 | Vancouver Downtown Eastside Reviews | 31 - 40 of 55 |  |
I am 16 now and I used to live on East Hastings as a drug user.
Vancouver is a beautiful city and not one to ignore or miss out on when traveling. You will be warned time and time again not to go to Main or Hastings (A.K.A Downtown East side). Ironically enough these streets are right between China Town and Gas Town. Both great tourist sites.
I lived there for a little over a year in a run down apartment with no bathroom and part of the floor missing. I know how hard it is and the people living down there don't deserve to be gawked at like sideshow freaks because WE'RE not.
Everyone there will frighten you, I'm sure. It's not every day you walk down a street that smells of urine and is stained with blood. I myself suggest not to walk around the area at night but you won't find trouble unless you really go looking for it.
I lived in ground zero and I even went looking for trouble. The very worst that may happen in the day time is someone will look at you and ask for some money. Leave a Comment
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I live in the immediate area and I often have problems with the street animals, but I'm used to it and have learned to live with it by developing "Street Smarts". Yes, the Downtown Eastside is hell. Vancouver has a higher crime rate than New York city these days, so if you feel like a big confident smart ass, please consider that fact first. Never park a car in the area, you are better off to park far away and walk in or take a cab. It's as simple as that. Your car will be broken into. Although I would say that generally you will be OK during daylight hours, although scared, you should NEVER walk along or use a street that Crosses Hastings between Cambie and Main, after dark. If you have to cross from Gastown into downtown, use Cambie or better yet a street West of Cambie, even if that means adding extra distance to your trip. Worst case to leave Gastown is to use Main street at the East. The area in Question is about a four block strip of Hastings from Cambie to Main. You should be generally wary of the entire area though.
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I lived in Vancouver for a while around the cobalt (main st.) well even if it seems really scary at first you quickly get used to it... even crackheads can be friendly once in a while. I ve never been attacked (I am a girl) well anyway just to say that downtown eastside is more scary looking than it is exept of corse for the used seringes everywhere (don t wear jesus boots)
To all Pot smokers well you can a joint on Downtown eastside streets, just as crack smoker's can smoke their'S Leave a Comment
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I was doing some research on the downtown eastside and came across this message board.I just had to leave a comment!Im now 14 and i love to wonder around my beautiful city.Sometimes ill even walk around Main and Hastings.And when i do im not afraid at all.The only people that will actually come up to you are either beggars or drug dealers the rest are just preoccupied with their own little business.Sure it may be a scary looking place but its most deffinetly not worth avoiding.Walking down Hastings is actually informative and it shows you how crazy the world has gone.The place is a little more frightening in the night,but why would you stroll down an alley at 2 am?And yes my parents do know i walk around there and they have no problem with it.
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I was walking there monday evening around 8PM and I have never so many people so wasted before. All other places where I have seen wasted people they have been alone, or maximum two of them. But in here tens of people were wandering the street without knowing what happend around them.
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I work in the area and I'm asked this a lot. Obviously, I couldn't care less about the Downtown Eastside. Nobody bothers me when I'm there, unless they try to sell me crack or something. But I'm a big young guy. So when people ask me how to get from Chinatown to Gastown or vice versa, here's what I tell them. Chances are nobody will bother you, but you might not like what you see. If you're timid you may wish to take Cambie all the way to Pender, then down the south side of Pender past Tinseltown. That is the cleanest route - almost normal even. Abbott and Carrall are the most direct routes, but they are also the grottiest. Always take Pender - never Hastings or Cordova. Columbia St, which starts a block east of the foot of water, is also okay.
Doing any of these will allow you to avoid the worst blocks - 000 and 100 Hastings W, 000 Hastings E, 300 Main, 300-400 Abbott, 000 Cordova, 300 Carrall.
Oh, and don't take any alleys. THose are worse than any street. Leave a Comment
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If someone tells you to go downtown to the area of Hastings & Main st - don't bother. Very bad part of town... unless you like being surrounded by drunks, drug freaks and hookers. Leave a Comment
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If you do wander into the Downtown Eastside at night, be sure you have your cell phone with you. Most of the pay phones in that area have been removed over the past couple of years, as they were used mainly for drug deals, or were vandalized. Leave a Comment
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In general, Vancouver is a very safe city expecially considering its size. One part of the city that tourists should avoid staying in however is the Downtown East side. The area around Main and Hastings is full of homeless people and a lot of drug dealers. So although you may be able to find a cheap room in the area. I would recommend against it. Leave a Comment
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It's often depressing to know that this area close to downtown is Vancouver's drug haven & prostitution central. Many shops are closed & the street decor is not necessarily inviting. It is not a war zone, but visitors should enter this area with vigilance and street smarts. Leave a Comment
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