5 Things a Summer at BEST Taught Me About Our Streets
By Racheal Xavier
Racheal (right), walking with members of the BEST team on a recent team excursion.
Racheal Xavier is a sustainability professional who joined BEST Mobility this summer to support event coordination for BEST’s 35th Anniversary. Recently, Racheal reflected on Vancouver’s streets and neighbourhoods through a unique lens shaped by life in both Dubai and Metro Vancouver.
A different lens on Vancouver’s streets and public spaces.
Trading Dubai’s bold, futuristic skyline for Vancouver’s tree-lined, active greenways completely redefined how I see public space. Blending the ambitious, world-class innovation of my former home with the human-scaled, neighborhood-first connectivity of my new one gave me a rich, dual-lens appreciation for how great streets truly bring a city to life.
Joining BEST Mobility this summer turned that curiosity into action. Here are five lessons my journey across two continents and a summer of advocacy taught me about street design:
You can’t unsee street design once you start looking: Coming from a city celebrated for its visionary mega-infrastructure, world-class transit efficiency, and spotless public realm, arriving in Vancouver made me hyper-aware of micro-details with its focus on how they treat walking, rolling, and cycling as equal partners to the car, weaving active transit straight into the fabric of daily life.
If a street isn't safe for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, it’s not finished: True accessibility isn't about average commuters; it's about the margins. Designing streets that allow children to ride safely and seniors to cross confidently creates a calmer, happier city for everyone in between.
Public space belongs to people, not parked cars: Reclaiming just a fraction of asphalt for parklets, outdoor patios, and bike lanes instantly revitalizes a neighborhood's social energy. Streets shouldn't just be for passing through; they should be spaces where community happens.
Advocacy works (even when it feels slow): Moving to a new country reminded me how much intention goes into city-building. Every protected bike lane and greenway in Vancouver didn't happen by accident; it exists because dedicated community members spoke up over the last 35 years.
The best city-building conversations happen in person: While policy and plans matter, true city-building momentum happens when people gather to share lived experiences and rethink our streets together.
As part of the team organizing BEST’s 35th Anniversary celebration, I can’t wait to bring these conversations to life on October 1st. Come raise a glass with us and shape the future of our city!
Join Us for our fall event - Building Streets for Life: How to Create a City for All Ages
When: Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Creekside Community Recreation Centre, Vancouver, BC
What to Expect: PechaKucha presentations, light dinner with local treats, and networking with fellow city-builders and community advocates.
More About Racheal
Racheal is a sustainability professional with international experience in corporate social responsibility and social impact initiatives. She specializes in strategic event design, using collaborative governance and resilient frameworks to address complex civic challenges. A member of the City of Surrey’s Environment and Climate Change Committee, she is excited to bring her stakeholder engagement expertise to BEST Mobility’s 35th Anniversary. Racheal is a dedicated community volunteer who loves fostering rescue dogs and helping them find their forever homes.