricing “are not in the same boat” with a low average income. In addition, the pricy groceries and expensive leisure activities are leaving Vancouver behind of the many Canadian and American cities in terms of discretionary income.

But needless to say, the opportunities in Vancouver are quite substantial and may balance the financial difficulties.

Road infrastructure.

From the first glance, the road infrastructure is good and even rated highly in the world by foreign critics. However, the real experience is not that bright. Similar to the rest of North America, the car oriented life style with a growing population puts a great stress on the roads propulsions that were not designed to handle the traffic in a such volumes. Due to the many bays and rivers in Vancouver, the bridges are usually the weakest links.

The response of the emergency services on a minor car accidents is additional factor to an endless traffic jams. For example, during the rush hour in a four lane highway with car accident in a one side lane they might block the three lanes. It creates a bottleneck where almost every Vancouverite, apparently seeing the car crash for the first time, stops for a few seconds to take a picture, extending already a miles long traffic jam to an infinite size.

The one more thing that pisses me off in the road infrastructure are the invisible road markings. Spending a billions of dollars on, in general, good quality roads, the local government refuses to spend “crumbs” on a wet reflective markings that are a necessity in city with a two-thirds of the rainy days in a year. It is not funny to drive in a rainy twilights guessing the road direction by the light absorbing concrete divider.

Sunny days.

There is nothing wrong with a few sunny days, that bring the joy and variety in a daily life. But the long streak of sunny days in summer or autumn has its price — wildfires.

Vancouver surrounded by the innumerable mountainous woods that are quite vulnerable to the sun radiation in dry weather. And sunny streaks without a single drop of rain are happening more often, causing the strong wildfires and bringing the acrid smoke and ash. Low air quality, bad visibility and dusted streets are a new normal in Vancouver in a late summer and autumn.

At least you can enjoy the bloody colored sun and moon, if they able to penetrate the smoky veil.

Isolated social life.

The best quality of life, the most beautiful, the safest — are not the only charts where Vancouver is fighting for the top places. It is ranking high in a charts like “worst social life city” and “worst city for dating”.

Multiculturism in some way is badly influencing the social life of the city, as people keen to stick with a family or fellow countryman and avoiding the communication outside of the familiar social circle. Conversations are rarely goes beyond the standard small talk. Car oriented life style is worsening the situation.

Relationships , likewise, are a weak spot in a Vancouver. The flavor of “somehow by itself” passive approach leads to the high number of singles in the city and general social isolation.

Well, even geographically Vancouver is isolated with Georgia Strait on the west, mountain ranges on the north and east and US border on the south.

There are things that revealed by only leaving in the specific place for a certain time. This is true for any corner of the planet. Ideal is simply non-existent.

However, it still can be close, and Vancouver exactly in that spot. The natural beauty, the land of opportunities, mild all season climate — all of this still keeps Vancouver at the top of my list of places. And 70 counties visited is enough experience to compare.

“A bad day in Vancouver is still better than a good day anywhere else.” — unknown author.

If you like the story, don`t be shy to check other ones like:

What I`ve Learned After Visiting 70 Countries.

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