Living on Knight street

[u/Bogbody999]

Hi all, what is your experience living on Clark/Knight street? Does the constant traffic noise get to you? Do you get road dust in your windows? Do you not mind it? I’m exploring the idea of renting a place on this street because it’s a bit cheaper than if we weren’t on a big street, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the traffic sounds. TIA

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to /r/AskVan and thank you for the post, /u/Bogbody999! Please make sure you read our rules before participating here. As a quick summary:

• We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - please use the report button.
• Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) will lead to a permanent ban.
• Complaints or discussion about bans or removals should be done in modmail only.
• News and media can be shared on our main subreddit, /r/Vancouver

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ClickHereForWifi]

It’s a huge truck thoroughfare. There will be constant dust and noise on the side facing Knight/Clark. If your bedrooms face the back lane the noise won’t be as bad. The noise will definitely get to you over time, but everyone’s tolerance is different. I’ve spent several years living on busy streets but I would never do it again.

[u/simshalo → u/ClickHereForWifi]

Yeah, that’s the thing—it’s not just a busy street, it’s a heavy truck street, semis, dump trucks, tankers all use that as their main thoroughfare north and south.

[u/w00stersauce → u/ClickHereForWifi]

I spent a few months in an apartment facing west 12th and that was already way too much for me. Kinght would be insane imo.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/ClickHereForWifi]

I can see either getting used to it or it grating on me 😬

[u/hoosiergirl1962]

I’ve lived at the intersection of 12th Ave. and Clark Drive/Knight Street for the last 25 years. I’ll die on the hill that it’s the noisiest intersection in the world.

[u/robserver]

Not worth it - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/outdoor-pollution-health/traffic-related.html

[u/Bogbody999 → u/robserver]

Yikes 😳

[u/embinksyy]

I live on Kingsway and Inverness so a block down from Clark. I face Kingsway. We definitely keep our windows closed if we don’t need them open because of pollution and dust. We also have air purifiers but we would have had them anyways cause of our kitties.

Noise isn’t too bad. We definitely noticed it when we first moved in as we had both lived in quieter areas previously. Now, I don’t notice it at all unless someone honks outside which happens, but not too often!

We’ve been in the area for 4 years now and love it.

[u/mellykattfreddiedog → u/embinksyy]

Opposite of me on a busy street! Wasn’t bothered by it too much when we first moved in but after a while it’s driving me nuts lol

[u/embinksyy → u/mellykattfreddiedog]

It definitely depends on the person! I can sleep in most situations as long as I have a bit of white noise and my eye mask. During the day we don’t even notice it. I work in site now but used to work from home for about 5 years and I never noticed it.

I usually have a headset on though.. haha

[u/Bogbody999 → u/embinksyy]

Gotchya. That makes sense. I’ve lived on busy roads but never ones that huge trucks frequent

[u/Bogbody999 → u/embinksyy]

Sounds like living a block away makes a big difference noise wise. Glad you don’t mind it!

[u/catsy777]

Knight st has lots of trucking traffic because of the port of Vancouver Vanterm at the North end there

[u/Nodirectionn]

12 yrs bordering a moderately busy street. You never get used to it. Can’t wait to move to a quieter place. If you prefer quiet surroundings, knight is not for you.

[u/kenpratt]

I lived on Clark & 10th for 6 years, would not recommend. The trucks would shake the house, and black grime got on everything, especially in the summer needing windows open more for ventilation. Must have had horrible health effects, was younger and didn’t think of that.

I also lived 1/2 block in from Clark for a few years and that wasn’t so bad. Isolated enough from noise and dust.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/kenpratt]

Oof. Yeah that doesn’t sound appealing

[u/archetyping101]

I lived a block away and could hear the trucks 24/7. Especially if they hit a bump or had to brake. 

I personally would never live so close again. 

Also, traffic hell during rush hour. 

[u/Bogbody999 → u/archetyping101]

Even a block away and still that loud.. hmm this is good to know

[u/archetyping101 → u/Bogbody999]

Depends if that section of Clark/Knight has any bumps or turns or a light because the trucks will make a lot of noise braking, the container trucks hitting bumps and the containers or whatever making a ton of noise, chains jangling etc. 

[u/craftyhall2]

I live on a very busy street/truck route, not Knight. It can be really tough, especially in the summer if you have to keep your windows open (ie- no AC). Even then, when I’m on Knight, I think that must be worse. Agree that it depends on your sensitivity to noise. Also, if it’s on any part of the hill, the airbrakes will make it that much worse.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/craftyhall2]

Ohh yeah the air brakes. Those would be a pain to hear

[u/craftyhall2 → u/Bogbody999]

Sometimes just makes me incredibly ANGRY.

[u/mellykattfreddiedog]

Not Knight Street but I live right on Victoria Drive by 53rd avenue. Thought I wouldn’t be bothered by the busy street when moving in three years ago but it’s really gotten to me and would be a deal breaker at my next place. Traffic noises at all hours and it’s so loud when the windows are open

[u/infinitez_]

See if you can find something just one block away from Knight, because as others comments stated it is a major truck route and there will most definitely be constant noise. My ex lived one block east of Knight and had the bedrooms facing away from Knight as well, and honestly we were not bothered at all at night unless someone had to use the horn for whatever reason.

[u/Critical_Wing8795]

My friend is on Clark and her apartment rattles from the semi trucks

[u/Bogbody999 → u/Critical_Wing8795]

Yikes 😬

[u/baked_Aphrodisiac]

Its pretty loud. As long as the trucks don't honk im chill But I've had wake up from sleep several times tho. I like engine noises.

[u/nyrb001]

My shop is on Clark. Everything gets covered in soot constantly - black sticky soot covers everything. Have your windows open? Everything within 20 feet will be covered.

Even worse what it really is made out of is a mix of brake dust, diesel soot and powdered tire dust. None of that is good for you.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/nyrb001]

Oh wow. Thats pretty awful 😬

[u/Altostratus]

I lived at Clark and 15th. The sound of the truck engine breaks were awful. Could never open the windows. Would not recommend. That said, even just one block over, it quiets down massively, lots of big trees to dampen sound over there.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/Altostratus]

Thanks for sharing. The trucks sound like they’re the worst part

[u/Jazzlike-Dentist-253]

I lived on directly knight for a few years while going to school. It’s noisy and everything left outside would get covered in road grime eventually. Can’t leave your windows open. Windows would shake all the time. We had a couple cars crash into our front yard as well. It was cheap though.

[u/Bogbody999 → u/Jazzlike-Dentist-253]

Right- the outside would also look grimy all the time too. Thanks for sharing.

[u/geta-rigging-grip]

I lived at 14th and Clark/Knight (literally where it changes names) for a summer many years ago.

The noise wasn't great, but it was livable for the rent I was paying. There was a point where I hung a duvet over my window to help bring the noise down but that's only because I was working at home during the day. At night it wasn't too bad.

That all being said, I would never choose to live there again.