Celebrating car-free days

Critical Mass, Vancouver, May’07

This time of year also brings the start of awareness campaigns around the world, including Bike-to-Work week and car-free festivals that encourage us to be smarter with our travel. May is national bike month across the United States. Check out 50 ways (large PDF) to celebrate Bike Month and browse bike advocacy groups by state to find one near you, courtesy of the League of American Cyclists.

In the Lower Mainland, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition is organizing Bike to Work 2008, May 26 to June 21.

The VACC is a non-profit society that works to make cycling an integral part of transportation culture in the Lower Mainland. Go to the VACC homepage to learn more. Ride the talk, join the VACC.

Not in the Lower Mainland? BC residents should visit www.biketowork.ca to find a Bike to Work event near you.

• Interested in seeing what it takes to organize a carfree day in your neighbourhood?
  Download Sierra Club of Canada: How to Stage a Carfree Day in Your Community.
• Need some graphics to spice up your latest poster or news release?
  Browse the World Carefree Network: Carbusters Graphics Book.
• Want to show a friend a video illustrating how carsharing works?
  Take a peak at the World Carshare Video Library.
• Unsure whether you’re ready to take to the streets on your bike or want to find ways of making streets more bike friendly?
  Read through Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST)’s Guides: Safe Cycling Tips, Street Reclaiming Guide
• Are you an employer and want to encourage your employees to bike to work?
  Consult the London Cycling Campaign: Guide for Employers

Pandora St., Chinatown, Victoria, July ‘07

Filed under: Vancouver, transportation, uncategorized , biking, commuting, cycling, Vancouver

Carsharing, carpooling and walking school buses?

In this month’s Relocalize, Post Carbon Institute is turning an eye to transportation—specifically new and old ways to use or replace the good ol’ automobile. Transportation is a major focus for planners in cities and municipalities, and while increasing gas prices are being felt across the board, they are much more evident at the pump. Nationwide spending on gas in the US has increased by 26% to 5.2% on average. How can one curb spending on gas and all the related costs of car ownership while still getting around? Here are some examples of community activities that help us make the transition towards reducing and replacing the ol’ automobile.

Organize a “Walking School Bus” so that elementary school children can get to school in a safe, healthy and fossil-fuel-free manner. Walking School Buses are programs that allow children to walk to school in a supervised group along a predetermined route, picking up and dropping off students at assigned stops. The program is an alternative to parents driving their children to school, encouraging both parents and children to walk, and making the area around the school safer for pedestrians. Parents feel confident that their children are safe while walking to school. And kids can socialize, stay fit, and learn the importance of people-powered transportation at an early age.

Filed under: Vancouver, transportation, uncategorized , Vancouver

Hello Al Gore, Goodbye Gateway

…was the slogan for the recent anti-Gateway rally that took place on Saturday, September 29, 2007, outside the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Downtown, Vancouver, where former Vice President Al Gore addressed a sold out audience.

It was about the worst weather short of hail and snow that one could possibly want for an outdoor rally. However, despite the rain, and Vancouverites know rain well, there was a good turnout of people present to protest the provincial government’s Gateway Plan.

Presenters included:

David Fields – Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC)
Adriane Carr – Deputy Leader, Green Party
Suzanne Anton – Councilor, City of Vancouver
David Cadman – Councilor, City of Vancouver
Heather Deal – Councilor, City of Vancouver
Joe Foy – Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Harold Steves – Father of BCís Agricultural Land
Michael Sather – MLA, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
Peter Julian – Federal NDP Transportation Critic
Betty Krawczyk – Wilderness Defender

According to the Government of B.C. website:

“The Gateway Program was established by the Province of British Columbia in response to the impact of growing regional congestion, and to improve the movement of people, goods and transit throughout Greater Vancouver. Gateway roads and bridge improvements are proposed to complement other regional road and transit improvements already planned or underway. (See TransLink web site.) These proposed improvements will help create a comprehensive, effective transportation network that supports improved movement of people and goods, facilitates economic growth, increases transportation choice and provides better connections to designated population growth areas. “

Here are a few websites for more information about why Gateway will not be a long term solution for improving the movement of people, goods, and transit through Greater Vancouver:
www.stopgateway.ca, www.livableregion.ca, www.againstportexpansion.org

Some photos from the rally…(view slideshow)

Folks from the Wilderness Committee send their message.

Volunteers direct traffic.

Adrienne Carr addresses the crowd.

rain, rain, rain..

Filed under: Vancouver, climate, transportation , al gore, British Columbia, climate change, gateway, public transit, rally, translink, transportation, Vancouver