Robson Street closures proposed by Vancouver councillor

One of Vancouver's most popular shopping streets should be turned into a pedestrian mall on some summer weekends, according to one city councillor.

David Cadman says the street closures around Robson Square during the Olympics were so successful he'd like the area to become a regular gathering place, free of cars and buses for several weekends during the summer.

"It doesn't have to be every weekend, but I think more and more people are understanding what they've understood in Europe, which is that walking streets and walking areas and pedestrian areas where there is a dynamic that is very, very good for the health of the city," he told CBC News.

But Charles Gauthier, the executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement Association said the possible impact on businesses and traffic was a concern.

"They are literally changing the way a street would operate, especially a street like Robson Street which has a lot of retailers on it. A lot of those retailers are really dependent on the on-street parking and having that readily accessible to their customers," said Gauthier.

Cadman will float the idea at Tuesday night's city council meeting with a motion to have city staff investigate what impact the closures could have on the area.

Vancouver already has a program in place toclose popular shopping streets outside the downtown area on several weekends during the summer.

But the city-sponsored program dubbed Summer Spaces was cancelled last year on trendy Commercial Drive on Vancouver's east side, after complaints from area merchants that it led to a drop in business.