VANCOUVER - Jerry Dobrovolny, the city’s go-to guy on cycling, walking, bus lanes and all things apparently non-car, and his staff have been writing up a storm of reports that have landed this week.
Enhanced greenways, check. Improved bikeways, check. New bus lanes for Hastings, check. Reducing mandated spaces for cars in the downtown, check. New cyclist signals, check.
Along with all that is the report on the festival of car-freeness that appears to be on the horizon this summer.
Along with the anticipated car-free Sundays in some neighbourhoods (Commercial Drive, Main Street of course, but also Collingwood and Gastown) and tentative experiments in a couple of others (Marpole and Robson), there’s also a suggestion that the city create a car-free six-kilometre stretch of road from English Bay to Jericho Beach for the whole summer every Sunday.
That “ciclovia,” as the idea is called, would open up Beach Avenue, Cornwall and Point Grey Road to everything but cars: cycling, walking, tai-chi classes, you name it.
I know it might sound crazy to some, but I’ve been in Paris, where they shut down big stretches of street and in fact whole neighbourhoods, on Sundays as part of Paris Respire (Paris Breathes) and it’s not too bad.
Of course, half of Paris is gone for July and August so that does make things easier. But I found it delightful when I went to the Bastille area one Sunday and got to wander around streets that were stunningly tranquil without any cars on them.
I don’t imagine a Vancouver ciclovia would be as tranquil.
The car-free seawall is about as relaxing as the Long March in China on sunny days, with hordes of cyclists, pedestrians and skateboarders all competing for space.
Frances Bula reports for Vancouver Magazine and The Globe and Mail.
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dorothy
2 years ago
cute idea,
as long as we're all in good shape, can walk or bike and all that...How does this square with making recreational opportunities equally accessible for people with locomotional disablities, who may only be able to 'get there' in a car? Are they now being told, that their window of opportunity to be egual is over, as 'we' cannot afford it any more?
Even now, in our zeal to appease the environment Gods, we should not forget that a society will be judged on how it deals with its most vulnerable members. Is the step so short to completely forget this? I shudder to think how we will approach real shortages and hardship! I will not expect any caring and sharing. What else is new?
Stump
2 years ago
getting there
One would drive or take transit to where the street closures begin.
Our most vulnerable members of society are children. No vote, no economic clout. This gives them a chance to enjoy public spaces in a way they can't on a normal day.
OilbertaRedTory
2 years ago
Pedestrian Sundays
Ms Bula could have looked a little closer to home ; Toronto's car-free day : http://www.pskensington.ca/
... and the croissants are good too !
'The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggressive shell, of urban and suburban man.'
~ Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media, 1964.
rac
2 years ago
Many Options
Dorothy
If they can use a wheelchair or an electric scooter, this will be great for them. Otherwise a friend can push them in a wheelchair. There will also likely be car access to the beaches on side streets. Maybe pedicabs as well.
The other side is that way to many people are disabled because of the automobile. Decreasing car use will prevent a lot of injuries and save many lives.
Wilfred Laurier
2 years ago
That would be great
As an avid cyclist, well a fair weather one, anyway, I would really enjoy having a car free experience. Imagine West Georgia as a big open air market with stalls, food and no cars to ruin it.
As for those with disabilities, there is no reason they could not get out of their car or off the bus at Dunsmuir and simply go the couple of extra blocks.
Really, it is our own responsibility to get our health in order. An apple a day certainly keeps the doctor away. But so does going to the gym three of four times a week!
asp
2 years ago
ciclovia
If Bogotá can do it, what's holding us up?
OilbertaRedTory
2 years ago
our Paleo-Future from 1900
†he future ain't what it used to be ... :
' A man or woman unable to walk ten miles at a stretch will be regarded as a weakling.
Prediction #4: There Will Be No Street Cars in Our Large Cities. All hurry traffic will be below or high above ground when brought within city limits. In most cities it will be confined to broad subways or tunnels, well lighted and well ventilated, or to high trestles with “moving-sidewalk” stairways leading to the top. These underground or overhead streets will teem with capacious automobile passenger coaches and freight with cushioned wheels. Subways or trestles will be reserved for express trains. Cities, therefore, will be free from all noises. '
http://www.yorktownhistory.org/homepages/1900_predictions.htm